Mansfield Town will aim to pull off an early EFL Cup surprise when they welcome Derby County to the One Call Stadium for Tuesday's first-round encounter.
The hosts edged past Tranmere Rovers 1-0 at the weekend, while the Rams went down 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.
Match preview
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The quicker that Nigel Clough and co can consign last season's playoff final defeat to Port Vale to history the better, and Mansfield's League Two campaign did not begin in ideal fashion with a 2-0 defeat to Salford City on the opening weekend.
However, a return to home comforts brought with it better fortunes for Mansfield as they picked up their first win of the 2022-23 campaign at the second attempt, with Riley Harbottle's goal on the hour mark all that was required to see off Tranmere.
To even make it to the playoff final last year was a huge achievement in itself for Mansfield Town, who are now aiming to avoid yet another first-round EFL Cup elimination, having been knocked out at this stage eight times in the past nine seasons.
The Stags made it as far as the second round in the 2018-19 campaign before being defeated by West Bromwich Albion, but they have only ever kept one clean sheet in a home EFL Cup game, which came all the way back in 2005 against Southampton.
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In contrast, Derby County have gone the opposite way during the embryonic stages of the League One season, kicking off proceedings with a 1-0 success over Oxford United before Charlton Athletic brought the Rams crashing back down to earth.
Corey Blackett-Taylor would make the net ripple with 62 minutes on the clock to condemn Derby to their first competitive loss of the season, and despite largely dominating proceedings with 59% possession, Liam Rosenior's side only made Joe Wollacott make two saves in the Charlton goal.
Seeking to bounce back immediately from their League One setback, Derby travel to the One Call Stadium aiming to avoid a first opening-round EFL Cup elimination since the 2015-16 season, but they have been knocked out at the second hurdle in each of the last three campaigns.
Defeat at The Valley marked an 11th loss from 12 competitive away matches for Derby, who will take confidence from the fact that they have won three of their previous four meetings with Mansfield, the most recent of which came in the 2002-03 EFL Cup.
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Team News
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Mansfield centre-back Oliver Hawkins played 78 minutes upon his return from suspension at the weekend, while striker Rhys Oates quickly shook off an ankle injury sustained against Salford to lead the line on Saturday.
Kieran Wallace and Jason Law are definite absentees for the Stags, who also have an ongoing concern over James Perch after the 36-year-old entered the treatment room in pre-season.
Clough would ideally aim to stick with the winning formula from the success over Tranmere, but fatigued legs could boost Ollie Clarke and George Lapslie's chances of returning to the first XI.
As for Derby, James Chester's Achilles problem is unlikely to let up in time for the trip to Mansfield, while experienced attacker David McGoldrick is touch and go with an issue of his own.
McGoldrick may be fit enough to make the bench in midweek, and Rosenior is facing a big call over 20-year-old midfielder Louie Sibley.
The England Under-20 international came off the bench to good effect against Charlton, and Rosenior has affirmed that he is in contention to start in the EFL Cup.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; O'Toole, Hawkins, Harbottle; Akins, Boateng, Maris, Clarke, McLaughlin; Bowery, Swan
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Loach; Knight, Stearman, Davies, Forsyth; Hourihane, Bird; Mendez-Laing, Sibley, Barkhuizen; Dobbin
We say: Mansfield Town 1-3 Derby County
Derby showed plenty of encouraging signs in their defeat to Charlton, and the introductions of young players in Sibley and Lewis Dobbin would only be a good thing for Rosenior.
Mansfield could very well have been competing with the Rams in league action this term, but the gulf in quality should become evident here as Derby pick up a confidence-boosting success.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
