Both aiming to record their second wins of the new third-tier season, Lincoln City and Mansfield Town will lock horns at the LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The Imps are coming into this match following a defeat at Barnsley last time out, whilst the Stags were in EFL Trophy action earlier in the week.
Match preview
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After ending up in seventh position in the 2023-24 League One standings, finishing just two points behind Barnsley in the lowest of the playoff positions, Lincoln City are on a mission to make a top-six place this time around, despite League One looking highly competitive at the top.
The Imps' push for an unlikely promotion to the second tier of English football commenced with a hard-fought win at the Pirelli Stadium on August 10, when a brace from Paudie O'Connor helped the visitors to collect maximum points from a five-goal thriller versus Burton Albion.
Back-to-back defeats at the LNER Stadium have followed for Lincoln to end their unbeaten run and dampen spirits slightly around Saturday's hosts, with the Imps falling at the first round in the EFL Cup to Harrogate Town before losing to Barnsley in League One last Saturday.
A poor opening 50 minutes from City saw them trail by two goals due to strikes from Tykes pair Sam Cosgrove and Marc Roberts, with Ben House's second-half effort at the LNER Stadium turning out to be a mere consolation for the hosts on the afternoon.
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For the first time in over a decade, Mansfield Town are back at the third tier of English football following a third-placed finish in League Two during the 2023-24 term, in which they cruised to an automatic promotion spot in the end, placing eight points ahead of fourth-placed MK Dons.
Taking charge of the Stags during November 2020, Nigel Clough is one of the longest-serving active managers in the EFL at this stage, with the three-time England international winning 96 of his 205 matches at the helm over a four-year period, losing on just 59 occasions.
Mansfield's return to League One started in perfect style on the opening Friday of the campaign, when goals from Stephen Quinn and former Millwall man Lee Gregory fired the visitors to a 2-1 success at Oakwell, where Barnsley were expected to win out in reality.
Gregory was on the third-tier scoresheet for a second week running seven days ago, with the marksman netting a 93rd-minute equaliser to force a share of the points against Burton Albion at the One Call Stadium in Nottinghamshire.
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Team News
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After their defeat at home to Barnsley last weekend, there could be some changes to the Lincoln midfield, with John McKiernan potentially dropping out of the side.
If so, Tom Bayliss would require a new partner in the engine room, with 22-year-old Jack Moylan the most likely candidate for that particular role.
A pair of young attackers will be hoping to make rare starts for the Imps, with Freddie Draper and Rob Street settling for places on the bench last time out.
Mansfield should revert to their League One XI after EFL Trophy in the week, meaning that Davis Keillor-Dunn should start at the top of the midfield.
Welshman Will Evans is set to accompany talisman Gregory in a two-pronged forward line, one which should give Lincoln plenty to think about this weekend.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Jackson, O'Connor, Roughan; Erhahon, Darikwa, Moylan, Bayliss, Duffy; House, Makama
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Akins, Flint, Oshilaja, Bowery; Baccus, Reed, Quinn, Keillor-Dunn; Evans, Gregory
We say: Lincoln City 2-2 Mansfield Town
Both involved in high-scoring affairs so far this season, we are expecting an open game between Lincoln and Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Imps are arguably favourites given their home advantage, although we feel that the attacking quality of the Stags should fire them to at least a point on their travels.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
