Riding a three-match unbeaten run in League Two, Mansfield Town return to One Call Stadium in Nottinghamshire for a Boxing Day affair with Grimsby Town on Tuesday.
The Stags moved to within a point of Wrexham for third and an automatic promotion thanks to a 2-0 triumph at Sutton United, while the Mariners saw a six-match domestic unbeaten run end with a 2-1 defeat at home to Harrogate Town.
Match preview
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A place in League One next season is well within reach for Mansfield Town, who extended their unbeaten run in this competition to three matches, with a game in hand on Wrexham and Barrow, both of whom lead them by just a single point.
They claimed six points on their recent two-game road trip and are unbeaten at home in League Two this season, erasing a one-goal deficit twice versus Tranmere Rovers to earn a 2-2 draw in their previous league contest at One Call Stadium.
Throughout the campaign, Nigel Clough's men have been effective when in possession, and that approach has limited the chances they concede, giving up just two targeted efforts or fewer in their previous two league fixtures.
Since the start of the season, Mansfield have been tough to break down defensively, conceding the second-fewest goals (18) in League Two, and posting six clean sheets at home.
Mansfield have claimed at least a point in 11 of their last 12 league fixtures when they were either ahead or even at the half, and their ability to hang onto points is a big reason why they find themselves on the cusp of a promotion for the first time since 2012-13.
The Stags are unbeaten in their last three meetings in all competitions at home to Grimsby Town, keeping them off the scoresheet in two successive matches at One Call Stadium.
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This past weekend, Grimsby Town found a breakthrough in the latter stages for a second successive match, but this time, it was too late as they suffered their first home defeat since October 24 versus Colchester United (3-2).
It was the first time this team had conceded multiple goals in a single League Two fixture since playing Forest Green to a 2-2 draw in November.
The Mariners have points in their last three away fixtures in this competition but have not claimed three points domestically outside of Blundell Park since coming back to defeat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 in April of last season.
Grimsby Town have drawn first blood in three League Two encounters away from home this season but have let seven points slip through their grasp when doing so.
With 24 points after 23 domestic affairs, David Artell's side are eight points above the relegation line but have played two more games than Forest Green.
They have not triumphed at One Call Stadium since the 2019-20 League Two campaign (1-0), with their previous away victory against Mansfield before that coming in 2016-17 (1-0).
Team News
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Alfie Kilgour will miss the remainder of the season for Mansfield Town due to a ruptured Achilles, Aaron Lewis sat out of their weekend encounter with a minor knock and Louis Reed returned from suspension, replacing Davis Keillor-Dunn in the second half on Saturday.
Stephen Quinn put home his first of the campaign, which served as the winner against Sutton United, Lucas Akins added an insurance marker in the second half and Christy Pym only had to make one stop to collect a clean sheet.
Charles Vernam is nearing a return for Grimsby Town from a thigh injury, Donovan Wilson sat out last weekend with a minor knock, while Rekeil Pyke was back on the field replacing Arthur Gnahoua after 67 minutes.
Kieran Green fired home a consolation goal for his side in injury time on Saturday, his second of the 2023-24 domestic campaign.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Williams, Flint, Cargill, Bowery; Maris, Brunt, Quinn; Keillor-Dunn; Swan, Akins
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Cartwright; Efete, Rodgers, Maher, Glennon; Green, Clifton; Pyke, Hunt, Eisa; Rose
We say: Mansfield Town 1-0 Grimsby Town
The overall consistency and balance of Mansfield Town has us leaning towards them emerging victorious from what could be a close encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
