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Cheltenham Town
FA Cup | Third Round
Jan 10, 2021 at 1.30pm UK
Whaddon Road
Mansfield Town

Cheltenham
2 - 1
Mansfield

May (73'), Boyle (110')
FT
(aet)
McLaughlin (3')
O'Keeffe (69'), Sweeney (101')

Preview: Cheltenham Town vs. Mansfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's FA Cup clash between Cheltenham Town and Mansfield Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

League Two rivals Cheltenham Town and Mansfield Town will lock horns in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, with a spot in the fourth round of the competition up for grabs.

Cheltenham have beaten South Shields and Crewe Alexandra to advance to this stage, while Mansfield have overcome Sunderland and Dagenham & Redbridge in the first two rounds.


Match preview

General view of Cheltenham Town's Whaddon Road from 2014© Reuters

Cheltenham's progression to the second round of the FA Cup was relatively routine, recording a 3-1 home victory over South Shields, with Alfie May scoring a brace for the League Two outfit.

Michael Duff's side needed extra time to overcome Crewe in the last round, though, with a 94th-minute effort from George Lloyd allowing the club to advance to this stage.

Cheltenham were not handed a glamour tie against a Premier League or Championship club but will certainly view this match as winnable as they take on a club in their division.

The Robins - fourth in League Two - have not actually been victorious in any competition since the start of December and will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a goalless draw with Colchester United.

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough pictured on December 2, 2020© Reuters

Mansfield, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of three straight wins over Scunthorpe United, Port Vale and Salford City, which has seen them move into 15th in League Two.

The Stags, who were runners-up in the FA Trophy in 2011, claimed a huge scalp in the first round of this season's FA Cup as they recorded a 1-0 victory away to Sunderland.

Like Cheltenham, Mansfield needed extra time to advance from their second-round contest, with a strike from Nicky Maynard seeing them edge past Dagenham at the end of November.

Nigel Clough has only been in charge of the club since the start of November but has an impressive record at the helm, winning eight, drawing four and losing just two of his 14 matches.

Cheltenham Town FA Cup form: LDWLWW
Cheltenham Town form (all competitions): LDLLDD

Mansfield Town FA Cup form: DLWLWW
Mansfield Town form (all competitions): DLDWWW


Team News

Cheltenham's side is expected to have a familiar look to the one that started the last round against Crewe, with May and Lloyd likely to retain their spots in the final third of the field.

Head coach Duffy has ruled Liam Sercombe and Scott Flinders out of the contest, while Matty Blair is also a doubt as he battles a hamstring problem.

Conor Thomas, though, is available for selection, while there could also be a spot in the side for Sean Long as a right-sided wing-back.

As for Mansfield, Clough is hopeful that Maynard will be available for selection, but the striker will face a fitness test on Saturday to determine his involvement.

The visitors are expected to make changes from the side that overcame Salford at the weekend, with Stephen McLaughlin and Andy Cook both in line for starts in the final third of the field.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Flinders; Raglan, Tozer, Freestone; Long, Clements, Chapman, Azaz, Hussey; May, Lloyd

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Stech; Gordon, Rawson, Sweeney, Benning; Charsley, Lapslie, Clarke, McLaughlin; Cook, Maynard


SM words green background

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-2 Mansfield Town

Both sides will enter the match believing that they have a genuine chance of reaching the fourth round, which could bring a glamour tie against a Premier League club. Cheltenham have home advantage, but Mansfield's recent form has been impressive, and we fancy Clough's side to advance.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



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How you voted: Cheltenham vs Mansfield

Cheltenham Town
45.8%
Draw
16.7%
Mansfield Town
37.5%
48
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Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough pictured on December 18, 2018
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