Mansfield Town will attempt to end a five-game winless run in all competitions when they play host to Cambridge United in Saturday's League One contest.
The Stags are sitting in 14th place in the standings, while the U's are languishing in 23rd position as they continue to search for their first win of the 2024-25 season.
Match preview
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Mansfield are competing in the third tier for the first time since the 2001-02 season after winning promotion last term.
The Stags would have been encouraged by their opening-day win over Barnsley, but they have struggled to build upon that result in their last five competitive matches.
Their winless run began with a penalty-shootout defeat to Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup, before they played out a 3-3 draw in a home league clash against Nigel Clough's former side Burton Albion.
After losing to Rotherham United in the EFL Trophy, the Stags went on to lose 4-1 to Lincoln City and draw 1-1 against Stockport County to leave them with a five-point tally after four league matches.
Mansfield will hope that they can return to winning ways in Saturday's contest, where they will also look to claim their first clean sheet since April 9 after failing to record a shutout in any of their last 10 competitive matches.
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Cambridge came into the campaign with aspirations of steering clear of another relegation battle after finishing just four points clear of the drop zone last season.
Unfortunately for the U's, the early signs suggest that it could be another tricky season, with their first four league games producing one draw and three defeats.
They have also struggled in the cup competitions, losing to Queens Park Rangers in the EFL Cup and settling for a draw in their recent EFL Trophy clash against fourth-tier Bromley.
Cambridge lost on penalties to miss out on a bonus point after the EFL Trophy meeting had produced a 1-1 scoreline - a result which extended their winless run to 12 matches in all competitions.
Having won just two matches since being appointed in March, Garry Monk will be desperate to claim all three points in Cambridge's first meeting with Mansfield since they recorded a 3-0 away victory in February 2021.
Team News
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Rhys Oates, Alfie Kilgour and George Maris are both set to miss out through injury, although the latter is making good progress in his recovery from an ankle problem.
Defender Aden Flint has been ruled out for a few weeks with an Achilles injury, while Frazer Blake-Tracy will have to be assessed after being absent from the last five matches.
New Zealand international Ben Waine made his Mansfield debut against Stockport, and he is now in contention to earn a starting berth for Saturday's contest.
As for the visitors, they are likely to be without the services of midfielder Taylor Richards and forward Elias Kachunga.
There are also doubts surrounding the availability of Gary Gardner, Jordan Cousins, Ryan Loft and Kelland Watts.
After making his debut as a substitute in the recent EFL trophy clash with Bromley, Bolton loanee Dan Nlundulu will continue to provide a useful option off the bench for Saturday's away trip.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Akins, Hewitt, Oshilaja, Cargill, McLaughlin; Boateng, Reed, Quinn; Gregory, Waine
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Reyes; O'Riordan, Morrison, Ibsen Rossi; Gibbons, Smith, Digby, Andrew; Stokes, Kaikai; Lavery
We say: Mansfield Town 2-1 Cambridge United
Mansfield have settled for draws in both of their home games this season, but we think that they will finally claim a home win when they face a Cambridge side who have lost both of their away league matches this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
![Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "Rotherham United manager Steve Evans during the EFL Sky Bet League 1 match between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United at Adams Park, High Wycombe, England, on 24 August 2024. [on August 25, 2024]")
