Two League One teams looking to win back-to-back games will lock horns on Saturday afternoon as Northampton Town play host to Mansfield Town at Sixfields Stadium.
The Cobblers and the Stags meet for the first time since March 2023 when the former claimed a narrow 1-0 home win over the latter in League Two.
Match preview
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After marking their return from the international break with a 2-1 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, Northampton responded in impressive fashion by beating promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town 3-1 away from home last weekend.
An own goal from Michal Helik and two more strikes from Cameron McGeehan and Tariqe Fosu either side of half time helped the Cobblers pick up a surprise three points and their first away league victory since the end of February.
With two wins, two draws and two defeats on the board from their opening six matches, Northampton currently sit 13th in the League One table, one place higher than where they finished last season and just three points behind the playoff spots.
Manager Jon Brady has said that his Northampton side will once again be underdogs this weekend and has called for consistency from his players if they wish to climb the table in the coming weeks.
The Cobblers, who have only celebrated back-to-back wins once in 2024 (in April), have won just two of their last nine league meetings with Mansfield, who themselves have only won one of their last nine away league fixtures at Sixfields Stadium.
Mansfield have in fact struggled on the road in recent weeks, losing each of their last three away games in all competitions and conceding seven goals in the process.
Nevertheless, they head into Saturday's contest on the back of beating Shrewsbury Town 2-1 on home soil, courtesy of second-half strikes from Lee Gregory and Aaron Lewis, the latter of whom netted an 86th-minute winner.
Mansfield are competing in League One for the first time in over two decades and head coach Nigel Clough will have been relatively pleased with his side's start to the campaign after securing promotion from League Two last season, with the Stags picking up 11 points from their first six games (W3 D2 L1).
Currently sitting 10th in the table, Mansfield could climb into the playoff positions with victories in somewhat favourable-looking fixtures against Northampton on Saturday and Crawley Town three days later.
Team News
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Northampton's Patrick Brough sustained a leg fracture after coming on as a substitute last weekend and is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines along with fellow defender Ali Koiki, who has not played since August with a muscle injury.
The Cobblers will also be without Akin Odimayo who is suspended after receiving two yellow cards against Huddersfield, so Aaron McGowan - who was absent last time out with a 'niggle' - is set to return at right-back.
Tom Eaves and Jordan Willis could return from injury to feature in the matchday squad, while Sam Hoskins should be available to start up front after missing the win over Huddersfield to attend the birth of his baby girl just hours before kickoff.
As for Mansfield, Elliott Hewitt completed his first 90 minutes last weekend since recovering from a serious knee injury in April last year, and he is in contention to retain his starting spot at right-back.
Gregory has scored five goals in his first six league games so far this season, at least four more than any of his teammates, and the 36-year-old is expected to continue up front alongside Will Evans.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; McGowan, Baldwin, Guthrie, Mbete; Sowerby, Chouchane, McGeehan; Fosu, Hoskins, Roberts
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Hewitt, Oshilaja, Cargill, McLaughlin; Baccus, Quinn, Reed; Boateng; Evans, Gregory
We say: Northampton Town 2-2 Mansfield Town
Each of Mansfield's last ten league matches have seen both teams find the net and a total of 35 goals scored, so another end-to-end contest could be on the cards this weekend.
Mansfield will be regarded as slight favourites for this match despite their poor away run, but we can see Northampton following up their impressive win at Huddersfield with another positive result on home soil, claiming at least a share of the spoils in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
