Mansfield Town could potentially rise into the playoff positions with a victory on Saturday when they travel to the Crown Oil Arena as they play Rochdale.
The hosts are 14th placed at the moment in League Two, but they could climb into the top half with three points, adding incentive to both teams for this one.
Match preview
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Rochdale have only been able to win once in their last six outings in all competitions, but that victory did take place in their most recent match.
A brace from Jake Beesley and a goal by Liam Kelly were enough to gain the three points against Newport County, which helped to end 2021 on a positive note for them.
However, they will now be keen to follow up on that by starting the new year with another victory, which could propel them into the top half of the table.
Offensively, they have been stronger than their opponents, scoring more goals this season which could give them confidence heading into Saturday's match.
Plus, on the back of a clean sheet, they should have some belief defensively that they will be able to withstand any test that Mansfield Town throws at them.
The Stags come into this match in terrific form, having won five matches in a row, showcasing the quality that is making them a threat for promotion this season.
Nigel Clough's men were last in action on Boxing Day where they fought back from two goals down against Hartlepool to win 3-2, showcasing their resistance and fighting ability in games.
Mansfield Town are only two points away from the playoffs at the moment, and a victory could see them climb as high as fifth depending on other results.
Having only lost one game since the end of October, the squad have managed to find their form at the perfect time for this busy winter period which has put them in the mix at the business end of the table.
However, they will be well aware of the fact that Rochdale held them to a draw when they last met, with the game finishing 1-1 after goals from Danny Cashman and Danny Johnson.
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Team News
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Right now Rochdale do not have any major injury issues to be concerned about, and being able to field a full-strength team could be crucial on Saturday.
Beesley will be aiming to add to his nine goals from this season, especially after bagging a brace during their last outing, with the forward being their main point of attack.
Both James Perch and Jimmy Knowles remain absentees for the visitors with long-term issues, and neither will be available for the start of 2022.
The 4-1-2-1-2 formation is something that Clough shall likely continue in this match due to the fact it brings both defensive and offensive capabilities to the team.
Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Coleman; Taylor, O'Connell, Dorsett; O'Keefe, Dooley, Kelly, White; Newby, Grant, Beesley
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Hewitt, Rawson, Hawkins, McLaughlin; Maris, O'Toole, Stirk, Law; Oates, Bowery
We say: Rochdale 1-2 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town are the obvious favourites heading into this match, with their added quality and confidence likely helping them to edge this match.
While the hosts will no doubt look to cause problems, and their attacking style should lead to them having some chances, it should be the visitors who take all the points.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rochdale win with a probability of 37.38%. A win for Mansfield Town had a probability of 35.93% and a draw had a probability of 26.7%.
The most likely scoreline for a Rochdale win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.08%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.19%) and 2-0 (6.5%). The likeliest Mansfield Town win was 0-1 (9.84%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.69%). The actual scoreline of 0-1 was predicted with a 9.8% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole correctly predicted that Mansfield Town would win this match.
