BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Mansfield Town v WYCOME Wanderers '“ Saturday, 16th October 2016

BIG MATCH PREVIEW '“ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
..
.

After last weekend’s fantastic 3-1 home local derby win over Notts County, the Stags need to build on that and avoid any ‘After The Lord Mayor’s Show’ display.

So far this season Adam Murray’s men have shown promotion form away from home and now need to get some consistent home results ticking over after the Notts win ended a wretched run of four home games without a win or goal.

They have yet to register back-to-back League wins.

Wycombe’s 1-0 defeat at Yeovil last weekend ended the Chairboys’ hopes of a fourth win on the trot, though one of those was in the Checkatrade Trophy against West Ham’s academy side.

Indeed, Wycombe’s 16th place in the table is down to them losing five and drawing won of their six away League games so far, losing the last four in a row now.

Wycombe did the double over the Stags last season and have not lost any of their last five encounters.

It is five visits back since Stags last beat them at home, winning 3-2 in February 2007.

Click HERE to read a match analysis of Stags v Notts County

Click HERE to see the video highlights of the game

Click HERE to see video highlights of Yeovil v Wycombe

STAGS TEAM NEWS

After scoring three goals in two substitute’s appearances and being the matchwinner in both games, Stags’ star striker Matt Green will be hoping for a recall to the side.

He was dropped four games back but has made his mark in the last two.

Pat Hoban has played exceptionally well in place of Green and the two combined well in the time Green was on the pitch last Saturday, when his two goals shot down the Magpies.

So Danny Rose could be the man to make way should Green earn a recall.

However, Murray hinted today that he felt Rose had got through a lot of unrecognised work last weekend and it was up to the players with the shirts to keep hold of them – a hint that Green may be made to wait.

Another welcome sight last weekend was seeing talented young midfielder Jack Thomas back on the bench after suffering injury problems since the summer. He played for 58 minutes and scored in a reserve game on Wednesday, which is another huge boost

Stags will also have Forest loanee defender Alex Iacovitti available again after he missed the last two games on Scotland U21 international duty.

POSSIBLE STAGS STARTING XI

Shearer, Benning, Pearce, Collins, Bennett, McGuire, M. Rose, Clements, Hurst, Hoban, D. Rose.

WYCOMBE TEAM NEWS

Gareth Ainsworth may include Marcus Bean in his squad for the trip to Mansfield.

Bean has been out since August after he injured his hamstring in training, and played a part in the cup win recently over West Ham.

It’s been a frustrating season so far. At home, they’ve looked good but have struggled to build on the foundations of solid home form. They’ve been blighted by injuries, too.

Despite playing a part in lasts weeks defeat to Yeovil, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Scott Kashket were ill after both picking up a stomach virus, but both are in contention despite not training this week.

Luke O’Nien is also back in training but it may be too soon for him just yet.

POSSIBLE WYCOMBE STARTING XI

Jamal Blackman, Michael Harriman, Joe Jacboson, Anthony Stewart, Aaron Pierre, Garry Thompson, Dominic Gape, Danny Rowe, Sam Wood, Paris Cowan-Hall, Paul Hayes

KEY BATTLE: LEE COLLINS v PARIS COWAN-HALL

Paris Cowan-Hall has looked decent all season and is beginning to develop a decent partnership with Paul Hayes up front. So Lee Collins and Krystian Pearce will again have their hands full.

WYCOMBE ONE TO WATCH:

Dominic Gape in central midfield is a good player and Marcus Bean has a job on his hands if he wants to get back in the team. Gape is combative and creates a lot of chances for the strikers.

OPPOSITION MANAGER: GARETH AINSWORTH

Manager Ainsworth has done a good job and the fans love him.

He, and the fans, will be concerned about the away form but if they can build on the foundations of their performances at Adams Park they’ll be fine.

Ainsworth will still believe his squad can push themselves higher up the division and compete for one of the play-off spots come the end of the season.

He has the trust and support of the fans. They greatly respect him because they understand the difficult position he is in. The squad is always stretched and the money is tight. They know he doesn’t have the resources other managers have in this division.

WYCOMBE SEASON SO FAR

It’s been a strange one. At home, they’ve looked good.

Adebayo Akinfenwa has helped a lot being a different option up front, but they’ve missed Paul Hayes who only recently returned through injury.

Away from home is a completely different story.

Most weeks it is an absolute disaster and they’ve struggled to create anything and thoroughly deserved to be beaten.

They’ve played some of the stronger teams away from home but that being said, boss Ainsworth will be frustrated to be losing to teams like Yeovil away from home.

There have been plenty of injuries, though. Seven of the eight who came in during the summer missed the start of the season and, with a stretched squad already, that hasn’t helped.

LAST MEETING Saturday, 25th March 2016: Wycombe Wanderers 1, Mansfield Town 0

Mansfield Town fell to a fourth 1-0 defeat in five games at Wycombe in their last meeting and were undoubtedly beaten by the better side.

The only goal of the game was a fluke as Michael Harriman’s low cross from the right on 69 minutes sneaked in at the far post.

But it was also a result of poor defending as Harriman beat Mal Benning not once but twice, too easily, before putting his cross in.

Earlier in the season Wycombe had won 2-0 at One Call Stadium so this completed a double with two clean sheets for the Chairboys.

Click HERE to read the match report

Don’t forget to read the match report at www.chad.co.uk after the game.

Stay in touch with all things Mansfield Town via our new Chad Mansfield Town facebook page – simply click HERE and give us a like to subscribe.