Mansfield (h) PO 2nd leg 18th May

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61429573 var in the final when we get there

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

We could have done with that on Saturday.

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

Could have done with goal line technology back against fgr then we wouldn't have to put up with the poxy play offs

[CobblerForever]

Sounds like they have as many injury concerns as we have;

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/may/boss-calls-for-side-to-show-typical-spirit-and-fight/

[Zen Master]

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Wed 18th May 2022
Northampton Town FC (First Team) v Mansfield Town F.C. (First Team)
Football League 2   
Referee: Madley, Robert
Assistant Referee: Flynn, Daniel
Assistant Referee: Webb, Michael
Fourth Official: Barrott, Samuel
Reserve Assistant Referee: Maskell, Garry

Robert Madley replaced by Ben Toner.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

So the Stags come to town defending a one goal lead ahead of the second leg.

Mansfield were of course the last visitors we had at the old County Ground, running out 1-0 winners four days before the opening game at Sixfields. Since then they have visited us on 14 occasions, winning just three times, drawing three and tasting defeat on the other eight trips.

One of their biggest victories though was in the playoff semi final of 2004 when they ran out 2-0 winners. The other wins came in 2003 and in 2020.

Current Stag John-Joe O'Toole was sent off playing for the Cobblers against the Stags in 2015, and Sam Hoskins saw red for the Cobblers after just 10 minutes of that 2020 defeat, Danny Rose scoring from the spot for Mansfield, one of three goals he netted for them against us.

Replacement referee Ben Toner is not a lucky omen for us, we've only won one of the 10 games he's taken charge of, losing seven. Both teamshave seen him this season, us for our defeat at Hartlepool and the Stags for their win at Oldham. This will be his first Sixfields visit since March 2018 (a 3-0 home defeat to Rotherham). 89 yellows and four reds in his 31 games thus far...only one game where he didn't produce a card...the Papa Johns Trophy game between Rochdale and Liverpool U-21's

Latest odds for the game.....Cobblers 6/4 to win the game, Mansfield 11/5, The Stags are favourites for promotion out of the four teams (9/4) whereas we are 9/2.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

First game we clashed with Eurovision, this one we clash with the Europa League final.
Where's Manny?   

[Peter Frost]

Sounds like they have as many injury concerns as we have;

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/may/boss-calls-for-side-to-show-typical-spirit-and-fight/

I suspect both managers are playing games as to who may or may not be fit - for me our key players to be fit are Appéré and Eppiah, I would love McGowan to be as well but less likely.

Just one unlikely scenario - Maxted actually has the better penalty saving record, so would we bring him on if its all even at 119 minutes?

[guest49]

Replacement referee Ben Toner is not a lucky omen for us, we've only won one of the 10 games he's taken charge of, losing seven. Both teamshave seen him this season, us for our defeat at Hartlepool and the Stags for their win at Oldham. This will be his first Sixfields visit since March 2018 (a 3-0 home defeat to Rotherham). 89 yellows and four reds in his 31 games thus far...only one game where he didn't produce a card...the Papa Johns Trophy game between Rochdale and Liverpool U-21's

I’ve always wondered, where on earth do you pull these ref stats from?! Especially how many times they have reffed us before?

[guest49]

I suspect both managers are playing games as to who may or may not be fit - for me our key players to be fit are Appéré and Eppiah, I would love McGowan to be as well but less likely.

Just one unlikely scenario - Maxted actually has the better penalty saving record, so would we bring him on if its all even at 119 minutes?

Let Chelsea be a lesson for those shenanigans, although the end result was no different at the weekend keeping the regular keeper in.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I’ve always wondered, where on earth do you pull these ref stats from?! Especially how many times they have reffed us before?

The 'transfermarkt' website ... 

[GrangeParkCobbler]

The 'transfermarkt' website ... 

I use Soccerbase……

[Bingers]

I use Soccerbase……

Very poor, Marvo would have had his own spreadsheet. Bring back Marvo!

[GrangeParkCobbler]

Very poor, Marvo would have had his own spreadsheet. Bring back Marvo!

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I use Soccerbase……

I used to use Soccerbase but found it to not be as consistently correct as it should be, I've more confidence in the German originated Transfermarkt.

[west stand oap]

Mansfield's away record is only the 11th best in the league as 49 of their 77 points were gained at home and only 28 away. Against the other top 10 teams they took just 2 points from 2 draws and 7 defeats scoring 6 goals and conceding 16, they failed to score in 5 of the 9 games.
Their overall away record was 7 wins, 7 draws and 9 defeats, goals 27-28. They failed to score in 8 of the 23 games and only kept 5 clean sheets. Obviously to avoid the lottery of a penalty shoot out we need to score at least 2 goals and they have conceded 2 or more in 8 away games. We have not kept a clean sheet in our last 4 games so tomorrow would be the ideal time for another.
I watched their last away game on bank holiday Monday when they were fortunate to come away with a 2-2 draw at Salford. Their first goal came from an incorrectly given free kick just outside the penalty area when the Salford defender had cleanly won the ball and the second was a penalty, they created very little from open play.
Historically in 37 fixtures we have won 19, drawn 6 and lost 12. We have to hope that Appere and Eppiah are fit enough to start and what a bonus it would be if McGowan had recovered, if he hasn't I would play Harriman (although JB won't) as at least he is a right back and cannot perform any worse than Mills did at Mansfield. As is often the case the first goal will be crucial and it would be great if we could make a similar start to the games against Leyton Orient and Barrow.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

TBH I thought that we should be more concerned with the left back area rather than the right back area following the first leg. 

[WadeyCobbler]

I suspect both managers are playing games as to who may or may not be fit - for me our key players to be fit are Appéré and Eppiah, I would love McGowan to be as well but less likely.

Just one unlikely scenario - Maxted actually has the better penalty saving record, so would we bring him on if its all even at 119 minutes?

With us having so many fitness issues I'm sure we will have used all our subs by then. Out of interest what are the penalty saving stats of them both?

[Gen.Disorda]

A call to arms from Brady today.

We really need to create a partisan atmosphere in the ground. Every fan needs to do their bit!