Score predictions - Mansfield home

The season opens Friday with the first league visit of Mansfield Town to Oakwell since 2002. The Stags ended last season with a 5 game unbeaten run (4 wins) to secure the 3rd automatic promotion berth from League 2. Presumably down to our poor form at the end of last season, we are relatively narrow favourites to take all 3 points at 10/11, with the visitors priced at 5/2 to get off to a flyer.


Mansfield were strong on their travels last season, garnering 40 points from 23 games. Only champions Stockport attained more, and the Stags were 6 points clear of anyone else away from home. Only Stockport scored more goals away from home in League 2 than Mansfield last season, but nobody conceded fewer goals (25 in 23 games). And whilst they were only the 4th best home side, it was their away dominance which secured them promotion.


As previously mentioned, Mansfield haven't visited Oakwell in 22 years in competitive action, winning that one courtesy of a 50th minute Andy White goal, on a game the reds ultimately dominated. Otherwise, our home record vs Mansfield is favourable, with 8 wins (7 in the league), 6 draws and just 3 defeats in 17 meetings. Our last league victory over the Stags on home soil was at this level, 1-0 in 1979. I can't find details of a scorer but I'm sure someone on here will remember. We did meet in a testimonial match for Bobby Hassell in pre-season 2015, where members of the promotion winning side of 06 and eventual promotion winning players of 16, eventually overcame the Stags 4-3. The reds scorers on that occasion were, of course, Bobby Hassell, Joe Rothwell, Danny Nardiello and trialist, David Ball.


There are several familiar names in the Mansfield side, and not just former reds players, albeit there are 4 of those (Flinders, G. Williams, Oates & Maris). Since turning the Reds down to join Millwall, Lee Gregory has played 12 times against us, more than any other club, scoring 5 goals. His record is only better against MK Dons and Fleetwood, though he has been on the losing side in half of his appearances against us. He did score a brace on his last visit to Oakwell, when the Reds defeated Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 the season before last. Davis Keillor-Dunn is also probably a familiar name to Reds fans given our current interest; the 26 year old netted 22 times and assisted a further 10 in by far his most prolific season to date. He's continued to net regularly throughout pre-season too as the Stags have won all but 1 of their friendlies, conceding just 2 goals.


The referee for this one is Blackpool favourite, Ben Toner. Finishing 31/40 in the first inaugural Comparatively Competent Trophy, he took charge of the Reds 3-3 draw with Horsham in the FA Cup last season, booking Jamie McCart and Owen Dodgson, and correctly awarding the away side a penalty against Corey O'Keeffe. He took charge of Mansfield's defeat away at Tranmere in March, their penultimate away league defeat of the season, issuing 4 yellow cards to the Stags.


Given the likes of Pines, Lofthouse and Gent played in the friendly with Roma, I think that could be an indicator that they'll not feature from the start against Mansfield. I think otherwise, the side picks itself with the players available.


I've taken a predicted team for Mansfield from a local media site, though it did list 2 left backs so I might have a few players on the wrong flanks. I was surprised to learn that Stephen Quinn is still playing. He must be a day older than the Chron.


If I was to pick a bet out for this one, give his form at the end of last season and through pre-season, I'd go for the Reds to win with Phillips scoring anytime at 9/2.


Whilst transfer activity has been fairly slow, I do believe the signings we've made will improve us. I certainly saw signs of improvement in the pre-season games vs Mallorca and Derby, with us looking much more direct, albeit still relatively flimsy defensively. Therefore I'm predicting a positive start to the season, with the Reds running out 2-1 winners, courtesy of Adam Phillips and Sam Cosgrove. You Reds!

 

A very good, entertaining 2-1 home win, Cosgrove and a debutant to notch

 

3-1 Reds.

 

3-1 tarn

 

Last time I saw us play Mansfield was at Field Mill. I was stationed at Digby at the time, near Lincoln, and took three of my RAF colleagues with me promising them an entertaining night. None of them believed me as we were Third Division at the time and their support was for First Division sides. How wrong they were! This was the electric season with Norman Hunter leading the charge for promotion. I remember Ian Evans heading one in and the lads with me cheering wildly alongside! They couldn't believe how good the Reds were, running out 4-1 winners. Definitely one of my favourite away days

 

Colliers 2 Stags 0

 

Remember that one well as it’s my only ever visit to Field Mill. Think it was a Tuesday night game near to the end of the season?

 

3-0
Cozzy, Phillips, Roberts.

13,362

 

First games of the season aren't a lottery but definitely a one off.. By that I mean whatever happens on the first day normally doesn't correspond to the rest of the season.. I'd expect Mansfield to be still on the crest of a promotion wave, so i wouldn't rule out an away win.. Having said that we are the home team with 'on paper' better players so should win..
So I'm going for a opening day draw 1-1..

 

The first game of any new season is always difficult to predict, even moreso when transfer business has clearly not been completed both incoming and outgoing.

My instinct says we may struggle to keep clean sheets and though I expect high intensity, at times we may also struggle to create and convert good quality chances. I do think we have a very strong midfield though and our set pieces could be key.

But first game out I fancy our chances to come out on top. 3-2.

 

Yeah I was there that night.. didn't we go a goal down as well.. remember Derrick Parker scoring one first half at the opposite end.

 

Bore draw 0-0
We’ll play okay, but lack of options & quality up front will be evident.

 

I agree, bore draw. 0-0.
Tepid stuff.

 

Hopefully a 4-0 win for the reds but I’d like to see Lou Reed have a stormer for Mansfield. Penistone lad, and I worked with his mam and dad for a few years.

 

A poor start to the season before the window closes should ensure that those in power realise they have to strengthen asap. I hope so because the current squad is not good enough to go up. My prediction is Barnsley 1 Mansfield 2.

 

3-1 reds.

Have a feeling this season could be an entertaining one with regards to goals.

 

Can we have another 7-0 please?

 

Yes April I think, and quite warm

 

You could be right but I don’t recall the sequence of scoring

 

He’ll be taking a Walk on the Wild Side then?