Preview: Mansfield Town vs. Colchester United - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have more modest expectations this season, and need to start picking up more points to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Match preview

Mansfield will start proceedings eighth in the League Two standings, just one point behind seventh-placed Swindon Town, who occupy the final playoff position.

Back in October, the Stags seemed to have their eyes on automatic promotion following a decent run, which culminated in a 2-1 win against Walsall, firing them to fourth in the table with a game in hand on the team above them.

However, lacklustre defending in recent weeks has caused Nigel Clough's side to slip down the standings, looking particularly frail at the back in a 5-2 home defeat to Swindon Town.

With 26 goals conceded, Mansfield have the worst defensive record of any team in the top 18, losing 3-0 away at Harrogate Town in their last league game, with Alex Pattison scoring after five minutes, before Luke Armstrong bagged himself a first-half brace.

Having been eliminated from the FA Cup in a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, the Stags crashed out of the EFL Trophy by the scoreline on Wednesday night, so they really need to start getting their season back on track, starting with a win against relegation-threatened Colchester.

Indeed, the U's have had a very poor season so far, winning just one of their opening nine league games, leading to the sacking of manager Wayne Brown after a 1-0 defeat to Grimsby Town.

Since the arrival of Matt Bloomfield, the Essex club have not fared much better, although they have one extra win in the same time frame, having won two of the nine league games under the helm of their new manager.

While results have not been the best, Bloomfield has seemingly made them somewhat harder to beat, as only once have they lost by more than a one-goal margin in the league since his appointment, in a 3-1 defeat at Barrow.

Away form has been the main factor in Colchester currently occupying 22nd place in League Two, outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone, as they have picked up just one point on their travels, the worst record on the road in the division.

Last time out in league action, the U's recorded their biggest victory of their season, 3-0 winners at home to Doncaster Rovers, with Alex Newby, Samson Tovide and Luke Hannant getting on the scoresheet in what should be a confidence-boosting win.

Mansfield Town League Two form:

L

D

L

L

W

L

Mansfield Town form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

L

L

Colchester United League Two form:

L

D

D

L

L

W

Colchester United form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Mansfield have been boosted by the return of Rhys Oates from a ruptured pectoral muscle in recent weeks, and he is set to start up front after netting against Everton U21s in the 2-1 loss on Wednesday night.

Midfielder Ollie Clarke could be back in the frame as he closes in on a return from a knock which has ruled him out of the last three games, although this weekend's fixture may be just a bit too soon.

Riley Harbottle missed out in the week, but could be brought back into the defence, alongside James Perch and Elliott Hewitt.

For Colchester, goalkeeper Sam Hornby will need to be assessed after suffering an ankle injury against Doncaster, but he should be fine to start, coming in for Kieran O'Hara.

Elsewhere, Emyr Huws has recently recovered from an injury and is an option in the U's midfield, but they are likely to stick by the players who featured in the win in their last league game, with Ossama Ashley and Alan Judge keeping their places.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Harbottle, Hewitt, Perch; Akins, Maris, Hartigan, Lapslie, Wallace; Bowery, Oates

Colchester United possible starting lineup:

Hornby; Tchamadeu, Chambers, Smith, Kazeem; Judge, Ashley, Newby, Hannant, Nouble; Tovide

We say: Mansfield Town 2-1 Colchester United

Mansfield have been in poor form in recent weeks, but this game serves as a good opportunity to get their season back on track. The Stags do not have a great defensive record, so they may concede, but they should have too much quality for Colchester to contend with.

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