Football – England – League Two
Saturday 20th September 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Mansfield Town’s recent form has been a bit hit-and-miss of late but they have a great chance of posting back-to-back wins this Saturday afternoon when they host bottom club Carlisle United at Field Mill following their midweek win over Morecambe.
Mansfield registered a much-needed win over fourth placed Morecambe on Tuesday night with a 1-0 victory which lifted them up into the top half of League Two, and another three points this afternoon could lift The Stags up into one of the play-off places.
Home form has been solid for the hosts as they’ve also racked up wins over Oxford United 2-1 and Newport County 1-0 with just the one defeat so far which was a 1-2 loss to burton Albion who once again are one of the serious contenders for promotion this term.
It’s also interesting to note that Mansfield Town have started and finished games strongly this season with 74% of their goals coming in either the first or last 15 minutes of a match – another statistic for you footballing nerds out there (of which I am one!)
Visitors Carlisle United continue searching for their first league win of the season as they make the trip down to Nottinghamshire having attained just three points from their first eight matches of the season.
Following their enthralling 4-4 draw with AFC Wimbledon recently, The Cumbrians have lost their last two back-to-back and most worryingly of all, both to nil; 0-3 at home to Bury and a 0-1 loss away at Shrewsbury Town.
Away from home, Carlisle have failed to score in four of their last five on the road while their overall away record going into this afternoon’s clash reads a sorry 0-1-3 1/9 and their lack of goals certainly hasn’t helped their cause.
Incidentally, Carlisle have not scored a goal in the last 15 minutes of any league match to date, and this could come back to haunt them at Mansfield today. I’ll therefore back the hosts to grab all three points today, winning perhaps 2-1.
Pick: Mansfield Town straight win @ 2.00 Coral
