Mansfield Town vs Middlesbrough Match Analysis and Prediction

5 years ago 836

Both Mansfield and Middlesbrough will be looking to extend their excellent forms when they lock horns in the third round of the FA Cup at Field Mill on Saturday afternoon with kickoff at 15:15.

Mansfield Town have made an impressive campaign this season and are pushing for a promotion to the third tier. The side at first had a difficult start to the campaign, but have since found their foot and will head into the Saturday’s match in a good form as they have won 10 of their last 11 matches across all competitions and have a five-match winning streak.

The impressive run has seen them rise from League Two’s relegation zone to three points outside the playoffs and are showing no signs of hitting the break button. They are also in a good home form and have picked more points at home in League Two than another side in the division and have won their last six games at Field Mill.

The Stags knocked out Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers, both of who are League One outfits, in the first and second rounds of the FA Cup to book a place against Middlesbrough in the third round. However, Nigel Clough’s side has only managed to get past this round once in the last 34 years and they will be looking to turn tables this time around.

Meanwhile Middlesbrough also had a rough start to their Championship campaign with the club strolling for points and consistency in the most of the first half of the campaign. However, the Teesiders have been doing great under Chris Wilder who was appointed to replace Neil Warnock and Middlesbrough can dream again about a return to the top flight.

Chris Wilder has only lost once since taking over and he has seen his new side rise to just one point behind the Championship playoff spots after winning five of their last six matches. They match against Sheffield united on New Year’s Eve was postponed due to positive Covid-19 tests in their squad and that means that they head into the match on the back of a 2-1 away victory at Blackpool, a win that extended their unbeaten run to six matches in the Championship.

Boro will now focus on the FA Cup where they have been knocked out in the third round in each of their last two years, but will fancy their chances this time around as they face a side who are two leagues below them.

Mansfield vs Middlesbrough head to head

Both sides have met in two occasions since 2008 with Middlesbrough claiming one victory while Mansfield are yet to record a win and there have been one draw.

Mansfield 2-2 Middlesbrough 19/07/17
Mansfield 0-2 Middlesbrough 26/01/08

Home

Mansfield 3-2 Hartlepool
Mansfield 2-2 Salford
Mansfield 1-0 Carlisle
Doncaster 2-3 Mansfield
Crawley 2-3 Mansfield

Away

Blackpool 1-2 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough 2-0 Nottingham
Middlesbrough 1-0 Bournemouth
Stoke 0-0 Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough 1-0 Swansea

Mansfield team news

Two unnamed Mansfield players have been ruled out of the game after testing positive for Covid-19, but Clough has the majority of his squad available again after recent postponed matches.