Mansfield Town and Port Vale will be having an encounter in the League Two playoff final on Saturday having come through tense semi-final matches.
Having failed to win more than two games in succession since the end of January, Mansfield would have counted themselves lucky to make playoffs, particularly as they ended the season with successive draws.
However, despite only securing seventh spot, they are now the marginal favourites for promotion through their performances against third-placed Northampton Town in the semi-finals.
There moments during the two legs when Northampton had it easy, but as soon as Mansfield opened up an early two-goal advantage in the opening game, they generally controlled the tie.
Nigel Clough’s side are now on a six-game unbeated streak with two goals being scored in five of those matches, the only time they did not being when they were defending their aggregate against Northampton.
Mansfield’s current position with leading marksman Rhys Oates having scored just once since March 29, highlights how goals being shared around this group of players has benefitted the team.
The same fact can be said for Port Vale with three of their players being in double figures without any of them having scored more than 12 times.
The fact that Port Vale’s last three wins have all come by 1-0 scoreline, with four defeats coming during that run, is a statistic that sticks out heading into this fixture.
Back on April 9 is the last time that Darrell Clarke’s side scored more than once in a game, but Clarke will not be so keen having witnessed his team battle their way to some important results.
They required penalties to eventually defeat Swindon Town in the semi-finals, Vale impressively fighting back having earlier trailed by a 2-0 deficit on aggregate after 68 minutes of the game.
Mansfield Town vs Port Vale head to head
The two teams have previously met on 14 occasions across all competitions, where they have claimed five victories each while they have drawn in four. Mansfield have scored 25 goals and conceded 18 in the process. In their last five meetings, Vale have won once, Mansfield twice with two draws.
Mansfield Town 2-2 Port Vale 26/12/19
Mansfield Town 4-0 Port Vale 02/01/21
Port Vale 0-3 Mansfield Town 08/05/21
Mansfield Town 1-1 Port Vale 19/10/21
Port Vale 3-1 Mansfield Town 15/03/22
Mansfield Town latest home form
Mansfield have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Northampton Town 2-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded four.
Mansfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town 23/04/22
Mansfield Town 2-0 Stevenage 26/04/22
Mansfield Town 7-1 Newark FC 27/04/22
Mansfield Town 2-2 Forest Green Rovers 07/05/22
Mansfield Town 2-1 Northampton Town 14/05/22
Mansfield Town latest away form
Mansfield have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They defeated Northampton Town 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded four.
Scunthorpe United 0-4 Mansfield Town 09/04/22
Carlisle United 1-0 Mansfield Town 18/04/22
Salford City 2-2 Mansfield Town 02/05/22
Carlton Town 1-0 Mansfield Town 04/05/22
Northampton Town 0-1 Mansfield Town 18/05/22
Port Vale latest home form
Port Vale have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having lost two of their three most recent matches. They defeated Swindon Town through penalties in their last home game in the playoff semi-final. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded seven.
Port Vale 2-0 Sutton United 26/03/22
Port Vale 3-2 Oldham Athletic 09/04/22
Port Vale 1-3 Bristol Rovers 18/04/22
Port Vale 1-2 Newport County 02/05/22
Port Vale (P)1-0 Swindon Town 19/05/22
Port Vale latest away form
Port Vale have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having lost two of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Swindon Town in their last away game in the playoff semi-final’s first leg. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded four.
Salford City 0-1 Port Vale 05/04/22
Hartlepool United 0-1 Port Vale 15/04/22
Walsall 2-0 Port Vale 23/04/22
Exeter City 0-1 Port Vale 07/05/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale 15/05/22
Mansfield Town news
Mansfield will be hoping George Maris will be available after he was forced to miss the second leg with Northampton Town due to injury.
Matty Longstaff and Jamie Murphy also dropped down to the subsititutes’ bench, but Longstaff is likely to be recalled to the team, with Elliott Hewitt possibly missing out.
Port Vale news
Malvind Benning is expected to on the flank for the visitors, while Jake Taylor and Harry Charsley are competing for a spot in the Port Vale midfield.
Despite having failed to score since the middle of March, Kian Harratt appears likely to get the nod over Ryan Edmondson in attack.
Prediction and Odds
The two sides have come through tough contests in the semi-finals, which leaves them with plenty of momentum ahead of the showpiece at the Wembley Stadium.
Having won each of their two matches against Northampton, Mansfield will certainly have the confidence of overcoming their Saturday’s opponents with a home win.
Odds: 1 1.77 X 2.05 2 2.26
Probable outcomes
Mansfield Town 1-0 Port Vale
Mansfield Town 2-0 Port Vale
Mansfield Town 2-1 Port Vale
Mansfield Town 1-1 Port Vale
Mansfield Town 2-2 Port Vale
