Mansfield Town will travel to Northampton Town for the second leg og their League Two playoff semi-final holding a 2-1 advantage form the opening game.
Whichever side that succeeds from the contest at Sixfields on Wednesday will set up a Wembley showdown with either Port Vale or Swindon Town.
Despite finishing the regular season with a six-game unbeaten streak, Northampton went into the opening fixture of this semi-final full of disappointment after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion.
Jon Brady had a huge task on his hands to keep his side spirits up, and it appeared that he had failed with the same when Northampton went 2-0 down at Field Mill within 32 minutes.
However, an effort from Ali Koiki after the break has left this tie delicately poised with both managers having reasons to believe that their team are favourites to advance to the finals.
Northampton failed to get back on level terms, despite having built a certain level of momentum ahead of the second half.
Although they registered a seventh-best home return during the regular campaign, they collected 44 points from 23 matches, losing just five times.
Meanwhile, Manfield’s efforts on their travels were far inferior, Nigel Clough’s side winning just seven of their matches and finishing the campaign on a run of just five points from as many games.
On the positive, Mansfield are on a five-game unbeaten run, while they have scored twice in each of those contests with the goals being shared amongst the players.
Leading marksman Rhys Oates ended a six-game wait for another goal on Saturday, getting on the scoresheet for the first time since the end of March.
The corresponding fixture during the regular season took place all the way back in October, with Northampton having prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline on that occasion.
Northampton Town vs Mansfield Town head to head
The two teams have previously met on 33 occasions in all competitions, where Mansfield have claimed 14 victories while Northampton have won 10, and they have drawn in nine. Mansfield have scored 41 goals and conceded 37. In their last five meetings, Mansfield have won three, Northampton once with one draw.
Mansfield Town 1-1 Northampton Town 21/12/19
Northampton Town 1-2 Mansfield Town 07/03/20
Northampton Town 2-0 Mansfield Town 16/10/21
Mansfield Town 1-0 Northampton Town 02/04/22
Mansfield Town 2-1 Northampton Town 14/05/22
Northampton Town latest home form
Northampton have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. Their last home defeat came 1-0 against Bristol Rovers on March 19 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded just two.
Northampton Town 0-1 Bristol Rovers 19/03/22
Northampton Town 2-0 Hartlepool United 26/03/22
Northampton Town 0-0 Bradford City 09/04/22
Northampton Town 3-0 Harrogate Town 18/04/22
Northampton Town 1-1 Exeter City 30/04/22
Northampton Town latest away form
Northampton have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having won three of their five most recent matches. They however lost 2-1 to Mansfield Town in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded six.
Mansfield Town 1-0 Northampton Town 02/04/22
Oldham Athletic 0-2 Northampton Town 15/04/22
Leyton Orient 2-4 Northampton Town 23/04/22
Barrow 1-3 Northampton Town 07/05/22
Mansfield Town 2-1 Northampton Town 14/05/22
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 one of their five most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Carlton Town in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded five.
Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Mansfield Town 05/04/22
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 news
Northampton will be able to call upon first-choice goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who served a one-match suspension for the first leg.
Josh Felix-Eppiah could replace Idris Kanu if passed fit to start after his substitute match on Saturday, while Aaron McGowan could come back into contention at right-back after not featuring since April 30.
Mansfield Town news
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough could stick with the same XI from the first leg, despite Northampton having the better of the closing stages.
Matty Longstaff is likely to keep his spot in the squad, but Ryan Stirk is an alternative in midfield after making his first match in almost a month.
Prediction and Odds
Having kept themselves in the tie, Northampton will fancy their chances of a home advantage to pick up a positive result.
However, we feel that Mansfield will be capable of doing just enough on Wednesday to come through this tie, possibly paying out a draw and win on aggregate.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Northampton Town 0-0 Mansfield Town
Northampton Town 1-1 Mansfield Town
Northampton Town 2-2 Mansfield Town
Northampton Town 2-1 Mansfield Town
Northampton Town 0-1 Mansfield Town
