Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Mansfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol Rovers play host to Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will edge them closer to survival in the third tier of English football.

At a time when the home side sit in 20th position in the League One table, Mansfield are just two points ahead of them in 17th place.

Match preview

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With Bristol Rovers sitting six points clear of the drop zone, Inigo Calderon can be satisfied with the work he has done since his December arrival.

However, the Pirates have still lost 10 of 18 games under the Spaniard, including the last two where they have conceded six times.

A 5-0 reverse at Lincoln City was followed by a potentially-pivotal 1-0 defeat at the hands of relegation rivals Crawley Town, who have moved to within nine points of Rovers with eight games left.

That said, Bristol Rovers have proven to be an entirely different beast at the Memorial Stadium, winning nine of their 18 home encounters in the league during 2024-25.

Promotion contenders Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers have been overcome in the last two fixtures on familiar territory, highlighting the size of the task in front of Mansfield.

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The fact that Nigel Clough has remained in a job at the One Call Stadium is largely down to the respect he has earned throughout his managerial career.

Most managers would have been sacked having accumulated just four points across a 14-match period in League One, but that first victory since January 4 finally arrived last time out.

A last-gasp goal earned a 2-1 victory over Barnsley, the result putting a positive spin on recent games with six points having been accumulated from five outings with just the one defeat.

Most importantly, Mansfield now sit eight points clear of 21st place ahead of trying to end a seven-game away streak without success.

Team News

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Calderon is likely to tinker with his Bristol Rovers XI with Lino Sousa an option to return at left-back.

Gatlin O'Donkor could be restored down the centre of the attack, leading to Isaac Hutchinson dropping into a deeper role or down to the substitutes' bench.

Shaq Forde may get the nod on the right flank as Calderon looks for ways to end a two-match streak without his team scoring a goal.

With no game for 12 days, Clough will have had plenty of time to ponder over a formation change having introduced forward Jordan Rhodes for defender Baily Cargill last time out.

However, sticking with a back three appears more likely here, particularly when Clough continues to deal with several injured players Rhys Oates and Lee Gregory.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup: J. Ward; Hunt, Wilson, Taylor, Sousa; Butcher; Forde, G. Ward, Shaw, Sinclair; O'Donkor

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup: Pym; Bowery, Oshilaja, Cargill; Akins, Reed, Boateng, McLaughlin; Baccus, Evans; Vickers

We say: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Mansfield Town

While getting back to winning ways last time out was invaluable to Mansfield, it remains to be seen whether they can back it up. Bristol Rovers may have lost their last two fixtures, yet we are backing the Pirates to deliver at their home ground under Calderon yet again.

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