Preview: Lincoln City vs Mansfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Lincoln City and Mansfield Town square off on Saturday afternoon looking to build on their excellent starts to the new campaign.

With three wins from five games apiece, these two sides sit in seventh and ninth position in the League One table respectively.

Match preview

Wednesday's EFL Cup draw has provided Lincoln City with a blockbuster home draw against Chelsea, something that will bring plenty of excitement to the club.

For the time being, though, Michael Skubala and his side will be eager to build on their current form with 10 points coming from five games.

Lincoln's three victories have come against Reading, Plymouth Argyle and Northampton Town, while a 1-1 draw was earned at Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Despite netting just the seven times, the Imps are finding ways to get points on the board, and just one goal has been conceded in their most recent three matches in all competitions.

Freddie Draper and James Collins have netted two goals apiece in the league, the former having a total of three strikes and one assist in all competitions.

Mansfield's trip to Everton's new stadium on Wednesday night ended in disappointment as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.

However, as well as being proud of his side's effort on Merseyside, Nigel Clough will be content to focus on league action with Mansfield having impressed in recent games.

Exeter City, Blackpool and Leyton Orient have all been defeated in succession, an EFL Cup win over Chesterfield preceding that third-tier run.

Clough's team are the joint-highest goalscorers in the division with 10 strikes, seven different players having gotten on the scoresheet.

That all said, Mansfield have lost two of their four games on their travels this campaign, a defeat at Burton Albion being suffered in League One.

Lincoln City League One form:

W L W W D

Lincoln City form (all competitions):

L W W W D W

Mansfield Town League One form:

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Mansfield Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Barring any fitness issues, Skubala is expected to revert back to the Lincoln XI from the draw at Bolton.

Ben House and Draper came off the substitutes' bench to combine for the winner at Burton and should feature on the left-wing and down the centre of the attack respectively.

Clough will give consideration to introducing fresh legs on the back of the defeat at Everton where he stuck with his first-choice XI.

Aaron Lewis, George Maris and Luke Bolton are all in contention to feature in midfield and attack, the versatile Lewis still waiting for his first league start of the campaign.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Hamer, Jackson, Bradley, Towler, Darikwa; Hackett, Bayliss, McGrandles, House; Draper

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Knoyle, Bowery, Cargill, Blake-Tracy; McDonnell, Reed; Moriah-Welsh, Hendry, Dickov; Evans

We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Mansfield Town

Both teams will back themselves to come through with the three points given their strong starts to the season. However, we feel that a draw could play out, a result that would be acceptable for each side.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.