Preview: Mansfield Town vs. Sutton United - prediction, team news, lineups

Mansfield Town and Sutton United will continue their respective League Two promotion bids when they face off at the One Call Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Holding a game in hand, Mansfield are one place and two points outside the playoff spots, while Sutton find themselves one place and two points behind the Stags.

Match preview

Mansfield Town head into Saturday's showdown on the back of a goalless draw with Grimsby Town in midweek, meaning that Nigel Clough's side have failed to win any of their last three games.

Following a 1-0 defeat at Northampton Town, Mansfield played out a 1-1 draw with Stockport County last weekend, so the Stags will be disappointed to have dropped more points at the One Call Stadium on Wednesday.

When you look at the bigger picture, however, Mansfield have lost just two of their previous 11 matches, with a run of five wins in seven outings keeping the club within touching distance of the top seven.

It is also worth noting that Clough's men are the third-highest scorers in the division, having chalked up 55 goals in 36 games this season, so they are expected to find the back of the net on Saturday.

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Ironically, Sutton United were also frustrated by Grimsby last time out, as the Mariners claimed a 1-0 win at the VBS Community Stadium to end the Yellows' nine-match unbeaten run.

After securing three straight victories over Swindon Town, Doncaster Rovers and Newport County, Sutton were held to a draw by Crewe Alexandra before crushing Crawley Town 3-0, but they failed to extend their hot streak last time out.

Having struggled on the road throughout the campaign – winning just four of their 18 away league matches – the South London outfit will need to be at their very best to beat Mansfield, who have suffered four defeats in 17 home encounters this term.

Still, Matt Gray's men can take confidence from the fact that they have only lost two of their past 15 league games, picking up eight wins along the way.

Team News

With Nottingham Forest loanee Will Swan out for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury, Mansfield Town look set to continue with Lucas Akins and Rhys Oates in attack.

Akins has bagged seven goals and two assists in the league this term, while Oates started the game against Grimsby in midweek after returning from an injury setback.

Another Nottingham Forest loanee, Riley Harbottle, has chipped in with five league goals from centre-back this season.

For the visitors, Omar Bugiel is expected to miss Saturday's clash having not featured in the previous game, meaning that Matthew Dennis and Lee Angol will likely continue up front.

Alistair Smith has contributed four goals and three assists from midfield this term, so the 23-year-old will partner Harry Beautyman in Sutton's engine room this weekend.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Harbottle, Kilgour, Perch; Hewitt, Clarke, Boateng, Bowery; Davis; Akins, Oates

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Kizzi, Goodliffe, Rowe, Milsom; Ajiboye, Beautyman, Smith, Randall; Dennis, Angol

We say: Mansfield Town 1-1 Sutton United

With both sides battling for promotion to League One, we expect Mansfield Town and Sutton United to play out a cagey draw at the One Call Stadium, keeping themselves in the mix for a playoff spot.

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