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

Mansfield Town will look to bounce back from three consecutive defeats in all competitions when they play host to Crawley Town in Tuesday's League One contest.

Like their hosts, the Reds will be desperate to collect maximum points after failing to win any of their last seven league matches.

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Match preview

Mansfield have experienced three disappointing results since they recorded their most recent victory in an away game against Stockport County earlier this month.

The Stags lost at home to Wigan Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup and league respectively, before they fell to a narrow defeat in Saturday's away meeting with relegation-threatened Cambridge United.

Mansfield mounted a late fightback after Cambridge had established a three-goal lead, with George Maris netting just past the hour mark, before Lee Gregory got on the scoresheet from a 91st-minute penalty.

However, it ultimately proved to be too little too late as Cambridge held on to condemn Mansfield to a 3-1 defeat, leaving them in 12th place and five points adrift of the League One playoffs.

Nigel Clough's side will be desperate to get their top-six bid back on track in Tuesday's encounter, with the hosts looking to complete a league double over Crawley after clinching a 2-0 victory in October's reverse fixture.

Crawley face an uphill task to retain their League One status after taking just two points from their last seven league matches since beating Charlton Athletic on December 3.

Rob Elliot's side fell to a fourth defeat in five away league matches in Saturday's clash with playoff hopefuls Stockport County.

Will Collar and Macauley Southam-Hales both found the net in the first half to condemn Crawley to a 2-0 defeat, leaving them in 23rd place and six points adrift from safety.

Crawley currently have the worst defensive record with 46 conceded goals in 25 league matches, while they are also the third-lowest scorers with 25 goals, highlighting a need to improve at both ends of the pitch if they are to close the gap to safety.

Tuesday's visitors will hope to produce a similar performance to the one that saw them ease to a 4-1 victory in their most recent away clash with Mansfield in April 2024.

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Team News

Mansfield are expected to be without the services of Rhys Oates, who has missed the last four matches due to injury.

Clough could be tempted to make changes to his side, with Hiram Boateng, Stephen McLaughlin and Maris all in contention after coming off the bench to play over half-an-hour against Cambridge.

Gregory is also set for a recall after he marked Saturday's substitute appearance with a goal from the penalty spot.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the injured quartet of Dion Conroy, Junior Quitirna, Josh Flint and Joy Mukena.

Midfielder Toby Malarkey is unlikely to be involved after he missed Saturday's defeat to Stockport with a back issue.

Harry Forster, Ronan Darcy and Max Anderson could be considered for starting spots if Elliot opts to make changes to his side.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup: Pym; Kilgour, Flint, Oshilaja; Hewitt, Baccus, Boateng, Maris, McLaughlin; Gregory, Evans

Crawley Town possible starting lineup: Wollacott; Radcliffe, Conroy, Barker; Camara, Anderson, Darcy, Adeyemo, Forster; Hepburn-Murphy, Showunmi

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We say: Mansfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town

Mansfield may have lost their last three competitive matches, but they have won two of their previous three home league matches, and we think that they will make full use of home advantage to claim all three points on Tuesday, especially as Crawley have lost four of their last five away matches.

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

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