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

Mansfield Town will attempt to record their first win of the 2023-24 League Two campaign when they host Morecambe at Field Mill on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts were left frustrated in their opening-day draw with Crewe Alexandra, while the visitors left it late to beat Walsall.

Match preview

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Mansfield had to settle for a draw last Saturday at Gresty Road, after Crewe Alexandra fought from two goals down to frustrate Nigel Clough's side.

Calum MacDonald's 59th-minute sending off for the Stags slowed down Mansfield's momentum after two first-half strikes from Davis Keillor-Dunn had put them in charge.

Mickey Demetriou hit back for Crewe before the break, and immediately after MacDonald's dismissal Rio Adebisi levelled the game.

Nigel Clough's side finished eighth in League Two last season, boasting a record of 21 wins, 12 draws and 13 defeats from their 46 matches, which brought them 75 points, narrowly missing out on the playoff places, and they will be hoping to put together another promotion charge this season.

Mansfield also powered into the EFL Cup second round for the first time in five years with a convincing 2-0 home win over Grimsby Town, courtesy of a penalty from Lucas Akins, as well as a strike from Rhys Oates.

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Morecambe, meanwhile, saw their maiden journey in England's third tier come to an end when they were relegated on the final day of League One's campaign at the end of last season.

An injury-time goal from Farrend Rawson gave Derek Adams's side a 2-1 opening-day win over Walsall at the Mazuma Stadium last Saturday.

Adam Mayor gave Morecambe the lead in the 25th minute with a fine finish after a flowing move, before the visitors levelled after 38 minutes with a goal from Daniel Johnson.

The Shrimps were beaten on penalties in their first-round clash in the EFL Cup against Rotherham United on Tuesday, although the visitors led through Michael Mellon's strike into the bottom corner midway through the first half.

Now the attention turns to a Mansfield side that won nine of their 23 matches at home last season and won the last contest between the sides back in 2021.

Team News

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Nigel Clough made two changes for the midweek EFL Cup clash from the side that drew 2-2 at Crewe on the opening day of the League Two campaign, so he could rotate his side once more here.

Calum MacDonald was suspended for the midweek match after his red card against Crewe, with Jordan Bowery replacing him, so the latter could retain his place in the starting XI.

As for Morecambe, Cole Stockton has not featured since the final day of last season through a knee problem which is set to keep the forward out of Saturday's clash as well.

Michael Mellon could retain his place in attack after scoring his first senior goal against Rotherham, while Jacob Bedeau and Farrend Rawson are expected to make up the central defensive pairing.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Johnson, Cargill, Kilgour, Bowery; Lewis, David, Reed, Quinn; Oates, Akins

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Moore; Love, Bedeau, Rawson, Senior; King, Songo'o, McKiernan; Slew, Mellon, Bloxham

We say: Mansfield Town 1-1 Morecambe

This is a difficult match to call, as we believe there is not much difference between the sides in terms of quality.

Four of the last five meetings between the sides across all competitions have resulted in draws, so we think the teams will share the spoils this weekend.

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