Both Accrington Stanley and Mansfield Town will be bidding to return to winning ways in League Two when they lock horns at the Crown Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Accrington, who sit eighth in the table, suffered a 3-1 loss at Notts County in their last league match, while seventh-placed Mansfield played out a goalless draw with Bradford City.

Match preview

Accrington were relegated from League One last season, finishing 23rd in the table, so they will be aiming for immediate promotion back to the third tier for the 2024-25 campaign.

John Coleman's side have picked up 10 points from their opening six matches of the season, which has left them in eighth position in the table, just three points behind leaders Notts County.

Accrington suffered a 3-1 defeat at Notts County in the league last weekend, but they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

Coleman's team now have back-to-back home matches against Mansfield and Sutton United in the league before travelling to Tranmere Rovers in their penultimate game of the month.

Accrington will be expecting to be high up the league table this season, and they have only lost two of their previous 16 matches against Mansfield in all competitions.

Mansfield, meanwhile, played out a goalless draw with Bradford in the league last weekend, which stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games this season.

The Stags managed to progress into the third round of the EFL Cup courtesy of a penalty-shootout success over Sheffield Wednesday in the second round of the competition.

Nigel Clough's side have won two and drawn four of their six league games this season, meanwhile, with a total of 10 points leaving them in seventh position in the table, ahead of Accrington on goal difference.

Mansfield finished eighth in League Two last season, missing out on the playoffs on goal difference, and they will also be expecting to challenge for potential promotion this term.

The Nottinghamshire-based outfit, as mentioned, have only beaten Accrington twice, but one of those wins was a 6-1 success in the last meeting between the two sides in the EFL Cup in August 2018.

Team News

Accrington boss Coleman will make changes to the side that started against Carlisle in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening, with Josh Andrews set to return in the final third of the field.

Andrews has netted twice in League Two this season and should lead the line, while Jack Nolan, who has also netted twice this term, is also set to return to the first XI.

There were positives from the defeat at Notts County last weekend, and it would not be a surprise to see the same team for this contest, with Toby Savin also returning between the sticks.

Mansfield, meanwhile, have not reported any fresh injury concerns ahead of the contest.

George Maris has made a strong start to the season, scoring twice, and the 27-year-old is expected to continue in a wide position for the visitors here.

Will Swan is yet to get off the mark this season in terms of goals, but he should continue in the final third of the field, while there will also be another start for the experienced Lucas Akins.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Mellor, Hills, Gubbins, Longelo-Mbule; Conneely, Coyle; Whalley, Leigh, Nolan; Andrews

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Bowery, Flint, Brunt, MacDonald; Maris, Reed, Clarke; Akins, Keillor-Dunn, Swan

We say: Accrington Stanley 1-1 Mansfield Town

Mansfield are yet to lose this season and will provide tough opposition for Accrington, who will be aiming to return to winning ways in League Two. It would not be a surprise to see a home or indeed an away win, but we are expecting the points to be shared on Saturday afternoon.

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