Nigel Clough's Mansfield Town are set to host Paul Hurst's Shrewsbury Town at the One Call Stadium on Saturday in League One.
The home side are eighth after taking eight points from their five games so far, while the visitors are in 23rd place with three points from six matches.
Match preview
After more than 10 consecutive seasons in League Two, Mansfield Town have made a capable start to life in League One after being promoted in 2023-24.
Clough's side are currently two points from the playoff spots following their mixed beginning to the 2024-25 campaign, with a record of two wins, two draws and one loss.
Considering their inexperience at this higher tier, they have performed admirably in the league so far, and most recently beat strugglers Cambridge United 2-1 on September 14.
In that game, Mansfield showed great composure when Garry Monk's side levelled the score in the 50th minute, and managed to secure all three points when Lee Gregory scored his second of the match in the 68th minute.
Across the first five games of the season The Stags have scored nine goals and conceded 10, making them the division's seventh-best offensive team, though they do have League One's third-worst defensive record.
In contrast to Saturday's hosts, visitors Shrewsbury Town are League One regulars, and have made a poor start to the campaign.
Hurst's team have a record of four losses and one singular league victory in 2024-25, leaving them in the relegation zone and just two points above last-placed Cambridge United.
The Shrews will be hoping to reproduce their 3-0 win against Leyton Orient from August 31 rather than their most recent league game, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of high-flying Wrexham on September 7.
In the game against The Red Dragons, Shrewsbury produced zero big chances, an aspect of their performance Hurst will hope to improve as the season progresses considering they have scored just four goals this term.
With four goals scored and 10 conceded, 19 teams have netted more than The Shrews this campaign, while only two teams have conceded more often in 2024-25.
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Team News
After Stephen McLaughlin picked up a hamstring injury in the EFL Trophy loss to Bradford on September 17, Mansfield Town boss Clough has mentioned how concerned he is with his injury list.
Mansfield could also be without Will Evans who suffered a knock in the same game, as well as previously injured players such as Aden Flint, George Maris, Alfie Kilgour, Rhys Oates and Frazer Blake-Tracy.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without summer signing Josh Kayode for up to six weeks due to a calf injury.
However, manager Hurst revealed that Toto Nsiala has been in training after being substituted against Wrexham with an injury, while former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Rossiter is back in training but may not make the squad this weekend.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Wauchope, Cargill, Oshilaja, Hewitt; Quinn, Reed, Boateng, Nichols; Waine, Gregory
Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:
Savin; Benning, Feeney, Nsiala, Winchester; Ojo, Gilliead; Shipley, Castledine, Bloxham; Lloyd
We say: Mansfield Town 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Mansfield Town and Shrewsbury Town have both been rather lacklustre defensively this season, so expect both teams to concede.
That being said, Mansfield have separated themselves from Saturday's opposition at the other end of the pitch, so it would not be surprising to see The Stags outscore The Shrews for all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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