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Mansfield
Aim To Keep Dream Alive
7th April 2006
Mansfield Town are the visitors to Sincil Bank on
Saturday, as they seek to keep their belated play-off
dream alive.
This is a vital match for both Lincoln City and
Mansfield, as the loser could see their playoff's dream
vanish for another season.
For Mansfield to even have this dream is quite remarkable
because a couple of months ago, their dream was to
survive in the Football League. An unexpected
transformation led by manager Peter Shirtliff - who took
over the reigns earlier this season - has now led to
Mansfield dreaming of the play-off's.
Presently, Mansfield sit in twelfth position in the
League Two table and are five points behind the final
play-off place. It seems an unlikely possibility that
Mansfield will qualify but based on their recent form, it
remains an outside bet.
A rallying Shirtliff said: "You never know in
football. Anything can happen and we have given up
nothing yet.
"You can't write off the play-offs when there is
only a five point gap. It is a tall order with only six
games left but we will go for it."
Mansfield have lost just once in their past ten matches;
a run that has included four victories from their past
six matches. Their only defeat of the ten came two weeks
ago, when they lost 2-0 at Bristol Rovers. Last Saturday,
they returned to winning ways via a 1-0 victory over
Oxford United.
One of the main reasons for Mansfield's transformation
has been the goals of Ritchie Barker. This season, he has
scored seventeen times in thirty-seven league
appearances, and has always been a consistent goal
scorer.
Meanwhile, Lincoln head into this match level on points
with Peterborough United, who occupy the final play-off
place. A disappointing 4-2 loss at Darlington last
Saturday has cast doubts over Lincoln's credentials for
promotion. Imps' boss Keith Alexander was fuming after
the match and has demanded much more from his side.
Alexander could make alterations to the side that lost to
Darlington. The midfield and defensive areas are the most
likely to see a change but a complete switch in tactics
is not impossible. Lincoln currently have several
defenders on the injured list, which has caused a
knock-on effect to the midfield, as players drop back to
deputise in defence.
Left-back Jeff Hughes made a welcome return at
Darlington, and was even voted man of the match. Central
defenders Gareth McAuley and Paul Morgan remain on the
long-term injured list, with no date set for their return
to the first team. Paul Mayo definitely misses this match
with a broken arm, while striker Simon Yeo continues his
rest to enable knee ligament damage to heal.
Mansfield have their own injury woes, as up to four
players could miss out. Rhys Day (dead leg), Gareth
Jellyman (knee), Simon Brown (hernia) and Allan Russell
(broken toe) are all rated doubtful.
These two clubs first met on the 29th August 1934, when
Lincoln recorded a 4-3 win at Mansfield in a Division 3
North encounter. Four days later, Lincoln won the return
fixture by a 4-0 score line. For a full historical
round-up of the results between these two clubs, please
click here.
Odds supplied by Sportingodds, who regularly offer free and
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Please click for Bristol
Rovers, Darlington, Lincoln
City, Mansfield
Town, Peterborough
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United
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