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

With their sights set firmly on a ninth consecutive league victory, Mansfield Town will make the trip to Wetherby Road for a League Two meeting with Harrogate Town.

Meanwhile, the hosts are currently enduring a poor run of form after winning just once in their previous seven league games.

Match preview

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Harrogate Town may be safe in 14th position in League Two, but they will be looking for a run of positive results after losing four of their last five league games.

A corner seemed to have been turned when Town earned a comfortable 3-0 victory against Oldham Athletic, but elimination from the EFL Trophy followed after a 1-0 loss away to Sutton United, before Harrogate suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the weekend against Stevenage.

Jake Reeves, Luke Norris and Jake Taylor all netted to condemn Simon Weaver and his side to a fourth consecutive away defeat in all competitions.

Having played four of their last five competitive fixtures away from home, Harrogate will be grateful to return to familiar surroundings on Tuesday, with Town aiming to claim consecutive home league victories.

Although, after conceding 11 goals in their six home league games, Town will have to be solid in defence if they are to trouble an in-form Mansfield side.

Mansfield's turnaround in fortunes has been nothing short of incredible, with the Stags winning 11 of their last 12 league games.

After 14 matches, Nigel Clough's side occupied a relegation place, but 12 league games later, they sit in sixth spot and are just three points adrift of the top three.

Goals from Jordan Bowery and Ollie Clarke helped Mansfield to their eighth consecutive league victory on Saturday as they swept aside Leyton Orient courtesy of a 2-0 scoreline.

Saturday's encounter was the 10th time in Mansfield's last 12 league games that they have scored at least twice, demonstrating their clinical nature in front of goal.

The Stags have been fortunate that six of their last seven league games have taken place at home, and after winning just three of their 10 away league matches, Clough's men still have room to improve on their travels.

Team News

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Calum Kavanagh made his debut for Harrogate with a substitute appearance on Saturday and the 18-year-old will be on the bench once again for the Mansfield clash.

After returning to the starting lineup at the weekend, Lewis Richards will line up in a back three alongside Rory McArdle and Warren Burrell.

With 23 league goals between them, Harrogate's possess a dangerous front three of Jack Muldoon, Jack Diamond and Luke Armstrong.

As for Mansfield, James Perch featured as a late substitute to make his first appearance since August after recovering from a skull fracture.

Clarke returned from a calf injury to score at the weekend, and the 29-year-old will retain his place in the midfield for Tuesday's encounter.

Meanwhile, Bowery will be aiming to score for the third game in a row when he partners Rhys Oates upfront.

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Burrell, McArdle, Richards; Thomson, Falkingham, Kerry, Page; Muldoon, Diamond, Armstrong

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Hewitt, O'Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin; Clarke, Stirk, Quinn, Maris; Bowery Oates

We say: Harrogate Town 1-3 Mansfield Town

With Harrogate currently in a rut and Mansfield riding a crest of a wave, we think that the visitors will claim a ninth consecutive league victory, and we expect the free-scoring Stags to be among the goals once again on Tuesday.

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