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

Mansfield Town will be looking to make it five League Two victories in a row when they welcome Swindon Town to Nottinghamshire on Tuesday night.

The home side are currently ninth in the table, three points off the playoff positions, while Swindon sit fifth, boasting 37 points from their opening 23 matches of the 2021-22 campaign.

Match preview

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Mansfield suffered a 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with the Championship outfit winning the contest in the 95th minute of the contest courtesy of an own goal from Elliott Hewitt.

The Stags, who finished 16th in League Two last season, have been in excellent form in the league since the end of November, winning their last four games against Crawley Town, Carlisle United, Salford City and Hartlepool United.

A record of nine wins, five draws and eight defeats from 22 matches has brought Mansfield 32 points, which has left them in ninth position in the table, just three points off seventh-placed Newport County, who have played 24 league fixtures this term.

Nigel Clough's side will be looking to bounce back from their FA Cup disappointment in this match, and they have impressed in front of their own supporters this season, picking up 24 points from 13 games, which is the joint-second best record in the fourth tier this term.

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Swindon were in FA Cup action on Friday, suffering a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City, with Harry McKirdy getting his name on the scoresheet for the fourth-tier outfit.

Town, who were relegated from League One last season, have been in impressive form in League Two this season, collecting 37 points from their 22 matches to sit fifth in the table.

Ben Garner's side are only four points behind third-placed Tranmere Rovers with a game in hand and will certainly fancy their chances of making a strong challenge for a return to the third tier next term.

Swindon have actually only won one of their last five League Two matches, but that success came on home soil on New Year's Day, recording a 5-2 victory over Northampton Town.

The Red and Whites are also unbeaten in their last seven matches against Mansfield in League Two, recording five wins in the process, including a 1-0 success in front of their own supporters back in August.

Team News

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Mansfield boss Clough is expected to keep faith with the majority of the side that started against Boro in the FA Cup on Saturday, with Jordan Bowery and Rhys Oates featuring as the front two.

There could be a change in the number 10 position, though, with Jason Law potentially coming in for Stephen Quinn.

John-Joe O'Toole played in the middle of the defence in the FA Cup but could operate in midfield against Swindon, while George Maris should also be in the starting side.

As for Swindon, McKirdy has been in excellent form during the 2021-22 campaign, finding the back of the net on nine occasions in the league, and the 24-year-old will again lead the line.

Jack Payne has also starred this season, netting eight times in League Two, and he will operate in a wide area, with Tyreece Simpson joining McKirdy through the middle.

Jonny Williams was a substitute against Man City in the FA Cup, but the experienced midfielder should be back in the starting side for this game.

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

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Hunt, Odimayo, Iandolo; Kessler, Lyden, Reed, Williams, Payne; Simpson, McKirdy

We say: Mansfield Town 2-2 Swindon Town

This has all the makings of an excellent game of football, and we are predicting goals on Tuesday night. Swindon have so much quality in the forward areas, but Mansfield have impressed on home soil this season, and we are backing the two teams to share the spoils in an entertaining affair.

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