Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes the quality of finishing will play a huge part in their derby fixture against Notts County this weekend, according to Stephen Thirkill from Chad.
The Stags, who are yet to taste a single league defeat so far this term, will make the short trip to Meadow Lane this weekend where they will face a strong Magpies side, who have enjoyed a wonderful start to life since returning to the EFL.
Notts County, promoted out of the National League last season via a penalty shootout victory over Chesterfield in the playoffs, currently find themselves top of the league after the first 12 games of the season, winning seven of them and only falling to defeat twice.
The Meadow Lane outfit have found the back of the net 27 times in the league already this season alongside Swindon Town, with only Crewe Alexandra, who sit sixth in the table, having scored more goals than the two sides so far, hitting 28.
As for Mansfield, they currently occupy fifth position in the League Two table, winning four of their opening 12 fixtures, as well as drawing the other eight.
The Yellows currently occupy the league’s best defence so far this campaign, with the Field Mill outfit only conceding nine goals in their first 12 matches of the campaign.
Speaking ahead of their clash with Notts County which is set to be played in front of over 16,500 fans at Meadow Lane and in front of the Sky Sports cameras, Mansfield boss Clough has outlined that finishing will play a huge role in the game if they are to leave Nottingham with anything in what he thinks will be a game of fine margins.
“It will probably come down to finishing,” said Clough.
“There will be chances within the game because of how both teams played and it will be down to who converts them.
“It will be a game of fine margins. It might be a bit nervy early on. I hope it’s a good match for everyone. We will try to play in the same way that we have from the first minute at Crewe.
“Notts pose certain problems to you on the pitch with the way they play, they are very expansive. We are going to have to defend extremely well to restrict them. Barrow did that on Saturday but on their home patch, they are very strong.
“We will try to preserve our unbeaten run, but not in a negative way.”
Writer’s View
With Notts County making their long-anticipated return to the Football League, that means we get this fixture against Mansfield Town back, in a derby which means a lot to the fans of both The Magpies and The Stags.
Both have made excellent starts to their respective campaigns as well. Notts have quickly gotten over their 5-1 drubbing at Sutton United on the opening day and currently sit top of the league.
Mansfield, on the other hand, are yet to taste a league defeat in their opening 12 matches of the season and are also in the last 16 in the Carabao Cup, in which they will play host to League One Port Vale for a place in the quarter-finals.
With what looks to be heading towards a sold-out Meadow Lane, as well as in front of the Sky Sports cameras, this is set to be a fixture that is sure to put the English fourth tier in a positive light.
