Mansfield Town will try to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Walsall when they welcome Barrow to the One Call Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts currently sit in the final playoff position in League Two, while Barrow have dropped down to 10th place after failing to win any of their last five league games.

Match preview

Mansfield rounded off 2022 with a four-match unbeaten run, but that promising run of form was ended by Walsall in their first match of the new year.

Goals from Douglas James-Taylor and Liam Kinsella gave Walsall a two-goal lead, and although Rhys Oates halved the deficit in the 83rd minute, Mansfield were unable to find the elusive equaliser.

While Mansfield currently occupy a playoff place, Nigel Clough will be keen for his side to start picking up regular victories after winning only three of their last 11 league games.

They can at least take confidence from the fact that two of those wins have arrived in their last five matches, and they have also fared well in recent head-to-head meetings with Barrow.

Mansfield have emerged victorious from the last three competitive matches between the two sides, however, all three of those wins took place away from home.

Meanwhile, a five-game winless run has seen Barrow drop from fourth position down to 10th place, although they are only two points adrift of Saturday's opponents.

They at least managed to avoid a third straight home defeat when they began the new year with a goalless draw against Rochdale.

The Barrow defence would have also taken confidence from the result, as it ended a run of nine competitive games without a clean sheet.

While the Bluebirds boast the fourth-best home record in the fourth tier, they will be keen to improve upon their recent away form.

Pete Wild's side have failed to win any of their last six away league games, and they have only scored three goals in that period, highlighting the need to improve in the final third if they are to start picking up positive results on the road.

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Riley Harbottle, Ollie Clarke and James Gale, while Anthony Hartigan is also sidelined after he dislocated his shoulder for the second time this season during the defeat to Walsall.

Clough also has concerns over the availability of Lucas Akins and Kieran Wallace, who both missed the first match of the new year with ankle problems.

Elliott Hewitt was also unavailable for the Walsall clash, but he could be included in the starting lineup if he recovers from illness in time for Saturday's contest.

As for the visitors, Elliot Newby recently returned to the club for a second spell after signing from Stockport County, and he could be included in the matchday squad.

Newby may have to settle for a place on the bench, and he could be joined by fellow January signing Rory Feely, if all the required paperwork is completed in time.

After dropping out of the side for the goalless draw against Rochdale, Tyrell Warren and Josh Gordon could return to the starting XI.

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Hewitt, Hawkins, Perch, McLaughlin; Boateng, Maris, Quinn, Lapslie; Swan, Oates

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Moloney; Warren, Ray, Canavan, Brough; Neal, White; Stevens, Waters, Whitfield; Gordon

We say: Mansfield Town 2-1 Barrow

Mansfield have won their last three meetings with Barrow, and with the visitors winless in six away away league games, we think that the Stags will claim a narrow victory on Saturday.

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