Newport aim to build on Tuesday’s 4-1 win at Harrogate Town when they welcome league leaders Mansfield to Rodney Parade on Saturday.
Manager Graham Coughlan mixed things up for Tuesday’s game with Kyle Jameson, Lewis Payne, and Offrande Zanzala stepping into the starting XI. Impressive performances from all three men, including a brace from Zanzala, will leave the manager with some tough decisions ahead of kick-off on Saturday.
Declan Drysdale also made his return to the side on Tuesday, but the defender was an unused sub. The defender will be looking to get some game time against Mansfield as he continues on his road to full fitness.
Manager’s Comments
Top of the league, Mansfield will be a tough nut to crack, and Manager Graham Coughlan agrees that his side will have to be on top form on Saturday, in order to see a positive result from the clash: "It was only last week they [Mansfield] scored nine goals against Harrogate!" he explained.
"We're going up against top of the table. We're going up against the big boys in the division.
"It'll be a great yard stick, a great benchmark for our players to see where we are, which we'll need to monitor if we want to continue to build and progress over the coming seasons.
"Yes they're top of the table, they will perhaps win the league and be playing league one football next season, it wouldn't surprise me.
"Where they are strongest is they can rest and rotate, they have fantastic strenght in depth which is where we have been unable to keep up with them this season," confirmed Coughlan.
You can watch Coughlan's full pre-match press conference by clicking HERE.
Opposition Form
Mansfield Town come into Saturday’s game precariously placed at the top of the league table. The Stags sit clear of Stockport on goal difference, with both Wrexham and Crewe within touching distance.
The Stags have won four of their last six games, losing two. Their goalscoring exploits have been the biggest head-turner, with the team scoring 21 goals in that time. The bulk of these came in their impressive 9-2 home victory over Harrogate Town.
Mansfield’s top scorer this season has been Davis Keillor-Dunn, with the striker hitting the net 17 times. He has hit four goals in his last ten games, though, in two of those games, he started on the bench.
Nigel Clough’s team have goals coming from all over the pitch at the moment. Will Swann has scored five in his last six games, while Lucas Akins and Hiram Boateng have hit four and three in their last three outings, respectively.
Last Time Out
Our last match with Mansfield took place at the Field Mill stadium in November. The Stags ran out confident 2-0 winners on the day. An early goal from Keillor-Dunn put us on the back foot before the striker added another at the beginning of the second half.
Watch the match highlights HERE.
Ticket Info
| Age Category | Price |
| Adult seated | £26 |
| Adult standing | £23 |
| Senior 60+ seated | £22 |
| Senior 60+ standing | £21 |
| Young Adult 16-21 seated | £20 |
| Young Adult 16-21 standing | £17 |
| Under 16 seated | £14 |
| Under 16 standing | £14 |
| Under 12 seated | £12 |
| Under 12 standing | £12 |
You can secure your match ticket by clicking HERE.
Tickets will be available to purchase on the day, however with a small price increase of £2.
Head to Head
Mansfield Town have been regular league opponents since we first met them back in 1937. In the 87 years since, we have played each other 42 times. Saturday’s visitors have won 21 of those encounters, while we have won 10.
Played for Both
Aaron Lewis
A former Exile that has played a key role in Mansfield’s title-push this campaign has been Aaron Lewis. The exciting full-back left Rodney Parade last summer before joining Mansfield Town, where he has been a regular in their starting XI.
Lewis made 95 appearances for Newport, hitting the net four times in the three seasons he spent at the club.
Graham Coughlan
Another familiar face for Mansfield fans will be our gaffer, Graham Coughlan. Coughlan managed The Stags for 27 games between December 2019 and October 2020.
Match Sponsorship
Saturday's matchball sponsor is County in the Community. County In The Community Trust is one of 72 league clubs affiliated to The Football League Trust, delivering sporting projects and schemes for everyone in Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen.
To find out more about the fantastic programmes and initiatives that County in the Community run, click HERE.