Rovers travel to the One Call Stadium to take on Mansfield Town in the final game of the 2021/22 League Two season this Saturday.
Already promoted, Rob Edwards and his men travel to Nottinghamshire one point off top spot heading into the final day.
For the last time this season, here is the lowdown on our upcoming opponents, the Stags.
MEET THE MANAGER: NIGEL CLOUGH
Former top flight midfielder Nigel Clough had an extremely distinguished playing career turning out for the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
He most notably played for Nottingham Forest and is a club legend, spending eleven years at the City Ground under the management of his father Brian Clough.
The ex-England international took up his first managerial role with then seventh tier outfit Burton Albion in 1998 helping them up the leagues.
Clough went on to have successful spells with Derby County and Sheffield United before returning to manage the Brewers helping the club to the Championship for the first time.
And at the end of 2020 Clough took over as manager of Mansfield where his century of games as Stags boss is on the horizon.
KEY PLAYER: OLI HAWKINS
The versatile Oli Hawkins has played in a variety of positions for the Stags since his arrival from Ipswich Town at the start of the season.
After years of experience in non-league football with the likes of Hemel Hempstead Town, Hawkins got a move to Portsmouth at the start of the 2017/18 season.
Hawkins left Pompey for Ipswich in 2020 after three years at the club, making just shy of 100 appearances, scoring 18 times.
But his time with the Tractor Boys was short lived, as he played just 23 times last term netting one goal, which came in a win over Crewe Alexandra.
The 30 year old has had an impressive season under Nigel Clough, scoring seven goals mainly playing his football at the heart of the defence.
FORM – DWWLL
15/04/22 – Mansfield Town 2-3 Sutton United
18/04/22 – Carlisle United 1-0 Mansfield Town
23/04/22 – Mansfield Town 2-0 Crawley Town
26/04/22 – Mansfield Town 2-0 Stevenage
02/05/22 – Salford City 2-2 Mansfield Town
LAST TIME OUT
Mansfield were held 2-2 by play-off hopefuls Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium on the Early May Bank Holiday Monday.
It took just two minutes for the game’s first goal to come, as League Two Team of the Season defender Jordan Turnbull brilliantly headed the Ammies in front.
But back came the Stags who were ahead at the break thanks to a brace from defender Stephen McLaughlin who netted a free kick before adding a second from the penalty spot.
Matty Lund brought the scores level once again after the break heading home a Brandon Thomas-Asante cross in front of the home crowd.
But neither side could snatch a winner meaning automatic promotion is out of the Stags’ hands whilst Salford’s hopes of a place in the play-offs is over.
LAST TIME WE MET
Rovers secured a third 1-0 victory in a row as they edged Nigel Clough’s Mansfield at The Fully Charged New Lawn last month.
The all-important goal came on 14 minutes in GL6 as Jamille Matt’s powered header was saved well by Nathan Bishop before Josh March volleyed home the rebound.
March nearly made it two not long after but Bishop was out quick to stop the striker from putting daylight between the sides.
Moments after the interval and the visitors were reduced to 10 men, as George Lapslie was given a straight red by referee Carl Brook.
And Rovers were able to see out the game comfortably to extend their unbeaten league run to four games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
It’s Rovers who hold a slight advantage over the Stags in the head-to-head, having won one more game than their upcoming opponents.
Rovers have lost just once against Mansfield in their last five outings and will be hoping to build on their recent 1-0 triumph when the sides last met.
The most memorable recent clash saw FGR edge a seven goal thriller back in 2020 as a hectic end to the game saw Rovers concede and score in added time, winning 4-3.
