We welcome Mansfield Town to The New Lawn this weekend as we face the Stags for the first time this season. Our previous scheduled meetings against Mansfield this season have been postponed - and it'll be a tough test on Saturday with Nigel Clough's side flying high in League Two.
Here's a lowdown on this weekend's opponents.
IN THE DUGOUT
This season is Mansfield's 11th consecutive campaign in League Two, and while they've knocked on the door of the third tier with a fourth-placed, a seventh-placed and two eighth-placed finishes in that time, it looks as though Nigel Clough could lead the Stags to a promotion this season.
Clough took over at Mansfield in 2020 and boasts a win percentage of nearly 45%. The 57-year-old has managed the likes of Derby County and Sheffield United, but it was at Burton Albion where he had his biggest success. He led the Brewers to their first title in 52 years, to the Football League for the very first time and then, remarkably, to the Championship in 2016.
The experienced tactician is looking to add another promotion to his CV, and the Nottinghamshire-based side are primed to do so, having lost just three of their 29 league matches this season.
ONE TO WATCH
Davis Keillor-Dunn has been Mansfield's main source of attacking output this season, registering 20 goal involvements in 27 appearances. Playing at the tip of the diamond, this is already the 26-year-old's most prolific campaign of his career.
He impressed in back-to-back League Two campaigns for Oldham Athletic between 2020 and 2022, scoring 25 goals across two seasons for a struggling side, but he ultimately couldn't save them from dropping to the National League.
The Sunderland-born playmaker jumped up to League One at the beginning of last season with Burton Albion, before making a permanent move to the Stags last January.
A creative attacking player, watch out for Keillor-Dunn's shots from range; only Notts County frontman Macauley Langstaff has averaged more shots per game this season in League Two.
JANUARY BUSINESS
Sitting pretty in the top three in League Two, the Stags only added one name to their squad over January, bringing in Gillingham striker Tom Nichols. The forward joined Mansfield on an 18-month deal, bolstering Clough's attacking options. Nichols is experienced at this level, scoring over 60 goals across 250 appearances.
There was also little activity when it comes to outgoings, with John-Joe O'Toole joining fellow promotion hopefuls AFC Wimbledon on a loan deal until the end of the season.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
07/05/22- Mansfield Town 2-2 Forest Green Rovers (Longstaff 17’, Bowery 78’) (Adams 64’, March 80’)
05/04/22- Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Mansfield Town (March 14’)
23/03/21- Mansfield Town 0-0 Forest Green Rovers
14/11/20- Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Mansfield Town (Bailey 84’) (Lapslie 5’, Charsley 35’)
11/01/20- Mansfield Town 3-4 Forest Green Rovers (Hamilton 3’, Rose 40’, Maynard 90+1’) (Rawson 45+5’ 52’, Winchester 60’, Collins 90+6’)
