Another Tough Test Awaits The Stags As They Face High-Flying AFC Wimbledon

Staying at the One Call Stadium, Mansfield Town face another stern challenge to test their promotion credentials as they take on second-placed AFC Wimbledon.

Looking to extend their unbeaten to 15 games and retain their status as the only team in England to be unbeaten in all competitions, the Stags will have a tough task on their hands with this weekend’s oppositions starting to string a good run of form.

AFC Wimbledon, unbeaten from their last four fixtures, will be looking to inflict a first defeat on Mansfield Town’s side and further stake a claim as a promotion-hunting side this term.

Stags’ Attacking Prowess Unrewarded

After a controversial 1-1 draw against Gillingham last weekend, Mansfield Town returned to home comforts to take on the Hollywood stars of Wrexham for the first time since the final game of the 2012/13 Conference Premier season.

The Stags started from the front foot in an aggressive manner, pinning the Dragons into their own half and unable to get away from the intense pressure the hosts were putting them under.

Davis Keillor-Dunn and Ollie Clarke went the closest for the amber and blues in the first half as both of their efforts would hit the post and Wrexham came out unscathed.

In the second-half, Ollie Palmer nodded the ball agonisingly wide from a James McClean free-kick as the Dragons looked to get a foothold in the game.

Keillor-Dunn had another fantastic chance in the last few minutes of the game as he beat three Wrexham players before firing a shot that went narrowly wide of the target.

The scoreline remained unchanged as the Stags failed to capitalise on their brilliant chances and they were made to settle for a point.

Three Consecutive Wins For The Dons

With a fine outing from AFC Wimbledon in their 4-1 win over struggling Tranmere Rovers, the London-based side travelled to North Yorkshire to take Harrogate Town.

From the off, the Dons were in the ascendency and their dominance paid off in the sixth minute as they broke the deadlock.

The ball found the feet of Omar Bugiel who drove goalwards and released an outside-of-the-foot effort that beat Mark Oxley in the Harrogate net.

The visitors looked to continue their dominance as they had plenty of chances to extend their advantage, but in the end, settled for the 1-0 win and the three points.

The victory propelled them up to second place and into the automatic promotion places as the Dons look to challenge at the top end of the table with only three points separating them and league leaders Notts County.

Form Guide

From their last five League Two matches, Mansfield Town have recorded two wins and three draws, amassing a total of nine points from a possible 15.

The only unbeaten team in the fourth tier, the Stags have been able to keep three clean sheets from their last five league outings, conceding the least number of goals in the EFL in the month of September with only two conceded.

Whilst goals are not being conceded, the goals scored are beginning to dry up a little bit. 6 goals from their last five games is a good return but three of those came against Accrington Stanley at the start of last month.

AFC Wimbledon have hit a good run of form as of late, recording three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five League Two matches, notching up a total of 10 points from a possible 15.

Whilst they have conceded six goals and only kept one clean sheet from their last five matches, the Dons have been on hot form in front of goal, scoring in all of their games since their 0-0 draw against Grimsby Town in the season opener.

Scoring 11 goals in their last five league matches, an average of over two goals per game, shows that the free-flowing Dons mean business and will look to challenge near the top end of the table.

Head-To-Head

All of the games between the two sides have taken place in EFL League Two. In total, the Stags and the Dons have faced each other eight times and the amber and blues have the upper hand with five wins to Wimbledon’s one with the remaining two games ending in draws.

Following their relegation to League Two last season, Mansfield Town completed the league double over AFC Wimbledon, winning 5-2 at home and 3-1 away.

In fact, the amber and blues have never lost at the One Call Stadium against the Wombles, winning three and drawing one.

With a total of 22 goals scored in the last seven fixtures between the two sides, an average of over three goals per game, and with the two sides in rich veins of form, expect this game to be another thriller between two teams in the top seven.

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