Mansfield Town vs Colchester United. Sky Bet League Two.
One Call StadiumAttendance3,909.
Thursday 16 August 2018 16:30, UK
Mansfield boss David Flitcroft has given himself some tough selection questions ahead of the Sky Bet League Two clash with Colchester.
The Stags made four changes for the midweek Carabao Cup tie against Accrington, which saw them romp to a 6-1 win as on-loan Nottingham Forest striker Tyler Walker hit a first-half hat-trick.
Midfielders Jacob Mellis and Calum Butcher will be hoping to retain their places, while forward Danny Rose - linked with a move to Peterborough before the transfer deadline - marked his first appearance of the new season with a goal. Defender Ryan Sweeney is expected to come back into contention having been rested after suffering a concussion in the last league match against Yeovil.
Colchester are hoping the squad has now recovered from a virus which hit the training ground last week. Several U's players were not able to train ahead of the Carabao Cup tie at Cheltenham, which was lost on penalties. Left-back Kane Vincent-Young was one of those who fell ill, and he missed the trip to Whaddon Road.
Tom Eastman, Mikael Mandron, Brandon Comley, Aaron Collins and Luke Norris all came into the side but head coach John McGreal could freshen things up again for the league game. Midfielder Sammie Szmodics and forward Frank Nouble are both expected to be involved after coming off the bench on Tuesday night.
Colchester are unbeaten in their last five league meetings with Mansfield (W3 D2), a run that started with a 1-0 win in February 2003.
Mansfield have failed to score in four of their previous five meetings with Colchester in the Football League, with their only goal coming in their most recent game (1-1, March 2018).
Mansfield are now unbeaten in seven League Two games (W3 D4) having previously gone eight league matches without a victory (D4 L4).
Colchester have failed to score in back to back away league games (D1 L1), they last went on a longer run without finding the back of the net away from home in January 2013 (run of four).
John McGreal has never lost a game in four attempts against Mansfield in the Football League while in charge at Colchester (W2 D2).
