Mansfield vs Notts County preview
Friday 7 December 2018 16:56, UK
Mansfield will be hoping to have captain Krystian Pearce fit for their local derby against Notts County at the One Call Stadium on Saturday.
Centre-back Pearce went off at half-time against Bury on Tuesday with a sore groin and missed training on Thursday, but wants to play against his former club. CJ Hamilton played the second half against Bury and could be pushing for a starting place, but David Mirfin remains sidelined.
Alex MacDonald is also likely to miss out with bone bruising as manager David Flitcroft says he cannot give a timescale for the forward's return because of the unusual nature of the injury.
Striker Jon Stead could return to the starting line-up for Notts County after he played half-an-hour against Sunderland on Tuesday. The Magpies will be without Matt Tootle who suffered an ankle injury and missed the Stadium of Light clash.
On-loan Ben Hall has also picked up an ankle injury which will require a scan, with the defender having already spent the majority of the season on the sidelines with a groin problem. The long-term injured list for Notts County also includes winger Enzio Boldewijn, who damaged his knee against Morecambe on November 24 and will be out for three months.
Opta stats
Mansfield are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Notts County in League Two (W5 D6) since a 3-2 defeat in August 2005.
Notts County have won just one of their last eight league visits to Mansfield (D1 L6), conceding 2+ goals in each of those matches (23 total).
Mansfield are unbeaten in twelve league games (W5 D7), last tasting defeat in September, losing 2-1 against Exeter.
Notts County have just one away win in their last eleven such league games (D3 L7), conceding no less than 25 goals.
Notts County have lost more points from winning positions than any other side in League Two this season (20).
