Lincoln vs Mansfield preview
Friday 23 November 2018 12:22, UK
Michael Bostwick and Neal Eardley should be fully fit for Lincoln when they host Mansfield.
Both players have been nursing minor injuries but Imps boss Danny Cowley hopes not having a game last weekend, due to international call-ups, has given them the time to recover.
Nearly every member of the Lincoln squad was involved in an in-house squad game on Tuesday so Cowley has plenty of options. The only absentee was Sam Habergham as the left-back recovers from a long-term knee injury.
Mansfield are monitoring Jacob Mellis ahead of the trip to Sincil Bank. The midfielder had to be substituted midway through the first half of the Stags' FA Cup first-round replay at Charlton on Tuesday night due to injury.
Timi Elsnik also suffered a knock during the game at The Valley and he is a doubt. Neal Bishop did not travel to London because of illness and he will also be assessed along with fellow midfielder Otis Khan, who last featured in late October.
Opta stats
Lincoln have failed to win their previous three League Two contests against Mansfield since a 3-1 victory in August 2007 (D1 L2).
Mansfield are unbeaten in their previous four visits to Sincil Bank in the Football League (W3 D1), winning each of the last three.
Lincoln have lost just one of their last 14 League Two games at home (W9 D4) and are unbeaten in five since a 0-1 defeat to Crawley in September (W3 D2).
Mansfield have lost just one of their last 23 League Two matches (W9 D13) and are unbeaten in 11 games since a 1-2 defeat against Exeter in September (W5 D6).
Tyler Walker has scored five of Mansfield's last six League Two goals.
Prutton's prediction
For the first time since August Lincoln are being forced to look up at another team above them in Sky Bet League Two! Although that is in part due to the fact they didn't have a game last week.
Mansfield are in great form themselves. They have lost just one game all season and have started to turn draws into wins under David Flitcroft. I fancy a draw here.
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
