Mansfield Town host Grimsby Town at Field Mill this Boxing Day in a big week at both ends of the table. The Stags are firmly in the conversation for automatic promotion and need a win to challenge Barrow for second place, whereas Grimsby need a win to put even more room between themselves and the relegation zone.
Mansfield currently sit fourth in League Two after 21 games. The Stags have 11 wins, nine draws and one loss, leaving them on 42 points, just one point from Barrow in the last automatic promotion spot.
In their last five games in all competitions, Mansfield have two wins, one draw and two losses.
In the Football League Trophy, Mansfield took on Burton Albion. George Cooper opened the scoring for Mansfield, but goals from Cole Stockton and Tom Hamer gave Burton the 2 - 1 win.The trip to Swindon Town saw Jake Young give Swindon the lead in the first half, but Lucas Akins equalised just four minutes into the second half. However, Young completed his brace in the 93rd minute to give Swindon the 2 - 1 win.
Rhys Oates and Will Swan both scored in the 2 - 2 draw with ten-man Tranmere, who had Jordan Turnbull sent off in the 93rd minute. Baily Cargill, KD Davis and George Maris all scored in the 3 - 1 win over Crawley Town, who had Jay Williams sent off in the 68th minute.
The last time out for Mansfield was against a struggling Sutton United. Stephen Quinn and Akins both scored in the 2 - 0 win over Sutton.
Grimsby, on the other hand, currently sit 19th in League Two. In 23 games, Grimsby have five wins, nine draws and nine losses which leaves them on 24 points, just one point above the relegation zone.
In their last five games in all competitions, Grimsby have one win, two draws and two losses.
Rekeil Pyke opened the scoring in the first half to give Grimsby the 1 - 0 lead over MK Dons at halftime. However, Jack Payne scored in the second half to make Grimsby settle for a point and a 1 - 1 draw. In the Second round of the FA Cup, Grimsby took on Oxford United. Marcus McGuane drew first blood in the 11th minute and Billy Bodin doubled the lead in the second half to give Oxford United the 2 - 0 win.
Grimsby bounced back in League Two against Crewe Alexandra. Abo Eisa gave Grimsby the lead in the 18th minute and Danny Rose gave Grimsby the 2 - 0 lead at halftime. Joe White did score for Crewe in the 78th minute, but Grimsby held on for the 2 - 1 win. Both Newport County and Grimsby left it late, as Omar Bogle opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, with Rose equalising just six minutes later. However, neither team could find the back of the net again as the game finished in a 1 - 1 draw.
The most recent outing for Grimsby was against Harrogate Town. Matthew Colin Foulds and Abrahahm Odoh both scored in the 2 - 1 win for Harrogate, with Kieron Green scoring too late for Grimsby.
Mansfield Town and Grimsby Town have met 55 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1951. The Stags have the better record in the fixture with 22 wins, in comparison to Grimsby’s 17 wins, with the other 16 games ending in a draw.