Mansfield Town vs Northampton Town Prediction, Stats & Tips

For our Mansfield vs Northampton prediction, we're opting for a 1-1 draw in this play off first leg.

Northampton Town head into the first leg of their League Two playoff semi-final with Mansfield Town looking to bounce back from the disappointment of agonisingly missing out on automatic promotion. While at one stage Mansfield were challenging for the same target, they were fortunate to remain in the top seven after ending the regular campaign with two draws.

Northampton went into the final day of the season knowing a win would probably secure promotion to League One, but a stunning 7-0 win for Bristol Rovers against Scunthorpe meant Town finished fourth on goals scored. It will be hard for Jon Brady’s side to pick themselves up from that disappointment, but if they are mentally in the right frame of mind, they have a very good chance of starting the tie strongly.

The Cobblers head into this game unbeaten in six, while they have lost just four of their last 15 away fixtures, netting at least two goals in four of the last five. Both teams have scored in their last two on the road, against Barrow and Leyton Orient, as well as three in a row at all venues, so clean sheets are eluding them a touch at the moment.

Since their mid-autumn upturn – believe it or not, Mansfield sat 23rd, in the relegation places on October 30, almost three months into the season – their home results have been P15 W13 D1 L1. Now, Northampton have the division’s fifth-strongest away record but that’s partly due to bullying lesser sides – against the rest of the top seven, their away record is P6 W1 D1 L4 F5 A10.

On Saturday, the Cobblers seemed set for League One, racing into a 3-0 lead at Barrow. Sam Hoskins bagging a brace with Fraser Horsfall scoring in-between, with Barrow pulling one back on the stroke of half time. However, simultaneously 242 miles south, Bristol Rovers were hammering already-relegated Scunthorpe 7-0, scoring five times in a 32 minutes second-half spree.

For our Mansfield vs Northampton prediction, we're opting for both teams to score.

Clough may be prepared to stick with the Mansfield XI which claimed a 2-2 draw at home to Forest Green on the final day of the season. However, Elliott Hewitt, who has made 40 league starts this season, is an option at right-back ahead of James Perch. Jamie Murphy is expected to retain his spot behind the front two ahead of George Lapslie.

Northampton will be forced into at least one alteration after goalkeeper Liam Roberts, an ever-present this campaign, was sent off in the final minutes at Barrow. Jon Maxted, who has not made a senior appearance since an EFL Trophy game in October, will deputise between the sticks. Brady could retain the same outfield players for this contest after Northampton extended their unbeaten streak to six games.