In a crucial clash that will impact the relegation battle in League One, Exeter City will host Mansfield Town at St James Park on Tuesday.
Exeter beat Shrewsbury Town 2-0 on Saturday and are 18th in the table with 40 points, while Mansfield are in 16th place with 41 points following their 1-1 draw with Stevenage on March 8.
Match preview
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The hosts were dominant against Shrewsbury, preventing their opponents from creating a single big chance while fashioning four of their own, as well as limiting them to just five timid attempts inside their penalty area.
Exeter scored as many times this weekend as they had managed in their prior four games, though their tally of 37 goals in League One is more than six of the bottom 10.
The Grecians are still by no means guaranteed safety given they are seven points from 21st-placed Burton Albion, who occupy the fourth and final relegation spot, but they do boast the advantage of having two games in hand on their relegation rivals.
Boss Gary Caldwell‘s side are unbeaten in three matches – drawing two – though they did lose eight of their previous 11 in all competitions.
Exeter’s victory against Shrewsbury was also the first time they kept a clean sheet at home in 12 outings, and it should be noted that while the team have are undefeated in their last two at St James Park, they were beaten in their prior three at the stadium.
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Opponents Mansfield Town netted an 81st-minute equaliser to avoid defeat against Stevenage, scoring their only big chance and only shot on target in the second half.
The visitors’ struggles in front of goal show no sign of ending, with the club only scoring three times in their past five outings and failing to find the back of the net in four of their last eight.
To his credit, head coach Nigel Clough can boast that his side have conceded the fewest goals (48) in League One of any of the bottom nine.
The Stags come into Tuesday’s clash on the back of three consecutive stalemates, and they also failed to win any of their prior 10, losing nine times in that period.
Mansfield also drew their three most recent away fixtures – scoring five times – though they lost their previous three on the road.
Team News
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Exeter are unlikely to make many changes from the team that beat Shrewsbury Town, and that could mean Ed Turns, Angus MacDonald and Alex Hartridge will retain their places in central defence.
Edward Francis and Ryan Trevitt performed excellently in midfield last time out, and they may support playmaker Caleb Watts.
Elsewhere, Demetri Mitchell and Josh Magennis are almost certain to be paired together up front.
As for Mansfield Town, Jordan Rhodes came on from the substitutes’ bench to score against Stevenage, so perhaps he will be rewarded with a start on Tuesday in the forward line.
Midfielders Hiram Boateng, Louis Reed and Aaron Lewis featured as a trio last Saturday, and they may be selected once again.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge; Jones, Francis, Trevitt, Purrington; Watts; Mitchell, Magennis
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Flinders; Williams, Oshilaja, Cargill, McLaughlin; Boateng, Reed, Lewis; Bowery, Rhodes, Vickers
We say: Exeter City 1-0 Mansfield Town
Mansfield have struggle to score goals in recent weeks, and they could find it difficult to threaten their hosts.
Additionally, Exeter should be confident of securing a positive result considering the visitors’ form is poor.
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