Match Preview: Burton Albion (A) The perfect Brew

On the morning of another game, the disappointing feeling is well and truly back for us Stags fans following Saturday’s last minute U-Turn of emotion as Cox’s men slipped to a 5-4 defeat at Fleetwood.

Mansfield are now without a win in nine league outings, collecting three points from a possible twenty-seven – this is far from the form our Champions hoped for and highlights real danger of slipping into a deep relegation battle rather the ambitious ‘climb the leagues’ form the plan outlined.

Boss Cox has spoken about changes, would fresh faces really do the trick or does the solution or indeed problem, lie deeper than fresh faces in the line-up.

It’d be drastic to change the entire line-up, realistically could it happen? Liam Mitchell seems to have faded away recently with Ian Deakin taking a more regular spot on the subs bench, but again is the inexperienced keeper the right man for the job at the critical point.

At the back, Paul Black is still awaiting his chance at left back whilst George Pilkington played a blinder when filling in a week or so ago alongside John McCombe – Another option is young Ryan Tafazolli who always puts in a shift. With Lee Beevers struggling with illness, Ritchie Sutton is the only other option, he’ll always put in a shift but if Cox wants change, who is there?

I could go on but there’s no point, the perfect brew comes not from change and panic but from the same sense of togetherness and willingness which won us the conference last term and romped to third the previous. Can it be found again or has it already gone – three points tonight will provide the answer.

LAST TIME WE MET

The Stags and the brewers have only ever met twice during the Stags debut season in the conference in which Burton were crowned Champions. The first meeting came at tonight’s venue where Burton ran out 1-0 winners whilst the other at the One Call saw Burton 2-0 winners during the Stags transition period between Billy McEwan and David Holdsworth.  

TEAM NEWS

Jamie McGuire again misses out through suspension whilst striker James Alabi heads back to parent club Stoke City following his three game ban. Lee Beevers and Lee Stevenson could be in doubt after being substituted during the 5-4 loss at Fleetwood.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not those of Mansfield Matters or its related organisations.    

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