Craig Priest and Emily Sykes write... This may seem a somewhat dramatic statement to make however at this critical stage in the season, is tomorrow night’s match make or break? Stags squandered the chance to make an advantage of a game in hand last Thursday as there 12 game winning streak came to an end at Wrexham, the fact that Stags wasted the opportunity to go top just plays on our minds a little as we head into tomorrow game with the other MTFC. Macclesfield are a good side and despite the rest of their season bringing irrelevant games, the players will be fighting for their own futures and eager to impress any potential new manager following the departure of Steve King a week or so ago. In a way with Kidderminster not playing there’s added pressure on Stags, everybody expects them to win tomorrow and top the table but as with every other game there are two teams involved. We could sit here and talk about beating Macclesfield and then Braintree, along with hoping Kidderminster draw to crown us champions by the weekend however such talk is a distraction, it stirs a feeling of fantasy and an expectant emotion of pride and happiness. We’ve all had the dream about Murray and Co holding aloft the league trophy but right now, in this very moment nothing is signed sealed or delivered. What we need to do is continue believing and remain firmly focused, if we allow those aforementioned dreams to creep in that fire which starts inside could burn us rather than keep us warm. There’s little else to be said without going into the past experiences of this division and memories of previous heartbreak – tomorrow night’s match has no room for reflection nor does it have room for dreams, be loud be proud and most importantly back the boys to get three points because right now it’s points that matter! LAST TIME WE MET The two MTFC’s last met mid November as Paul Cox’s Stags surprised us all by putting in a shift and grabbing all three points, our first away league win since August 18th – how times have changed since as what was the poorest away record in the league is now the third best overall. Matt Green opened the scoring shortly before half time before second half strikes from Lindon Meikle and the restored Luke Jones wrapped up a solid 3-0 win in the sides first ever meeting outside the football league. These sides first met in 1997 and have since played each other 14 times, The Stags having won nine games and Macclesfield winning six, and drawing on five occasions. At the One Call Stadium Stags have been victorious five times and have been beaten only twice – the other two fixtures ending in a draw. 60 goals have been netted in total between the two, Stags lead 33-27, whilst at the One Call Stadium Stags lead 20-10. TEAM NEWS Paul Cox looks likely to name the same eleven that thumped Barrow for another four on Saturday with no apparent fresh injury worries, only James Jennings, Jake Speight and Ross Dyer are absent for the Stags boss who will be desperate for a ninth straight home win and three move to move Stags top of the table by three points. MATCH COVERAGE If you can’t make it to The One Call Stadium for tomorrow night’s huge game, another game in hand on Kidderminster, then be sure to join Craig via our MM-LIVE page for regular updates with build up starting at 7pm, the broadcast on Takeover Radio 106.9FM will start at 7.30pm due to programming schedules.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the writers and not those of Mansfield Matters or its related organisations – to submit a blog email mtfcmatters@gmail.com
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