Lincoln City will be hoping to return to winning ways, as they host newly-promoted Mansfield Town on Saturday.
The Imps come into the game off the back of two consecutive defeats, to Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup, and to Barnsley in SkyBet league One action last time out.
Another close to capacity crowd is expected as many will be eager to see a local rivalry that has not happened in the league since 2019.
Opposition – Mansfield Town:
Mansfield have had a very encouraging start to their return to the third tier. They beat promotion hopefuls Barnsley on the opening day at Oakwell, before playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Burton Albion last time out, scoring in the 90+7th minute to equalise.
The Stags finished 3rd in SkyBet League Two last season, earning automatic promotion and ending an 11-year stint in the fourth tier.
Experienced new forward signing Lee Gregory has hit the ground running since his arrival from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer window. The 35-year-old has two goals in two games in so far this term.
Safety will undoubtedly be the target for Nigel Clough’s side, but they have already shown glimpses that they may be able to push beyond that.
Team News:
Ethan Hamilton and Reeco Hackett remain out, as the two long term absentees from the Lincoln City squad work towards fitness.
Conor McGrandles returned to the matchday squad for the first time since March against Barnsley, but it was viewed as too soon for the Scotsman to get back on the pitch.
It may also be too early for latest summer signing Erik Ring to feature, after his arrival was confirmed on Friday, subject to home office approval.
Speaking to the Imps’ club website, the 22-year-old wing-back said: “Joining Lincoln City feels like the right step for me, to come in and play at a high level and as part of a young and ambitious team.”
Head-to-Head:
Saturday will be the 30th meeting between Lincoln and Mansfield, with the Stags winning 11 times, City nine, as well as nine draws.
The two sides most recently met in October 2020 during the EFL Trophy, behind closed doors at the OneCall Stadium. The Imps won 1-3 that day with Lewis Montsma, Sean Roughan and Conor McGrandles the only surviving members of that squad.
City will be hoping to right a few wrongs though as they have not defeated their local rivals in league action for over a decade. Their last three meetings in SkyBet League Two before Lincoln’s promotion in 2019 all ended 1-1.
Played for Both:
New Lincoln summer goalkeeping recruit James Pardington made a few appearances for Mansfield in 2021, while on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
More famously, though Tyler Walker enjoyed a prolific loan spell with the Stags in 2018/19, scoring 26 times in 52 games on the way to an impressive fourth place finish in League Two. The 27-year-old went on to join the Imps for the first time the following summer.
Current Mansfield midfielder Aaron Smith crossed the club’s divide the other way, spending the second half of 2015/16 on loan with Lincoln, scoring twice in 13 games. He also enjoyed a brief spell with the Imps in 2019.
Follow LincSport on Twitter/X for live coverage of the game on Saturday afternoon.