Mansfield Town must keep 'excellent home form' running as unbeaten League One streak continues

Stags added to their impressive home streak on Saturday with their win over Bromley, stretching their One Call Stadium record to 11 league games without defeat.

They have not lost a League One match at home since February, when eventual champions Lincoln City beat them 2-0. Since then, Mansfield Town have made it incredibly tough for opponents to visit the One Call and come away with a result.

The Bromley result marked their third win and fourth game unbeaten at home this campaign, following wins over Doncaster and Luton, and a draw against Huddersfield. In a stark comparison, Stags are still searching for their first League One win on the road this season. After losing to 2-1 Peterborough, Mansfield were dealt a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of Reading, followed by a 1-0 loss against Bradford right after.

The 2-2 draw against Burton before the international break gave Stags their first point away from home. However, they have a lot of ground to make up to match their results at home, and Clough is well aware of this.

“League form has been excellent here, so we’ve got to keep it going. Especially when we’re not doing as well as we would like on the road at the moment, but that will change,” the manager told club media after the Bromley game.

Prior to his side’s meeting with the Ravens, Clough reflected on Stags’ efforts across the board so far, looking at decisions that have gone against the team, tied in with their overall underperforming.

“It’s not all about that, but we have had five or six decisions in the away games go against us,” he said during last week’s press conference. “I think even against Peterborough there was a handball. Reading, we know there was a couple in that one. There was an offside goal against Burton which was onside.

“But at home, apart from a penalty against Luton, everything has been as you would expect it to be. So that has played a part in it without a doubt. We still have to perform better on the road but you get into this groove of playing at home.

“The lads just enjoy playing at home, but we always want to try and play the same at home and away as much as we can. It’s not possible all the time but that’s how we try.”

The next challenge for Mansfield Town at home is a visit from Oxford United, who are eager to return to the Championship following their relegation last season. The U’s are currently eighth in the table and have lost just one of their seven matches played so far.