Next Up: Exeter City vs Mansfield Town

City took a big step to ensuring a fourth season in the third tier with a 2-0 win against bottom side Shrewsbury on Saturday, and Gary Caldwell’s side know they can take another huge leap towards that goal on Tuesday night against a side that has been in freefall and has been dragged into the relegation battle themselves. Two successive clean sheets have coincided with Ed Turns coming into the side, with the solidity of having three high quality specialist centre backs clearly beginning to show. Elsewhere there was less tinkering with the side as Caldwell only made one change from the side that had performed well at Reading in midweek, and that continuity is likely to be shown with changes kept to a minimum on Tuesday night.

Mansfield, playing at this level for the first time since 2003, made a barnstorming start and at the end of October were looking like unlikely prospects for a second successive promotion. A run of five straight defeats followed but things looked to be getting going again and when the Stags won at Stockport in early January Nigel Clough’s side were just outside the playoffs. However, Mansfield then went on another poor run registering a single point from nine games and, while the ship appears to have been steadied with three successive draws, this form has seen them slide down the table and looking over their shoulder at a possible immediate return to League Two. Clough has turned to a vastly experienced striker in Jordan Rhodes to fire the Stags to safety, and he notched the first goal of his loan spell in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stevenage. Will Evans (12) and Lee Gregory (10) lead the way, although the latter hasn’t featured in the past month. Neither too has Christy Pym, although there is likely to be City interest in Hiram Boateng, who will no doubt look to produce one of those spectacular efforts that he was known for during his time in Devon.

Even though it’s now March, this is the first meeting of the sides this season, the match having had to be moved twice firstly due to international call-ups then cup clashes. Therefore the last matches between the sides were in City’s 21/22 promotion season – a campaign that saw Mansfield beaten to the final promotion spot due to Bristol Rovers overturning their goal difference advantage on the final day. Mansfield were in horrible form when they visited SJP in October ’21, and despite taking the lead through Hawkins, City powered back through Dieng and Jay to win 2-1. The return at Field Mill also finished 2-1 to the hosts – Rawson and Longstaff scoring for Mansfield before Jay pulled on back late on. That win closed the gap in league head to heads with City leading 27-23, 19 matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Paul Howard
Assistant Referees: Daniel Flynn and Richard Morris
Fourth Official: Lee Swabey

Paul Howard hasn’t taken charge of many Exeter City games, but he did take charge of the opening game of the season at home to Rotherham which City won 1-0.

Pre-match interview with Gary Caldwell

Pre-match interview with Ben Purrington