MATCHWATCH : Mansfield Town (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Sunday December 29th 2024, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Warning. This is a home 3pm kick off and Reading have lost both of the last 2 home 3pm weekend kick offs this season, without even scoring, so this will not be for the faint hearted. It is however a Sunday which is so far untested this season, so will hopefully allow the club to ease its way back into successful weekend 3pm afternoons at home.

Unsurprisingly, given their manager is Nigel Clough, Mansfield have been doing none too badly since returning to the third level and the team are probably the best they've been in the last 30 years which has seen some real lows, including joining the non league ranks for a few seasons about 15 years ago.

However after a very bright start Mansfield listed quite badly and went on a run of 1 win (1-0 v Rotherham) in 7 league games and had only picked up a single point (at Charlton) on the road since a 2-1 win at Wigan in October. But, of course, with Reading on the horizon, they may well have turned that all around after stuffing Peterborough 3-0 at Peterborough on Thursday, a result which actually puts them on a current run of three league games with a 7 point return and NO goals conceded.

The Stags are currently 2 places and 3 points behind Reading with a game in hand and a slightly better goal difference so will be a real challenge. There is real potency in the forward line with 15 goals being shared between Will Evans and Lee Gregory, so starving them of service would seem to be the order of the day. The Reading connection is there too with 38 year old Stephen Quinn still on their books and making reasonably regular appearances for them this season too.

Reading will have no Elliott, Dorsett or WiFi and it’s likely still to be too early to see Abrefa and Yiadom get a call to arms but they would hardly be up to match fitness even if they were available. Rushesha should be available after finally getting a few minutes (at last) against Northampton. Akande is another that we’ve lost track of, presume he’s got an injury.

Think getting a first home draw of the season out of this one would be very very acceptable.

Referee

Martin Woods

Previously

23 Dec 23 > Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Historically

This is the 25th league season the two clubs have shared and, historically, Mansfield do not do well in Reading at all. Of their previous 24 visits the best Mansfield have managed is 4 draws with Reading winning the remaining 20 games. The two clubs haven't played each other since a 3-1 home win in April 1993 (for those that can remember it) and Mansfield haven't collected any points from a visit to Reading since April 1975 when they drew 1-1 (7 games ago).

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[tidus_mi2]

Random stat but we've never lost at home to Mansfield.

[Snowflake Royal]

Random stat but we've never lost at home to Mansfield.

Well, shit.

[LUX]

from memory my first ever game was home to Mansfiled, around 1968. I was 7.

[stealthpapes]

Random stat but we've never lost at home to Mansfield.

lol

doomed

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Random stat but we've never lost at home to Mansfield.

Not only that but we've won nearly all out of 20 plus games

[Crowbar6753]

Mansfield fans giving us plenty of abuse on there forum liking us to MK Wombles lol (Empty soulless stadium). Pretty bold for a club just coming into the league with a stadium with only three sides
Looks like they'll be bringing around 1100 for tomorrows game, hopefully should generate a good atmosphere.
Saying that i've heard they have a pretty decent fanbase that travels well and makes a lot of noise. Guess we'll see tomorrow.

[Hound]

Well they certainly had their fair share of ownership problems in their time so I’d hope they’d have a bit of sympathy. Any mention of Keith Haslam would likely still bring out a shudder

Soft spot for Mansfield. Proper lower divs football club and glad to see them doing well. I expect we’ll lose tbh. Just too many injuries to beat a decent team on a good run

[Crowbar6753]

Well they certainly had their fair share of ownership problems in their time so I’d hope they’d have a bit of sympathy. Any mention of Keith Haslam would likely still bring out a shudder

Soft spot for Mansfield. Proper lower divs football club and glad to see them doing well. I expect we’ll lose tbh. Just too many injuries to beat a decent team on a good run

Agree, nothing against them at all, and its good to see a team that's spend most of its history in the lower leagues doing well after ownership issues. Lots of their fans are saying they're looking forward to seeing a new stadium with lots mentioned the old Elm Park.
A draw would be a good result, however, if we start well and play like we did the other day then we could snatch a win which would really help shake off some of the doom and gloom especially with a club statement in bound next week.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Pretty much every club at this level has a bad owner horror story behind them; increasingly I just view the current episode as our turn which was bound to come around if you support a club like ours for a lifetime.

I can't remember Huddersfield in crisis - perhaps they're due one? Maybe Barnsley and Peterborough too?

So it irks me when fans call us plastic become we don't sell our 24k. They all know how it feels to see the life sucked out of your club with its values and culture shot to pieces. Did Mansfield fans sold out every week at their low point in non league? They can fcuk off with their plastic shit if not; we're a fanbase fighting for our lives right now.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yep, sad isn’tit.

FWIW, a sub 10k capacity Field Mill is obviously easier to sell-out than a 24k ‘stad, and they rarely do that.
Other than that, no problem with the Stags

[Sutekh]

For those not up on the Mr Haslam story, here is what Wiki has to say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Haslam

[stealthpapes]

standard stuff, used the club as a money printing machine, realised that the value in the club was in the ground and split it off.

[Hound]

Can’t remember details that well but I’m pretty sure there were lots of times when they thought the club was done for and the stadium would be sold for housing

And that Haslam chap was a complete crook. At least they knew where he was mind you

[stealthpapes]

Can’t remember details that well but I’m pretty sure there were lots of times when they thought the club was done for and the stadium would be sold for housing

And that Haslam chap was a complete crook. At least they knew where he was mind you

IIRC, they had one possible buyer promise to change their name.

to Harchester United.

[morganb]

Unchanged starting 11, Holzman back on the bench

[Snowflake Royal]

I do like Mansfield's colours. Yellow and blue, nicely striking.

[Ascotexgunner]

Credit to Mansfield.... Nearly sold their allocation by the looks of it.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I think we'll get a penalty today.

[Snowflake Royal]

Wow, a ref who can see a two hand shove in the back for a player jumping!