The Voice - Match preview Mansfield Town vs Bradford City POSTPONED

League Two Fixture #8

Saturday 10th September 15:00
Mansfield Town vs Bradford City
Field Mill (AKA One Call Stadium)

Most Recent Results:

1: Bradford City 2 – 0 Newport County
2: Colchester United 1 – 0 Bradford City
3: Hartlepool United 1 – 3 Bradford City
4: Bradford City 0 – 0 Crewe Alexandra
5: Bradford City 2 – 1 Walsall

Form: WDWLW

1: Leyton Orient 1 – 0 Mansfield Town
2: Mansfield Town 5 – 2 AFC Wimbledon
3: Mansfield Town 2 – 1 Stockport County
4: Sutton United 2 – 1 Mansfield Town
5: Doncaster Rovers 1 – 3 Mansfield Town

Form: WLWWL

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form: LWWWL

25 Jan 2020: Mansfield Town (Rose 7, Maynard 43, Cook 77) 3 – 0 Bradford City [League Two]
17 Oct 2020: Mansfield Town (Lapslie 78 RED, Cook 85) 1 – 3 (Stech 8 og, Wood 14, Donaldson 69) Bradford City [League Two]
02 Mar 2021: Bradford City (Rowe 32) 1 – 0 (O Clarke 90+5 RED) Mansfield Town [League Two]
21 Aug 2021: Mansfield Town (Hawkins 37, 52) 2 – 3 (P O'Connor 19, Vernam 61, Cook 87) Bradford City [League Two]
26 Feb 2022: Bradford City 0 – 2 (Oates 44, Longstaff 48) Mansfield Town [League Two]

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 27
Drawn: 17
Lost: 24

Biggest Margin of Victory:

10 Mar 1962: Bradford City 6 – 1 Mansfield Town

Spoiler: Historic Results Analysis

Draws are the least common outcome of a Bradford City-Mansfield Town encounter, and none of the 7 meetings have ended in a stalemate. During that time, Bradford City hold a slender advantage of 4 wins and 3 defeats in a tie that has historically been extremely competitive.

In recent decades, the clubs have been infrequent opponents, clashing for the past 3 seasons after an 11 year gap. Prior to the ties in the 2007/8 season, the two had not met for a further 14 years.

The highest concentration of meetings per decade came in the 1950's – the two clubs played 23 times, with Bradford City amassing 9 wins, 7 draws and 7 defeats. Even back then, the odds did not favour a stalemate.

Mansfield Town 2021/22:

Mansfield Town had a successful 21/22 campaign despite running extremely hot-and-cold throughout the season, finishing 7th and progressing to the play off finals, where they were soundly defeated 3-0 by Port Vale. Still, victory over Northampton across both legs of the semi finals continued a fantastic and dramatic improvement that began in late October and saw the club win 11 of 12 fixtures right the way through to late January.

Mansfield's start to the 21/22 season, by contrast, was disastrous. After winning their opening two fixtures, Mansfield Town failed to win any of their next 12; picking up a paltry 5 points in that time. Despite this, Mansfield Town stuck with manager Nigel Clough, who joined the club in November 2020, and their patience was very nearly rewarded with promotion to League One.

Perhaps surprisingly, Mansfield Town secured the high profile signing of Matty Longstaff in January, but their sensational form around this time was already well established. Mansfield pushed on for the play offs, losing only 6 of their final 32 fixtures – easily the form of champions, despite their 7th place finish.

In terms of goals, Mansfield Town scored 67 and conceded 52. Despite registering over a goal a game, no individual player achieved double figures, with goals shared between Rhys Oates (9), Jordan Bowery (8), Oli Hawkins (7), Matty Longstaff (6), and several other players on 4 or less.



Mansfield Town 2022/23:

Nigel Clough has managed to keep much of his successful 21/22 team together, although Manchester United loanee goalkeeper Nathan Bishop returned to his parent club after a perfect string of 46 league starts. Top appearance-makers Stephen McLaughlin (42 starts), Elliott Hewitt (40 starts), Oli Hawkins (39 starts), Stephen Quinn (36 starts), Rhys Oates (34 starts), and George Maris (30 starts) have all remarkably stayed at Field Mill.

This superb level of retention has been added to with the acquisition of experienced loanee goalkeeper Christy Pym, midfielders Hiram Boateng and Anthony Hartigan, and Forest loanees Will Swan (striker) and Riley Harbottle (defender). Pym and Harbottle stand out in particular, having started all 7 league games under Clough.

Mansfield Town currently sit 7th in the League Two table, exactly where they ended the 21/22 season, although they have not been able to enjoy or regret the extended periods of consistent form (both good and bad) they saw last campaign. Currently, Mansfield Town hold 4 wins, 3 defeats, and 0 draws – another statistic that could suggest a draw is off the cards this Saturday.

While Mansfield Town have been ruthless in front of goal, with 12 goals scored across 7 games, they have conceded a further 9 – more than a goal a game. In both 'Goals For' and 'Goals Against' columns, Mansfield Town have scored/conceded 3 more than their Yorkshire rivals.

As with last season under Clough, Mansfield Town have shared their goals out with startling selflessness – no player has scored more than 2 league goals, and no fewer than 4 players have hit this target – Will Swan, George Maris, Riley Harbottle, and Ollie Clarke. Last season's top scorer Rhys Oates has scored just once, although he has been able to make only 4 starts.

The loss of Rhys Oates to a long-term 'freak' injury is no doubt a serious blow to The Stags, as a torn pectoral sees him out for several months

Perhaps the most eye-catching of Mansfield Town's statistics up until this past Saturday (03 Sep) was a perfect dichotomy of wins at home, and defeats away. However, a 3-1 victory at Doncaster Rovers put an end to that astonishing statistic. Still, their 100 % home league record will be a huge challenge for visitors Bradford City.

Bradford City 2022/23:

Bradford City picked up 4 points from back-to-back home games, being held 0-0 by Crewe Alexandra, before defeating Walsall 2-1. Goals from Andy Cook (now on 7 goals in all competitions) and a Jake Young (4 goals in all competitions) have further established City's main two goal threats.

No other player has scored more than 1 goal in all competitions this campaign.

While ex-Stags centre forward Andy Cook will look forward to returned to his old stomping ground, the introductions of Tyreik Wright and Dion Pereira have further improved the already impressive squad depth available to manager Mark Hughes. While Vadaine Oliver and Lee Angol continue to search for their first goals of the season, Angol in particular could find himself further down the pecking order.

While Mansfield Town have enjoyed perfect home form this season, Bradford City are themselves unbeaten in the league at Valley Parade. A record of 2 wins and 2 draws at home are augmented by 1 win and 2 defeats away from home. Perhaps surprisingly, City have played only 3 of their first 10 games in all competitions away from home – and in both defeats, the loss was inflicted deep into injury time, perhaps suggesting more resistance than the league table implies.

Still, Bradford City will need to be at their absolute best to return to Valley Parade with a point or three, and Andy Cook and Jake Young will carry the weight of expectation with them should both start.

Against Walsall, Matthew Platt had an uncharacteristically poor game, with both himself and Liam Ridehalgh the only outfield starters to achieve a passing accuracy of less than 70 %. Despite giving away an early penalty, his centre back partner Romoney Crichlow achieved an impressive 10 interceptions, and despite seeing less of the ball, continued to past a solid passing accuracy statistic of 76 % - bettered only by Brad Halliday (77 %) of those players who achieved 30 or more passes.

One major concern arising from the Walsall victory was the 26 shots afforded to their opponents, a statistic that free-scoring Mansfield Town will look to capitalise on.



Outlook:

Mansfield Town are typically dominant in terms of possession, losing out in only one fixture this season – a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Leyton Orient. In all other league ties, home or away, Mansfield Town have had the lion's share of the ball. This has included impressive percentages including 70 % possession in the 5-2 thrashing of AFC Wimbledon at home, 61 % away at Sutton United, and 61 % again away at Salford. Despite this, Mansfield Town lost at both Sutton United and Salford City.

Bradford City, likewise, have enjoyed the majority of the possession in the majority of their games, but as with their opponents, this has not guaranteed them a path to victory. One of the most interesting aspects of the battle of Field Mill, however, will be that of who is able to get their foot on the ball most often as it is clearly the preference of both teams.

Goal threats for Bradford City are likely to come from all angles, while Mansfield Town can potentially focus more intensively on the two-pronged assault of Andy Cook and Jake Young. Andy Cook, even as a Mansfield Town player, has long enjoyed this fixture, scoring twice for the Stags, and once again since making the move to Valley Parade – he would relish the chance to be the bane of his former employers once again.

Despite all else, the erratic nature of this fixture in historical terms, with the pendulum swinging one way and then the other throughout the course of history, should ensure an entertaining game and unpredictable outcome. With the clubs locked together in the table, no outcome is off the table - but it's hard to escape the lure of a 100 % home record for The Stags.

Odds:

11/10: Mansfield Town
12/5: Draw
13/5: Bradford City

Predicted Outcome (THE VOICE):

Mansfield Town 2 – 1 Bradford City