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Next Game: Scarborough In The League At Edgar Street On Tuesday 19th November At 7.45pm

Monday, November 05, 2007

Preview: Bulls vs Mansfield

The Bulls will entertain Mansfield on Tuesday night looking to keep the Stags down the wrong end of the table.

A feast of goals may be predicted by some after both sides scored five on Saturday, but the Darlington game had a low scoring affair written all over it before the Bulls destroyed what was once the tightest defence in the division.

Past results lead to a Mansfield win, with the Bulls not beating the Stags at Edgar Street in 20 years - getting only one draw from the last six including last season's 3-1 defeat that completed a double for the Nottinghamshire side. Overall, from the 29 games between the sides so far, Mansfield have 13 wins to the Bulls' 9.

The Bulls will be looking for another strong performance ahead of the Leeds FA Cup match. With the League a priority, but with one eye on the Cup, an largely unchanged starting line up is expected with careful use of subs to give key players a rest if necessary. Karl Broadhurst returns from his one match ban and is likely to return to the heart of defence, but Steve Guinan serves the final of his three match ban and will again sit out.

Mansfield come to Edgar Street on the back of an unbeaten run of four games and three straight clean sheets. Their 5-0 win over Macclesfield at the weekend was labelled as flattering by most, but their defensive qualities have enabled a slow but steady rise from the foot of the table. Top scorer Michael Boulding has scored nine times, with midfielder Simon Brown second with four largely thanks to his hat-trick on Saturday.

Hereford United vs Mansfield Town, Tuesday 6th November, Edgar Street, 7.45pm.