Mansfield Town will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the standings as they host Colchester United in a League Two fixture. Mansfield have eased past their opponents in recent weeks and could be set for another comfortable victory on Saturday.
Mansfield Town are setting the pace in League Two as they sit four points clear at the top of the standings. They are showing no signs of slowing down, winning seven of their last 10 matches.
The emphatic 5-1 victory at Bradford City last weekend underlined their dominance in the league. They had five different goalscorers with leading scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn also on target.
Mansfield Town are often at their devastating best at the One Call Stadium and have won four of their last five matches. A 9-2 victory over Harrogate Town is among their recent results, although Nigel Clough’s men have failed to keep a clean sheet in the last four in that run.
While Mansfield Town are gunning for the title, Colchester United are battling for their lives around the bottom end of the table. Danny Cowley’s men are just above the relegation zone, level on points with Forest Green Rovers in 23rd, although they have two games in hand.
Things have not looked particularly smooth for Colchester United in recent times having picked up just one win from their last 13 matches. They have been held seven times in that run, including a 1-1 scoreline with Walsall last time out.
Colchester United have also found things difficult on their travels, with just one win from their last 12 away matches. They have been beaten seven times in that run, including a 2-0 defeat to Barrow in their previous fixture on the road.
How the bookies view it
Mansfield are overwhelming favourites among the bookies with William Hill offering 2/5 for a home win. An unlikely victory for Colchester United is valued at 6/1 by Paddypower while a draw is set at odds of 7/2 with 888sport.
Head to head
Colchester United have an 8-7 advantage with 13 draws from 28 previous matches against Mansfield Town. Both teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in September, although Mansfield had claimed three straight wins prior to that result.
Players to watch
Davis Keillor-Dunn is the leading scorer for Mansfield Town with 19 League Two goals and will be the one to watch on Saturday. The attacker was also on target in the reverse fixture and is priced at 21/20 by bet365 to get on the score sheet once again.
Cameron McGeehan often pops up with pivotal goals for Colchester United and has found the net seven times this season. The midfielder netted the equaliser last time out against Walsall and is priced at 6/1 by William Hill to find the net on Saturday.
Anything else catch the eye?
Mansfield Town have claimed a few one-sided results in recent times like the 5-1 victory at Bradford City. They could be tipped in the -1 handicap market at 11/10 with Paddy Power.
Having scored in both halves in three of their last four home matches, Mansfield Town could be set for a similar pattern at 19/20 with William Hill. With the hosts expected to be dominant, they could be backed to win both halves at 12/5 with bet365.
This English League Two match between Mansfield Town and Colchester United will be played on Mar 23, 2024 and kick off at 12:30. Check below for our tipsters best Mansfield Town vs Colchester United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.