The East Midlands derby between Notts County and Mansfield Town, according to Nigel Clough, will depend on taking chances As he key changes

The East Midlands derby between Notts County and Mansfield Town, according to Nigel Clough, will depend on taking chances As he key changes

 

According to Nigel Clough, the Notts County vs. Mansfield Town East Midlands derby will hinge on taking chances. As the key shifts

Nigel Clough, the manager of Mansfield Town, thinks that winning the much anticipated derby at Notts County will depend on finishing.
Even though the Stags have the best defensive record in League Two, they have only scored four goals in their last four games.

Notts, who are now leading the league, have scored 27 goals in just 12 games.

It will likely come down to finishing, Clough said. Because of the way both teams played, there will be opportunities in the game, and it will depend on who takes advantage of them.

“It will be a game of fine margins. It might be a bit nervy early on. I hope it’s a good match for everyone. We will try to play in the same way that we have from the first minute at Crewe.

“Notts pose certain problems to you on the pitch with the way they play, they are very expansive.

“We are going to have to defend extremely well to restrict them. Barrow did that on Saturday but on their home patch they are very strong.

“We will try to preserve our unbeaten run, but not in a negative way.”

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports due to top level football taking an international break, with the contest expected to attract a sell-out crowd.

 

And having played and managed in many hotly-contested derby games with Forest and Derby, Clough knows just what victory would mean to the Stags faithful.

 

“

I watched Mansfield play at Notts many years ago—probably 15 years ago—and they packed the entire end zone, so I was well aware of what it meant to the fans at that time, he said.

 

They will have a fantastic audience for League Two, which is one of the reasons they are a huge club.

“They’ve been a club that I recall playing against for Forest in the top level many years ago.

 

I haven’t met a single football player who wasn’t happy to have Notts back in the league. They’ve performed incredibly well the past several seasons, amassed a ton of victories, and are on the upward.

 

It will be a fascinating one, I can tell.”