Match Preview: Crewe Alexandra vs Mansfield Town

Tomorrow we host Steve Evans and his Mansfield Town who are amongst the favourites for promotion from League 2 so it`ll be a good test to see how well we could do against a team looking to improve on their 12th position in last season`s table.

It`s been all change for the Stags over the summer as there have been 13 arrivals into the club and 9 departures, including former Alex goalkeeper Scott Shearer (who has joined Oxford United). Striker Lee Angol and right-back Hayden White (both arriving from Peterborough) are the only players that have cost fees amongst the free agent signings of former Liverpool youngster Paul Anderson, Zander Diamond and Jacob Mellis who have all played at a higher level. Alongside Shearer, the veteran Brian Jensen, journeyman Matt Green and James Baxendale have all left Field Mill, the latter of which has gone to America to play for Orange County SC.

Crewe Alexandra Team News:
Defenders Zoumana Bakayago and George Ray are the only players that is set to miss out on the game due to a knee injury and stress fracture in his back respectively whilst the Railwaymen could welcome back midfielder James Jones and striker Jordan Bowery (both hernia) into the match-day squad.

Mansfield Town Team News:
Winger Alex McDonald is set to miss out for the Stags as he recovers from a knee operation whilst they should welcome back defenders Rhys Bennett and David Mirfin who missed last weekend`s win at Alfreton Town.

Last Time Out:
Mansfield 3-0 Crewe Alexandra, 7th January 2017
In Steve Davis` final game in charge before his dismissal the following day, Crewe Alexandra made the trip to Nottinghamshire with goals from Yoann Arquin, Ben Whiteman and Rhys Bennett were enough to give the hosts all 3 points and see the Railwaymen leave empty-handed.

Crewe: Garratt; Turton, Davis, Guthrie, Bakayago; Kirk, Jones, Bingham, Cooper (Ainley 69); Dagnall, Kiwomya (Lowe 46)

Head-to-Head:
Looking back through the archives, the 2 clubs have met 76 times with Crewe edging Mansfield out 30 wins to 29 with 17 draws. The biggest win for Crewe was in the very first meeting at Gresty Road in Feburary 1933 with the hosts winning 7-0 whilst Mansfield`s biggest win came on Christmas Day in 1953 with the Stags winning 6-0.