here are fewer greater moments watching Football than to see your team a man down and under the cosh for almost the entire match before scoring the only goal with the last kick of the game, and it’s off the back of that performance that City go into a promotion six-pointer in joyous mood. Ryan Bowman’s dismissal at Notts County means Matt Taylor will be forced into a change, with the hope that Jonathon Forte will be fit – otherwise Donovan Wilson, Lee Martin or Randell Williams will likely deputise, unless Taylor changes formation and puts Matt Jay up front on his own. Otherwise Taylor has another selection headache with Dara O’Shea back after international duty which, again unless Taylor goes with a back three, would mean one of O’Shea, Moxey or Troy Brown – immense at Notts County on his first start for several months – missing out.

One of the big spenders of the division, Mansfield are finally starting to match off-field spending with on-field results, although a four match winless run has seen David Flitcroft’s side drop out of the automatic promotion places. The standout performer in front of goal has been Tyler Walker, with 21 in all competitions (nearly 20 more than his father managed in several hundred appearances!), while Jorge Grant is a player with some pedigree at this level. One player definitely missing on Saturday is former City keeper Bobby Olejnik, the Austrian ruled out for the season back in December with a knee injury.

The reverse fixture at Field Mill saw City go 2-0 up through Moxey and Law, Walker reduced the deficit but it finished 2-1. A solitary strike from Danny Rose, however, gave Mansfield the points the last time they visited the Park last February. City have the slight edge in league head to heads with 24 wins to Mansfield’s 21, 18 matches finishing level. Details of the last 29 encounters can be found at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?p=9794

Match Officials for this game are:-

Referee: Ben Toner
Assistants: Andrew Laver and Paul Lister
Fourth Official: Scott Jackson

Ben Toner has refereed seven Exeter games, details can be found at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=ben+toner



By Jason H

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