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Mansfield-Northampton playoff preview (for both legs)

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Mansfield-Northampton playoff preview (for both legs)

Postby Sweden Stag » Wed May 11, 2022 6:14 pm

After getting the point needed to reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons by drawing 2-2 at home to Forest Green, the Stags now entertain Northampton Town in the playoff semifinals with the first leg at One Call on Saturday evening and the second one at Northampton on May 18. And the Stags ended the regular season with four games unbeaten, two wins and two draws.

Meanwhile, Northampton slipped up in the automatic promotion race under dramatic circumstances on the final day. Early on in the first half at Barrow, the Cobblers cruised into a 3-0-lead inside 22 minutes and looked certain for the final automatic place. But Barrow reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time. No more goals were scored at Holker Street. Bristol Rovers played rock-bottom Scunthorpe at home and needed a great swing to better Northampton’s result at Barrow. In the end, Bristol Rovers registered their biggest League win since March 1964 (!), by winning to a 7-0 scoreline (In March 1964, Shrewsbury were the victims in the third tier) and the scoreline at Bristol was just enough for the Gasheads to pip the Cobblers for the final automatic place on goals scored.

But Northampton have themselves to blame as they failed to do anything in the second half at Barrow, also had their regular goalie sent-off and therefore suspended for the first playoff leg at One Call. Northampton were also one of only five sides to drop points against Scunthorpe after Boxing Day last year after being held to a goal-less draw at Glanford Park almost three months ago.

In the League, the Stags set a new EFL home winning record a month ago by overcoming the Cobblers by the only goal of the game to gain their eleventh consecutive home victory, surpassing a record of ten spread over two seasons in the calendar year of 1949. At Northampton, the Stags put up one of their worst displays during the regular 2021-22 season and lost 2-0 at Sixfields.

In League fixtures, Northampton have only won on three occasions at Mansfield, the last one being on the final day of the 2003-04 season when the Cobblers needed the points more as the Stags had their playoff place already secured.

Incredibly enough, the Stags faced the Cobblers in the playoff semifinals. After winning 2-0 at Northampton, the second leg had all the drama. Northampton turned around the deficit and were 3-0 up at one stage before the Stags reduced the deficit to a 3-1 Cobblers victory. As the away goals ruling was not used in the playoffs, the Stags for once benefitted and eventually won on penalties after extra time and shoot-out drama with well-taken spot-kicks for both sides. More on those games in the Match Centre. The Stags eventually lost the final on spot-kicks against Huddersfield in the final (enough printed) and have since then lost out on reaching two finals due to the non-usage of away goals ruling (against York in 2012 and Newport in 2019 respectively, prior to 2004 also against Chesterfield in 1995).

Meanwhile, Northampton are no stranger to playoffs and ups-and-downs in the EFL. Fact is that Northampton has played EVERY single side which have played at least one EFL season since the inauguration of the current League Two way back in 1958-59. Their ups-and-downs-record must speak volumes, as follows:

1961 promoted to the third tier
1963 promoted to the second tier as Champions, scoring 109 goals
1965 promoted to the then first division
1966 relegated from the then first division
1967 relegated from the second tier, not yet to return to that level
1969 relegated from the third tier
1972 had to seek re-election
1976 promoted to the third tier
1977 relegated from the third tier (final league game at Mansfield, lost 3-0)
1987 promoted to the third tier as Champions, scoring 103 goals
1989 relegated from the third tier
1994 bottom of the EFL but escaped dropping out due to ground regulations for Kidderminster
1997 promoted to the third tier via playoff final victory against Swansea
1998 lost playoff final for promotion to the second tier against Grimsby
1999 relegated from the third tier
2000 promoted from the fourth tier
2003 relegated to the fourth tier (along with the Stags)
2004 lost playoff semifinal against the Stags
2005 lost playoff semifinal against Southend
2006 promoted to current League One
2009 relegated from League One
2013 lost League Two playoff final to Bradford City
2014 escaped relegation from the EFL on the final day of the season
2016 promoted to League One as Champions
2018 relegated from League One
2020 promoted to League One via playoffs, beating Exeter 4-0 in the final
2021 relegated from League One

From 1969 onwards, the Cobblers have been relegated to the fourth tier on eight occasions. While the Stags last were above the basement in the 2002-03 season.

Incidentally, when Northampton were promoted to the second tier way back in 1963, the Stags gained their first-ever promotion, did so on better goal-average compared to Gillingham, a side yet to be previewed in preview history due to the Stags and Gillingham bypassing each other. As Gillingham were relegated a few weeks ago, the Stags might bypass Gillingham once again. Depends on the playoffs. Since 1963, the Stags have been promoted to the third tier on four occasions (1975 as Champions, 1986, 1992 and 2002). Another Stags promotion is the one to the second tier in 1977 as Division Three Champions.

Expect playoff drama with start this weekend. And the other semifinal pairing is Swindon against Port Vale with the first leg at Swindon on Sunday.

All to play for. Come on Mansfield!
Stockholm, July 4, 2008, 15.00 GMT. Good news came, K.H. gone. March 1, 2012. Ground purchased.
Sweden Stag
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