Mansfield Town vs Charlton Predictions

Given their recent form, the hosts, who currently ply their trade in the division below Saturday’s opponents, will come into this fixture full of confidence. David Flitcroft’s men are unbeaten in 11 matches, while their exploits at home have been pleasing, so they’ll fancy their chances of causing a minor upset when they welcome the Addicks to Field Mill on Sunday afternoon.

Mansfield are a League Two team, but they’re a very good one, one that ranks in the top six in terms of both expected goals for and expected goals against. Moreover, they’re particularly good when playing in front of a home crowd.

The Stags have lost just once at Field Mill this season, while their performances have been strong, as the underlying numbers suggest. Flitcroft’s side are averaging a very impressive 1.95 expected goals for per match, which shows that they’re a creative side, while they’re giving away an average of just 0.84 at the other end, which shows that they’re capable of nullifying their opponents.

Naturally, as the side that operates at the higher level, Charlton will back themselves to go to Field Mill and a get a result. After all, the Addicks aren’t just a League One team, they’re a top-half League One team at the very least.

However, as good as Charlton have been, and they have been very good at times, their overall efforts away from home this season don’t exactly suggest that they’ll make light work of beating Mansfield. Sunday’s visitors have won just three of their eight away games in the third division this season, while the underlying figures don’t exactly paint them in the best light. Lee Bowyer’s men are averaging a modest 1.35 expected goals for, while they’re averaging 1.51 against. Such figures are not terrible, but they’re far from the best on offer in League One.

From a betting point of view, it’s easy to fancy the hosts, though backing them to come out on top isn’t the best option at the prices. Instead, opting for ‘Mansfield to Score Over 1.5 Goals’ is the way to go. The Stages haven’t always got the goals that their performance has deserved at home, but against a Charlton side that won’t sit back and that has conceded plenty of goals/chances on the road, the League Two hosts are backed to thrive in front of goal, regardless of whether or not they have what it takes to stop third-tier opponents at the other end.