Mansfield Town vs Exeter City Predictions

• Mansfield have drawn three of their last five matches
• Exeter are on an eight-match unbeaten run
• The winning margin has exceeded one goal, in one of the last nine meetings between these two

Draws on the run-in may scupper Stags’ play-off hopes

Mansfield have lost two of their last 21 matches since these two sides last met on October 23^rd. The Stags are unbeaten in their last 13 league matches and will need to maintain this form to secure a play-off berth come the end of the season – Nigel Clough’s side currently occupy the last of the seven play-off spots, a point ahead of Swindon in eighth. Mansfield have drawn too many games of late – three of their last five matches have ended all square. They may settle for a point in this one against an Exeter side who themselves have hit a rich vein of form recently.

Exeter jockeying for a top three spot

Similarly, to Mansfield, Exeter have hit form at the right time in the season – Exeter come into this game on an eight-match unbeaten run. The Grecians are unbeaten in their last five away matches and it’s this recent burst of form that has seen Exeter shoot up the table. A win on Friday night will see Exeter replace Tranmere in third spot in the League Two table.

Historically close games when these two sides meet

This is a fixture that in years gone by is normally a close-run affair. The winning margin has only exceeded one goal in just one of the last nine games between Mansfield and Exeter. With both teams bang inform, another close game is expected at the One Call on Friday evening, with neither side willing to give up too much ground in their promotion push.

The main selection in this game will be for it to finish all square. Recent fixtures between the two sides, recent form of both teams and both teams league positions all point towards this being a close contest. The correct score prediction for this game will be 1-1.