Mansfield Preview

By Longsider
January 2 2004

Burnley get a welcome break from league duties this weekend. The Clarets travel to Mansfield in the 3rd of the FA Cup. The tie is a tricky one at the best of times however the Stags, riding high in the 3rd Division, will fancy their chances against a side 4th from bottom in the 1st Division.

Mansfield, under Keith Curle, are currently 4th in the Third Division and are one of the leading goalscorers in the country. They knocked out Bishorp's Stortford in Round One before defeating Wycombe in a replay in the last round thanks to last minute goal.

The Stags have only been beaten once in their last 12 competitive fixtures whilst the Clarets have won only twice in our last 14 games. The one major factor in our favour for the game is our tremendous record against the Stags over the years. Burnley have won 7 of the last 8 encounters since our last season in the 4th Division and Mansfield have only ever beaten the Clarets once and that over 25 years ago in the old Second Division.

The games between the two sides that most will remember were back in the 4th Division when we won the league with Mansfield also claiming promotion. The first game took place at Turf Moor with Burnley recording their 7th straight victory, under Jimmy Mullen, with 3-2 win over the Stags, it was a thriller with John Pender coming up with the winner just 5 minutes from time. The visitors also scored a cracking goal with Stant and Wilkinson combining to score a superb leveller.
The second game took place in front of a full house at Field Mill with Mike Conroy, becoming the 1st Burnley player since Willie Irvine to score 20 league goals in a season, scoring the only goal of the game.

Burnley will be missing a couple of key players for tomorrow's game. Glen Little has been ruled out for a few weeks due to his hamstring and Arthur Gnohere is still suspended. James McEveley has been given the all clear to play for Burnley and may well start at the back with David May.

The defence is the problem that caused Stan Ternent the most problems and surely he will play either McGregor or McEveley at centre half in place of skipper Graham Branch. Apart from the back there won't be any major changes so expect to see an almost identical side to the one beaten by Stoke on Sunday.

Predicted Burnley Side:

Jensen, West, Camara, McEveley, May, Grant, Chawick, Chaplow, Weller, Blake, Moore.

Subs: O'Neill, Roche, Branch, McGregor and Pilkington

Referee is Phil Prosser(Gloucestershire)