Smith’s five in five keeps Mansfield unbeaten in six, but injuries cloud the Notts derby
Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Gareth Hebblethwaite
Mansfield Town are tenth in League One and unbeaten in their last six league games, though a run of injuries has clouded the build-up to Saturday’s derby against Notts County. There is no League One game tonight, and Nigel Clough’s side did not play on Tuesday, having last been in action in a 4–1 win at Blackpool on Saturday 24 October.
Michael Smith opened the scoring at Blackpool in the 17th minute from an assist by Russell, and the Chad says he now has five goals in five games. Peacock-Farrell saved a Smith penalty in the 40th minute, but Blackpool’s Charles equalised before the break, on 42 minutes. Oates scored on 55 minutes after an Abbott assist, Niskanen put through his own net on 64 minutes, and T. Roberts added a fourth on 78 minutes from an Oates assist.
The win followed a 3–0 victory at AFC Wimbledon on 20 October. The BBC form guide reads D D W D W W. Mansfield have won five, drawn three and lost three of their 11 league games, scoring 20 goals and conceding 16, for a goal difference of plus four.
The BBC table, last updated at 01:28 GMT on Wednesday, puts Mansfield on 18 points, three behind sixth-placed Reading. League One’s top two go up automatically, and third to sixth go into the play-offs. Mansfield have played only 11 games, compared with 12 or 13 for most clubs around them, and their postponed game against Leyton Orient has no new date.
The Chad reported on Tuesday that Mansfield have been dealt an injury blow before the Notts derby. Liam Thompson has a calf problem, and Andy Garner is quoted as saying it “doesn’t look good”. The same report says McLaughlin has a hip knock and Abbott a back knock, and that McGoldrick is about three weeks away.
Notts County arrive at Mansfield 19th on 11 points, with 11 games played, and a BBC form guide reading L L L L W D. The match kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Saturday 31 October. Notts also have two postponed games, against Blackpool and Peterborough United, still to be played, so they too have games in hand. County drew 1–1 with Stockport County on Saturday 24 October.
Mansfield then travel to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 3 November at 19:45 GMT. Wigan are bottom of the table on seven points, and lost 3–0 at Leicester City on Tuesday night.
The FA Cup first round brings Macclesfield to Mansfield on Saturday 7 November at 15:00 GMT. Chesterfield visit in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday 10 November at 19:00 GMT.
The league returns with an away game at Stevenage on Saturday 14 November at 15:00 GMT, and Mansfield host MK Dons on Saturday 21 November, also at 15:00 GMT.
One Call Stadium, still widely known as Field Mill, sits on Quarry Lane in Mansfield (NG18 5DA). Football has been played on the site since 1861, which makes it the oldest professional ground still used in the Football League. Mansfield Town have been here since 1919. For a visiting supporter it is a compact, mostly modern three-and-a-bit sided stadium of around 9,000–10,000, with good sightlines and a short walk from the railway station.
You will almost always be housed in the covered North Stand, directly behind the north goal. The allocation is typically about 1,700 to 1,900 seats. The stand is a single-tier 2001-era build with no roof pillars, so views are unobstructed from pretty much every seat. The roof is relatively low, which helps visiting noise carry. Facilities — toilets and a kiosk — sit in the concourse behind you. Designated accessible spaces are usually in blocks B and D. Smoking is only allowed in the marked area to the rear of the stand.
Opposite you, behind the south goal, is the Quarry Lane End. That is the home end: a similar single-tier stand holding just under 2,000, and the place where the loudest Stags support gathers. The players’ tunnel is in the south-west corner, between Quarry Lane and the Ian Greaves Stand. The west side is the two-tier Ian Greaves Stand, the largest part of the ground at a little over 5,400 seats, with hospitality, the Sandy Pate bar underneath, and the dugouts now in front of it. The east side, long known as the Bishop Street Stand and more recently tied to the Radford Family Stand project, spent years closed behind hoardings; renovation has brought it back into use in phases, so the bowl no longer looks quite as lopsided as it did for much of the 2010s.
Getting there is straightforward. From Mansfield station (not Mansfield Woodhouse) leave via the footbridge by platform 2, walk past the retail park and Burger King, and you arrive at the North Stand in around five to ten minutes. Coaches are usually directed into Portland Retail Park. On-site supporter parking is very limited; the station car park and Water Meadows Leisure Complex are the usual alternatives. The ground is cashless on many matchdays, so have a card ready. Under-14s must be with an adult.
The Sandy Pate under the Ian Greaves Stand has, on some fixtures, welcomed away fans before kick-off — check the club notes for that game, as access is not guaranteed. Town-centre pubs ten minutes away are generally relaxed; closer in, follow local and police advice if there is history between the clubs. Stewards will point you to the North Stand turnstiles off St Peter’s Way. Segregation between the North Stand and the Ian Greaves Stand can be tightened on bigger days.
Once inside, sit in your allocated seat. Views from the away end are among the better ones at this level: you look straight down the pitch towards Quarry Lane, with the two-tier west stand on your right and the east side on your left. Audio-descriptive commentary headsets can be collected from the Kevin Bird Suite entrance on the Ian Greaves side. The atmosphere is honest rather than hostile on most League days. Arrive early enough to find your block without a scramble, and you should have a straightforward afternoon at one of English football’s oldest working grounds.