Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough says Stags are not ‘looking for revenge’ against Port Vale on Saturday despite suffering an agonising early-season defeat to the Valiants.
Mansfield welcome Port Vale to Field Mill this weekend off the back of their stunning 4-3 FA Cup upset against Sheffield United.
In the reverse fixture in September, Stags lost 2-1 after conceding a 95th minute penalty at Vale Park.
The game was shaped by a red card received by Mansfield defender Ryan Sweeney in the 14th minute for a professional foul. But only a last-minute penalty prevented Mansfield from taking at least a point.
“We’re not looking for a revenge mission,” Clough told a pre-match press conference.
He added: “It was a sending off for Ryan Sweeny, and it was down to the referee to give the penalty.”
Stags will hope that Rhys Oates can continue his impressive run of goalscoring form this weekend, the striker having netted four times in his last three games.
The run includes a brace against high-flying Bradford City on New Year’s Day in a 3-0 home win, as well as a goal in the 4-3 win in the FA Cup third round shock at Bramall Lane last weekend.
Asked about the impact of the upset against the Championship side, Clough added: “[We can take] the confidence and belief that we can can compete.”
Clough added the home fixture against Port Vale is one of the most important games in the Stags’ season so far, saying: “Once you have won four on the spin, it’s important not to lose a game and keep it going.”
Mansfield will be hoping for three points on Saturday, considering their rich run of form, a high level of confidence within the team, and the position of the opponents Port Vale, who go into the game with only one win in their last five League One fixtures.
Despite that, Clough says Stags will not be taking their opponents lightly – Vale come into the tie having not actually played in League One since New Years Day, when they managed an impressive 5-1 victory over fellow strugglers Blackpool.
Having only played in cup completions since, managing a win over League Two Fleetwood in the FA Cup on the 9th January, and a 1-0 victory against promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers in the Football League Trophy.
“Port Vale have had a couple of wins themselves now, so they will be a different proposition that they were a few weeks ago.” said Clough.
Going into the game Stags sit comfortably in the middle of the pack in the league, five points from safety and seven points from the playoffs.
