Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough hopes to have striker Tyler Roberts and midfielder George Abbott available to face non-league side Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Vastly experienced 27-year-old Roberts, who has 20 Wales caps and played in the Premier League for Leeds United, missed Tuesday's goalless draw with Wigan Athletic with a rib problem.

Meanwhile, the hip injury that kept 21-year-old Tottenham loanee Abbott from featuring in Saturday's defeat by Nottinghamshire neighbours Notts County also ruled him out of the trip to The Brick Community Stadium.

"We tried it, but that bang on his hip was still a little sore so we will see how he and Tyler are for Saturday," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham during his post-match interview at Wigan.

"We will go as strong as we can on Saturday against Macclesfield, and we will need to especially after the exertions of tonight."

Macclesfield, who are third in the National League North table and 63 places below Mansfield in the English football pyramid, are a team the Stags need to be wary of after they produced one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history last season by beating holders Crystal Palace in the third round.

Image source, Dan Westwell

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough hailed Tyler Roberts' goal as "the highlight of the day" in his side's 4-1 triumph over Blackpool.

The Stags' win saw them extend their League One unbeaten run to six games, with two successive away victories.

After Dion Charles' equaliser cancelled out Michael Smith's opening goal, Rhys Oates' score and an IImari Niskanen own goal were topped off by Roberts' sublime strike.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Clough said: "That [Roberts' goal] was the highlight of the day for us in terms of the quality of the goal.

"To strike it that powerfully with your weak foot, it's an absolutely brilliant finish."

Roberts came on as a substitute after 74 minutes and the 27-year-old forward has featured more frequently in Clough's squad since they faced Bromley in October.

Clough said: "In the second half we created chances galore.

"We know what we're capable of. We've gone away from home twice in the last four days and scored seven goals in two very tough places."

Mansfield are ninth in League One on 18 points, with a goal difference of plus four but Clough urged his side to try and improve that further.

He added: "Let's be greedy on our goal difference so any chance we can to improve it, let's take it."

Image source, Getty Images

Mansfield Town forward Tyler Roberts says he still feels the same way he did in the summer when he decided to stay on with the Stags after saying his time there had made him love the game again.

The Wales striker originally signed on a season-long loan from Birmingham City last term before staying with Mansfield on a deal until the end of 2025-26 after ending his contract at Blues.

The 27-year-old then agreed new 12-month terms in May after scoring four times in 19 league games.

When the deal was announced, Roberts said the club had helped him "fall in love" with football again after a difficult time with injury and making 62 appearances in three seasons at Queens Park Rangers, Blues and Northampton Town before joining Mansfield.

"I think that was a big comment from me last year but one that was probably the most true out of everything," Roberts told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"The last few years have been so difficult for me in terms of injuries, changes of managers, some places the way I've been treated, so coming here and feeling that love and appreciation and the family club that Mansfield is, it really did make me fall back in love with football.

"Even though I have had a few injuries, I come back on the pitch and I'm already smiling straight away. I definitely still have that same feeling as I did last year."

Roberts added that the One Call Stadium is "a great place to kind of show my abilities" and "get over the past few years", and credited boss Nigel Clough and the way the team plays as a key part of that.

"The manager gives the players a lot of ownership, a chance to do what you need to do. On the pitch we're very possession based, high pressing, we like to attack and that's what I love about football," Roberts added.

"The manager gives me licence in the final third to express myself and try to create opportunities.

"I think it's been a positive start to the season. The league is competitive but also open this year so I believe that we have a squad and the capabilities to really push on and be around that top-six spot."

Image source, Shutterstock

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough says he wants his side to try to get "somewhere near" their home form as they play two games on the road in the next four days.

The Stags are at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday before going to Blackpool on Saturday.

Clough's side have yet to win on their travels in League One this season, with three defeats and one draw in four matches.

Contrastingly, they are unbeaten at the One Call Stadium having won three of their five games.

"It's important to stay unbeaten at home and even the other night [a 1-1 draw against Oxford United], we're 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go and we get that goal, so at least we get something out of the game," Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It's the losses, that's something we have to stop on the road. The losses do the most damage.

"If your home form is very good, then anything on the road is a bonus. We know we won't keep winning, and staying unbeaten, especially in this league. But I think a result on the road in the next couple would do us a world of good.

"We'll know a bit more about the team and the squad with these next two away games - can they do what we're doing at home, try to get somewhere near it on the road?"

Tuesday's match will be Clough's 275th league game in charge, taking him past Ian Greaves' league record, and within sight of becoming the club's longest-serving manager.

Clough will mark six years as boss in November and said his longevity is down to having such a supportive board.

"It's a credit to the club that they've stuck with the same manager for nearly six years and what we've achieved together with the supporters," Clough said.

"I think the vast majority realise we're not going to win every week but they're just enjoying us competing.

"We've had a couple of sticky spells during that period but I think generally the club has improved on and off the pitch.

"I know we're in an age where a lot of people want instant results, but success does take a lot of time and a lot of work

"Managers will always lose their jobs, but if the bigger picture says you're improving then that's the most important measure."