- Mansfield are unbeaten at home in League One 2026/2027 (3 wins, 2 draws from 5 games).
- Notts County are yet to win away in League One 2026/2027 (3 draws, 2 defeats from 5 games).
- Mansfield's 5 home games in League One 2026/2027 have averaged 2.00 goals per game scored and 1.00 against.
Nigel Clough has the Stags flying
A League One Nottinghamshire derby is a rare occurrence, but Saturday's fixture at One Call Stadium will be a proper local derby between two well-established clubs with a genuine historical rivalry, which is something many derbies these days lack.
Mansfield are flying after back-to-back League One 2026/2027 away wins over AFC Wimbledon and Blackpool and sit ninth in the table on 18 points from 11 games. Notts County have 11 points from 11 to occupy 19th spot, but have been in mixed form recently, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five.
Clough has overseen a pragmatic approach to football since taking over as head coach of Mansfield Town on 6 November 2020. His team are typically set up in a compact 3-4-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation that relies on organisation and control more than high pressing or attacking creativity. The Stags are a side that usually counter-press at the right time, transition quickly and play with a measured tempo that can be ramped up when they win the ball high up the pitch.
Paterson’s Magpies have added creativity
Martin Paterson's side play a more wide, high-tempo, progressive style of football with a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 base since he took over on 22 June 2025. Paterson has added a few pragmatic, intensity-focused tweaks to the game since taking over, but his teams always have plenty of flexibility in terms of shape and he likes to set his teams up to play through the thirds with good players in wide areas.
This fixture will pit Mansfield's mid-block/counter-press against Notts' higher-tempo, more creative game and should lead to a proper tactical chess match and a typical derby with local rivalry intensity. The Magpies have been on a wobbling path recently, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at home before losing 2-0 away to Wycombe and then drawing 1-1 at home to Stockport County.
Money on Mansfield to grind it out
Mansfield are the rightful favourites at 91/100 with the Magpies at 11/4 and the draw at 13/5, but Notts County look capable of making this derby a tight game if they can find their early rhythm in width and progress the ball forward.
A Mansfield win and under 3.5 goals fits the numbers as well as the derby setup as Notts County have already conceded an average of 1.60 goals per road game in League One 2026/2027. Striker Michael Smith has been in fine form for the home side with three goals in the last five games, but Oliver Cooper is the main threat for County with three in seven in the third tier.
Mansfield are a solid home side with an average of 2.00 scored and 1.00 conceded in League One 2026/2027 at One Call Stadium, so a win with fewer than 3.5 goals looks good value. Jonathan Russell leads the way for the hosts with two in three in League One 2026/2027.
