Second away game in three days for the Hatters....
Aug 28, 2026
EFL League 1: Mansfield Town - Luton Town (written 27/08)
These two made my preseason notes ....
Luton Town are two years removed from the EPL and still have parachute payments this year, but took a long time to re-establish themselves last season after back to back relegations. They did collect 39 points over the second half of the season which is decent enough and came out 3rd for xP for the full season, albeit with only 9 points between 3rd and 9th place. Town were in the 5th tier in 2014 and had a meteoric rise to the top flight in a decade and maybe after this rollercoaster ride, another season of third tier stability would not be terrible, before "going again". Either way, I am not sure that they scream value at current odds. Also, their last five successful campaigns have come after slow starts, so, if you are keen on their chances, it might be better to hold off for a month or two.
Mansfield Town are a relatively small club, but stable and well run. The owners are committed and head coach Nigel Clough has been at the club for closing in on six years and well over 300 games, they have pretty much improved in each of those seasons and 10th place last season in the third tier was their highest finish since 1986-87. Clough is closing in on 1,000 games as manager and 600 have been in League 1, so no one has more experience. No non promoted team lost fewer games last season and only two sides conceded fewer goals and they are very disciplined and organised and no one has left whom Clough wanted to keep, so no reason to feel they will not be just as tough to break down. A few more goals would be nice and that has been addressed. They have added two veteran strikers in David McGoldrick (147 goals and 50 assists at League 1 and above, most at a higher level, he scored 15 for Barnsley last season) and Michael Smith ( 111 goals and 42 assists) who made 37 Championship appearances last season. Despite his age, I understand that McGoldrick was courted by a whole host of clubs and the Stags have shown great ambition in being able to convince him to sign. Similarly with CM Jon Russell who was hugely impressive on a half season loan last season , with Town pulling out all the stops in order to make the deal permanent. Mansfield also beat Sheffield United (Championship) and Burnley (EPL) on the road in the FA Cup and made Premier League champions Arsenal work very hard for a 2-1 win in Round 5. Their odds are eye catchingly large and we have to find a way to side with them.
Mansfield opened with a 2-1 win over Doncaster and then lost by the same scoreline and to a 94th minute goal away to Peterborough where they created the better chances and Posh franked the form by winning 5-1 at Championship side Watford in midweek. The Stags have had a full week to get ready to go again, whereas Luton play at Chelsea tonight (Thursday) in the EPL Cup. I do not doubt that they will rotate for that and that L1 is priority, but some will feature in both games and the fixture still has to be prepared for in training and that leaves little time to fine tune a game plan for Mansfield. Also, the Hatters have 4,000 fans at Stamford Bridge and they need to at least make a pretence at being interested!
Mansfield Town to score "over" 1.5 goals @ 2.31 asian line.
Good luck!
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