Clough Urges Mansfield Town to Improve Away Form in League One

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough is targeting an improvement in his team's away performances as the club prepares to face AFC Wimbledon and Blackpool in League One. Mansfield travels to Wimbledon on Tuesday, October 20, before visiting Blackpool on Saturday, with Clough looking to translate the team's strong home record into results on the road.

According to BBC Sport, Mansfield had not won any of its four away league matches this season, recording three defeats and one draw. Their home performances have been considerably stronger, with three wins and two draws across five matches at One Call Stadium.

The contrasting records have made the upcoming fixtures an important test of the squad's ability to compete away from home. Mansfield and AFC Wimbledon were both on 12 points before Tuesday's meeting, occupying 13th and 15th place respectively in the League One table.

Clough highlighted the importance of maintaining Mansfield's home consistency while reducing the number of defeats on their travels. He also pointed to the team's late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Oxford United as an example of the value of securing points even when victory is out of reach.

"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.

The manager identified away defeats as the main issue requiring attention, emphasizing that avoiding losses would be a significant step toward improving Mansfield's overall record.

"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?"

The Wimbledon fixture also marked a significant milestone in Clough's managerial career at Mansfield. According to BBC Sport, the match was his 275th league game in charge, taking him beyond Ian Greaves' league record and bringing him closer to becoming the club's longest-serving manager.

Clough was approaching six years in the role in November, having been appointed on November 6, 2020. He credited the club's board for supporting him throughout his tenure and said the team's progress should be assessed over a longer period rather than through individual results.

"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.

He added that supporters generally understood the team would not win every week and were enjoying its competitiveness. He also said Mansfield had experienced difficult periods during his tenure but had improved both 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."

AFC Wimbledon entered the match under manager Johnnie Jackson, with the home side listed in a 5-4-1 formation. The starting lineup named Bursik in goal, with Yiadom, Simmonds, Johnson, Seddon and Sasu in defense, Maycock, Nelson, Smith and Hippolyte in midfield, and Stockley leading the attack.

Mansfield's next away assignment after Wimbledon was scheduled for Saturday against Blackpool, giving Clough two road fixtures in four days to assess his team's progress outside One Call Stadium.