Mansfield Town will provide Sheffield United with their fourth test in the 2022-23 pre-season friendly schedule, which will include a battle against former boss Nigel Clough tonight.
The fixture between Sheffield United and Mansfield Town will be played behind closed doors, presumably at the Randox Health Academy, the Blades Training ground at 19:00. United comes into this fixture following a 3-2 defeat to National League outfit Scunthorpe United. After trailing by three goals at the break, second-half goals from Rhian Brewster and Illiman Ndiaye helped reduce the deficit. After facing Mansfield, the Blades face further friendly matches away from home at League One outfits, Burton Albion, and Barnsley.
It is unclear which players Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom will have at his disposal with goalkeeping duo Wes Foderingham (calf) and Adam Davies both injured, whilst Rhys Norrington-Davies, and midfielder Tommy Doyle (thigh), on loan from Manchester City, are all sidelined through injury. Billy Sharp, Jayden Bogle, and Oli McBurnie have yet to recover from last season’s injuries. Meanwhile, new signing Ciaran Clark could be handed his first start since securing a season-long loan deal from Newcastle United. He appeared as a second-half substitute at Glanford Park.
On 13th August 2014, the Blades were victorious in the First Round of the Football League Cup – winning 2-1 en route to United reaching the semi-final under Nigel Clough. After a goalless first half, United took the lead on 43 minutes through Andy Butler’s header, before the visitors levelled four minutes later. The tie looked like heading into extra-time and possible penalties until striker Marc McNulty struck a low shot 15 yards from goal, four minutes from time to send the hosts through.
After defeating the Stags, the Blades scraped through the second round after defeating West Ham United on penalties at Upton Park, following a 1-1 draw. They subdued Leyton Orient (1-0) and MK Dons (2-1) away from home, before beating Southampton 1-0 at home in the Quarter-Finals – a massive victory for a then League One club. They faced Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final where they lost 3-2 on aggregate after losing 1-0 at White Hart Lane and drawing 2-2 at Bramall Lane.
The two sides have since met in a pre-season friendly on 21st July 2018, which ended in a 0-0 draw at Field Mill.
Last season, the Stags narrowly missed out on promotion to League One after losing 3-0 in the Play-Off Final to Port Vale. The club is managed by former Blades boss Nigel Clough, who managed United between October 2013, and May 2015. As a League One club he helped the Blades reach both the FA Cup and League Cup semi-final in 2014, and 2015, whilst they also made the 2015 Play-Offs, losing in the semi-finals to Swindon Town. He managed 104 matches for United, winning 49 and drawing 30 times.
In their pre-season, Town has recorded victories over non-league duo Retford United (6-0) and Matlock Town (1-0), as well as a 1-1 draw with Championship side Rotherham United.
Last Six Professional Meetings
08.03.1982 – Mansfield Town 1-1 Sheffield United (Division Four)
19.11.1988 – Mansfield Town 1-1 Sheffield United (FA Cup Round 1)
22.11.1988 – Sheffield United 2-1 Mansfield Town (FA Cup Round 1 replay)
04.04.1989 – Mansfield Town 0-1 Sheffield United (Division Three)
25.04.1989 – Sheffield United 1-2 Mansfield Town (Division Three)
13.08.2014 – Sheffield United 2-1 Mansfield Town (League Cup Round 1)