Mansfield Town vs Cheltenham Town preview - Keeper worries ease for Stags

Posted Friday, December 12, 2014 by PA

Mansfield's goalkeeping worries appear to have eased just in time for the visit of Cheltenham.

Stags number one Sascha Struder played at Cambridge in the FA Cup despite a thigh injury, while Dimitar Evtimov, on loan from Nottingham Forest, missed last weekend's second round tie with a chest infection. However, both keepers have improved this week and are expected to be in the squad on Saturday.

Skipper Martin Riley has not trained this week because of a hamstring problem and Mansfield manager Adam Murray, ahead of his first home match since getting the job on a permanent basis, will make a check on the centre-half on Friday.

Defender John Dempster is nearing a return from injury but striker Alex Fisher is not expected back from his collarbone injury until next month.

Cheltenham look set to be without player-coach Steve Elliott as Paul Buckle searches for his first win in charge.

The injured centre-back's continued absence means Troy Brown will partner captain Matt Taylor at the heart of the Robins defence at Field Mill.

Defender Lee Vaughan serves the third game of his three-match ban as Cheltenham look to get back to winning ways after their shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Dover last Sunday.

And Buckle could shuffle his pack as he looks for a response.