Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell is expecting another tough game against one of his former clubs as the Railwaymen look to take another huge step towards safety in the EFL.
Despite the Stags having to change their manager recently with Steve Evans electing to move on to League One Peterborough, the Alex boss says he is a expecting a similar Mansfield under new boss David Flitcroft.
Mansfield will be hoping to keep their promotion hopes very much alive and come into the game on a run of six without a win. They are currently just outside the play-offs in 8th place, so Artell says that all the pressure will be on them to perform at Field Mill tomorrow.
Ahead of our EFL fixture, Artell told us: “Mansfield have had a change of manager for whatever reason but I still expect them to be similar. It will take David and his staff time to implement their own philosophy. You cannot do that overnight. It has to be drip fed but I’m sure they will get there.
“They are a good side. They have been up there for much of the season and they will be looking to get into the play-offs. Their budget is good and finances should dictate that they should be up there.
“They are actually in a bad run of form for them and we have to try and take advantage of. We have been in decent form and the pressure is on them because they need the points to stay in touch with the top six.
He added: “We are not focussing too much on them. We are thinking about ourselves and what we need to do. I think the weather and the pitch suited Barnet when we lost down there. We were on the receiving end of a poor decision and that ended our little good run away from home, so now it is up to us to get back on it.”