Huge test for Mansfield Town as Peterborough United aim to continue dash up the table

Since Luke Williams took over as manager from Darren Ferguson at the end of October, with Peterborough rock bottom of League One, they have shot up the table into 10th place with some impressive results.

But Stags trail them by just two points and are looking to build on their nine-game unbeaten run, despite Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Exeter City being a second goalless home draw in successive weekends.

“Since Luke has come in they have picked up incredibly,” said Clough on tomorrow's opposition.

“They were bottom and all of a sudden have their eyes on the top six.

“It just shows, with good, young players, the confidence aspect is so important. You get a few victories and they look a completely different team.

“When they were bottom everyone said they would struggle to stay up.

“But sometimes it can just be a fresh voice or fresh face that changes things.

“Darren had done unbelievably well there and the accolades and tributes from the chairman and Barry Fry said exactly what he has done for the club over his four spells.

“He has been so important to the development of the club.

“He got these players in and it may well have happened under Darren. We don't know.

“But sometimes a change has got to be made and that fresh voice has made the difference.”

He added: “I think the way the fixtures have fallen we are a little bit unlucky not to have played them in the first few months of the season - and we now have them to play twice in the last 18 games.

“But we are looking forward to it – I think it will be a good game of football, whatever.

“They are young and energetic and they get forward. They are a dangerous side.

“Kyrell Lisbie is a huge threat with his pace and got himself a hat-trick on Saturday. He will be as confident as anybody.”

Clough is happy to keep picking up the points, even when his side have not hit the heights of previous games.

“I thought a draw was a fair result on Saturday,” he said.

“But we did have six decent opportunities, and if one of those goes in you win the game. It was a good game between two good teams.

“I am convinced we would have lost these games a year ago.

“And we are on a great run now that keeps us halfway up the league and in touch with both ends, unfortunately, with the strength of the league. It is so close down at the bottom.

“So we know if we don't keep getting these points and ticking over, you can very easily get dragged back into that bottom five or six , which we want to avoid.

“Every single point counts. It is so tight.

“Everyone in that top 10 or so are looking to threaten the play-offs and everyone else is looking to get to that 50-point mark as soon as possible, though even that may not be enough this season because of the nature of the league.

“But we are in a good position going forward with our games in hand – they are going to be absolutely crucial.

“I think the next five games will be crucial to what our ambitions are.”

Clough is waiting on keeper Liam Roberts' illness to see if he can be involved, though new deputy Harry Lewis started with a clean sheet on his debut on Saturday.

Ryan Sweeney limped off and won't be involved.

Neither will Tyler Roberts, who has had a setback in his injury comeback with a thigh issue, while new signing George Abbott is not quite fit enough for a debut yet.

Forest loanee Joe Gardner is back in full contact training after being given the all-clear by specialists after a worrying spell of dizziness and headaches, but is being reviewed day to day, especially after training, and will need to build back up before being in consideration again.