LOMAS ON MANSFIELD TOWN: Alarm bells ringing ever louder as Stags strive to avoid relegation battle

They are now just five points off the drop zone and a continuation of their dire home form this season against high-flying Bradford City this Saturday could drag them even further into a potential battle against relegation.

Mansfield have won only two home League Two games all season – embarrassingly, the second worst home record in the Football League.

And if the promotion-chasing Bantams can extend that poor run and complete a quickfire double over the Stags, having beaten them on 29th December at Valley Parade, then Mansfield's next three games will assume massive importance for the club's future.

After the weekend Stags face three fellow strugglers in a row - Oldham at Boundary Park on Tuesday night, Carlisle United at home the following Saturday and Morecambe away the weekend after.

All three are suddenly starting to look like six-pointers to drag themselves clear of the National League trapdoor - and who could have predicted that when we kicked off back in August?

The season has never really taken off, despite its huge promise, and now all of a sudden games are running out – there are 18 left and fans would relish mid-table obscurity right now.

The campaign is definitely a write-off and now boss Graham Coughlan has to ensure it does not turn into an unmitigated disaster.

Everton's Harry Charsley became the first January window signing this week and Stags will hope he can hit the ground running.

His pedigree certainly looks impressive and he is fresh and full of hunger which is exactly what Stags' depleted midfield department needs right now. Fans will be looking forward to him possibly making his full debut this Saturday after his late cameo at Plymouth.

But, with the number of individual errors being made and goals conceded, Coughlan will want to bring in at least one new defender, possibly two, to stoke up competition for places and try to tighten up League Two's second worst goals conceded record behind Morecambe.

That just a season after being the division's tightest defence – and mostly with the very same players.

Over the last 10 games Mansfield are bottom of the League Two form table so can have no qualms about where they find themselves.

The only shining light is the improving performances and fitness levels in the short time Coughlan has been at the helm and his huge confidence he can very soon steer this ship to calmer waters.