Howell in as Stags take on Bristol Rovers

Otherwise manager Paul Cox stuck with the side that performed so well in the 1-0 midweek home Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat by Chesterfield.

With Adam Murray out on loan, McGuire suspended and Chris Clements injured, Cox was also forced to include Godfrey Poku on the bench, who has rarely figured in the squad since joining the Stags two summers ago.

Stags were bidding to avoid a third straight home defeat in eight days and faced a Rovers side that had only won once all season and not won in their last league five games.

STAGS: Marriott, Beevers, Riley, Dempster, Sutton, Murtagh, Stevenson, Howell, Daniel, Andrew, Clucas. Subs: Rhead, Jennings, Hutchinson, Meikle, Poku, Mitchell, Palmer.

BRISTOL ROVERS: Mildenhall, Smith, Parkes, Clarkson, Brown, Norburn, Bond, Clarke, Brunt, Lockyer, O’Toole. Subs: Gill, Richards, Gough, Goddard, Santos, Keary, Southway.

REFEREE: Scott Duncan of Northumberland.