Martin Drury and Huddersfield will 'approach Mansfield Town with caution' as 4-1 defeat still fresh in their minds
Huddersfield Town are not about to underestimate their trip to the One Call Stadium on Saturday.
The Terriers are flying in League One right now, sitting second in the table on a strong unbeaten run. Only Martin Drury’s side and Notts County are yet to lose a league match this season and they are aware of the threat Mansfield Town pose to that run of form.
Despite Stags’ self-proclaimed ‘topsy-turvy start’ to the 2026/27 season, Drury and his side refuse to underestimate the damage Nigel Clough’s team could do this weekend.
"We’re up against a really tough opponent, an opponent that we lost to at the back end of last season,” Drury told club media after their midweek win over Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Trophy.
The last time Stags faced Huddersfield, they enjoyed a statement 4-1 win at the Kirklees Stadium. The previous fixture at the One Call was a win for the Terriers but their home defeat is clearly still fresh in the mind, as Drury stresses his side must approach Saturday’s clash carefully.
"It’s one that we approach with caution as well as excitement, because they’re a good side and we know how dangerous they are,” the 40-year-old continued. “But we’ve also been looking forward to this game since last season when they were really good against us.”
The match in question was a comfortable win for Stags back in April. Lucas Akins opened the scoring after 15 minutes and a Huddersfield own goal doubled their lead before half-time. After the break, Regan Hendry popped up to make it 3-0, followed by Oliver Irow’s effort to round thing up. Marcus Harness did get himself on the scoresheet for the Terriers but it ended as a mere consolation goal in an otherwise comfortable three points for Mansfield.
Huddersfield Town are currently just one point behind League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday, having won three and drawn two of their five games so far.
Drury admitted after their win over Doncaster in the Trophy that he enjoys the challenge of working for a result, having come from behind to beat Rovers 3-1.
“I’m really pleased for the players, the overriding feeling is that I’m really pleased for them. I like that we had to suffer for a bit of the game, I love the mentality of the group. Everything comes down to mentality, I like it when we suffer because it makes us stronger and better. I want us to feel suffering and build that mentality.”