Nigel Clough knows importance of first goal for Mansfield Town

Nigel Clough knows first goal is key for Stags. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Mansfield face the relegation-threatened Bluebirds on the back of just one win in five and without an away win in their last four.

They have lost the last two away games 1-0 with Clough knowing the importance of his side getting ahead.

“We put a great emphasis on getting the first goal,” he said. “The longer we stay at 0-0 as an away side the more it benefits.

“Getting the first goal can make a massive difference. We defended a 1-0 lead against Morecambe relatively comfortably.

“It's a pattern in football at the moment. Teams are not carving us open, it is just mistakes that are costing us.

“The last two away games we lost are easy to see why we lost. We don't need to analyse them. We have made mistakes and it has cost us.

“The performances have been good but it's fine margins. We are losing by one goal due to errors

“We just need to find a way to swing it in our favour. Teams are not giving us goals, we are having to work for them and very hard. We want to return that favour to the opposition.”

But Clough knows his side will face a real battle against a Barrow side fighting for their League Two survival.

“We had them watched on Tuesday and they were unlucky against Harrogate,” added Clough.

“They threw everything at them but Harrogate didn't cave in. We expect them to have a go at us and we have got to be ready to defend that.

“It was always going to be a tough season for them. They are fighting for their lives and will be tough on Saturday.”

Mansfield have been boosted by the news that Ollie Clarke’s red-card at Bradford City has been overturned.

“We were always confident it would be overturned, but it's a relief to have the confirmation,” said Clough.

“We are short in midfield and it's good to see it overturned. We knew at the time there was nothing in it, luckily it didn't change the game for us.

“He was very unlucky and It is good to see that common sense has prevailed.”

Stags will be without George Maris (groin) and George Lapslie (hamstring) and Stephen McLaughlin (hamstring).