PLAY-OFF FINAL LIVE: Mansfield Town v Port Vale build-up and live blog
The Mansfield Chad’s John Lomas and Mark Duffy will be at the game and you can follow events throughout the afternoon on our live match blog below, which will get under way at 2.30pm, with the match kicking off at 4pm.
In the meantime, we’ll post stories, interviews and any other relevant news about the final on the blog, so keep an eye on it in the build-up to the game. The most recent posts will appear at the top.
PLAY-OFF FINAL LIVE BLOG: Mansfield Town v Port Vale
Key Events
- LATEST: Mansfield 0-2 Port Vale - Stags down to ten men after 35 minutes.
- Stags team: Bishop, McLaughlin, Hewitt, Murphy, Bowery, Hawkins, Perch (c), Quinn, Oates, O’Toole, Longstaff. Subs: Clarke, Maris, Wallace, Stirk, Lapslie, Akins, Stech (GK)
- Port Vale: Stone, Gibbons, Smith, Hall, Benning, Worrall, Garrity, Pett (c), Taylor, Harratt, Wilson. Subs: Covolan, Martin, Charsley, Proctor, Robinson, Amoo, Edmondson.
- Kick-off at Wembley is 4pm
- Thousands of Stags fans have made the journey south
- Match is also live on Sky Sports
John Radford is confident this is Stags’ moment
Stags chairman John Radford is hoping this year will be the year Mansfield finally avoid promotion heartache...
PLAY-OFF FINAL: John Radford reveals why he is confident Mansfield Town have got what it takes to beat Port Vale
John Radford believes Stags have finally got that magic mix needed to secure promotion this season.
Focus on Port Vale
Here’s a quick look at Saturday’s opponents in more detail, as they aim to overcome the disappointment of just missing out on automatic promotion.
PLAY-OFF FINAL: Focus on Mansfield Town's opponents Port Vale ahead of Wembley battle
Mansfield Town know they’ll have to do something they’ve not yet done this season if they’re to earn promotion, and that’s beat Port Vale.
Forest fans to swell Stags’ support?
Nottingham Forest are at Wembley just 24 hours after Stags for their Championship play-off final with Huddersfield Town.
And it seems a few of their fans fancy a double-header...
Extra backing for Mansfield Town at Wembley from neighbouring Nottingham Forest fans
Mansfield Town are hoping to pick up some extra support from Nottingham Forest fans to help cheer them up into League One on Saturday.
Bowery hoping for more promotion joy
Mansfield Town ace Jordan Bowery hoping to play in third Wembley final and loving life with Stags
Jordan Bowery is hoping to be picked to play in his third Wembley final on Saturday when Mansfield Town take on Port Vale.
Lomas on Stags
The Chad’s John Lomas has been looking ahead to tomorrow’s game...
LOMAS ON STAGS: Mansfield Town in much better shape on Wembley Stadium return from dark days of 2011
The Wembley nerves are already jangling for players and supporters alike as Mansfield Town prepare for their big day out at Wembley Stadium.
VAR to be used at Wembley
VAR is being used at Wembley this weekend for the League Two play-off final and Nigel Clough isn’t best pleased about it.
Nigel Clough unhappy as Mansfield Town come under VAR spotlight for the first time at Wembley
Mansfield Town will find themselves under the VAR spotlight for the first time at Wembley on Saturday.
Oates dreams of Wembley goal
Rhys Oates has spoken of his hopes and dreams for Saturday’s final...and of course he’d love to find the net at Wembley
Playing at Wembley is achieving every youngster’s dream says Mansfield Town top scorer Rhys Oates
Rhys Oates knows he is achieving every youngster’s dream if he plays in Saturday's League Two play-off final at Wembley.
Commentator has his say
Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman has been talking about tomorrow’s game and thinks it’ll be a close affair.
He said: “It’s an evenly matched contest between these two teams.
“I think if you look at Mansfield’s form from October to March, they played 18 games and won 14 of those.
“Nigel Clough has galvanised them after a very difficult start where they had lots of injuries.
“Nigel Clough said publicly once he got these players back from injury then the team would shoot back up the league and that’s exactly what has happened.
“The pressure is on at Mansfield, it’s a club with ambition and a club that has thrown money at it to get out of League Two.
“It hasn’t happened for them, so there’s a lot of pressure on them to deliver.
“Nigel Clough has built a really good team who finished the season strong which is always a good thing going into the playoffs.
“As for Port Vale, they suffered at the end of the season and suffered when Darrell Clarke had his personal bereavement.
“He was away from the football club for some time, and it shows the resolves, resilience and character of Darrell Clarke to drag himself back to the club because he recognised his team needed him to get that all important final day win.
“He’s guided them through the playoffs and his reappearance has galvanised his players which is understandable given the turmoil he’s been through.
“The Port Vale players will very much be playing for Darrell Clarke and it’s tough to call which way this game will go.
“If you were to force me into picking a favourite, then I would possibly go for Mansfield because of some of the experience they have at a higher level.
All you need to know
Here’s a guide we put together for those planning to go to Wembley this weekend...
PLAY-OFF FINAL: Wembley - how to get there, where to park and other information for Mansfield Town fans
Mansfield Town will make only their third ever appearance at Wembley Stadium in Saturday’s play-off final and their first for just over 11 years.