Nottingham Forest legend Nigel Clough is overseeing Mansfield Town putting on a show! The man who spent many successful years at the City Ground has now helped the Stags do something they’ve not done for almost 50 years.
It’s been quite the start to 2023/24 for the North Nottinghamshire outfit. Last night they kept up their unbeaten start to the season by knocking League One side Peterborough United out of the Carabao Cup.
The game proved a dramatic one. Forest academy graduate Will Swan put the Stags into an early lead before two goals from Jonson Clarke-Harris gave the League One outfit the initiative.
Mansfield weren’t to be denied, Lucas Akins scored a penalty in stoppage time to send the game into penalties. From there it was the Christy Pym show and the Stags reached the last 16.
Forest legend Clough has Mansfield on fire
The son of iconic Forest figure Brian currently has Mansfield dreaming of League One. He’s also got them hoping and praying for a big draw when it takes place later on tonight.
Stags have endured some rotten luck in recent years. They were beaten in the League Two play-off final in 2021/22 and then last year they were denied a play-off place on goal difference.
This year there is a real sense that things could be different, however. Mansfield are flying at the moment and the club are being rewarded for sticking by Clough through the difficult times.
Clough archives feat for first time in almost 50 years
You have to go back to 1975 and the lofty days of Kevin Bird when Mansfield last reached the last 16 of the League Cup. Now, they’re dreaming of a plum tie when the draw comes out tonight.
Forest legend Clough has enjoyed some brilliant nights in cup competitions in the past. He will hope to have another successful run with Mansfield who will hope to now pull one of the big boys.
With Forest out of the competition, it’s likely that Forest supporters will be rooting for Clough and Mansfield as the Carabao Cup progresses to the latter stages.
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