Battle at the top as Bury take on handy Mansfield

BURY will look to make a positive start to a congested Christmas fixture period when they face fellow League Two promotion contenders Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium.

The Shakers edged past Tranmere Rovers 2-1 at Gigg Lane on Saturday, thanks to second half goals from forward Nicky Maynard and substitute Caolan Lavery, his third in his last two games appearing from the bench.

Ryan Lowe’s side met with their opponents just three weeks prior to today’s fixture, in the second round of the Checkatrade Trophy, and came away with the victory and a place in the third round, thanks to Dominic Telford’s first half strike.

However, The Stags have started to hit a little bit of form since that defeat, winning their last two games, with the most recent an impressive 3-1 win away at Stevenage thanks to a brace from forward Tyler Walker and a goal from Ryan Sweeney.

This puts them just one point and one place below Bury in fifth, with a win for either team having the potential to move them into the automatic promotion places.

“We know all about them, what they’re about and the style of play they’ll play - Flickers [David Flitcroft] will have them up for it again.” said Lowe. “Obviously we won there in the Checkatrade Trophy a few weeks ago and it was an entertaining game. But it’s just another game that we won’t take lightly, we’ll respect them and go about our business.”