Unbeaten Mansfield have made a strong start to the season and they can spring a surprise when they welcome Peterborough to the One Call Stadium in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Nigel Clough’s side narrowly missed out on the League Two play-offs last season and they appear keen to make up for lost time, as they are yet to lose in 11 matches across league and cup during 2023-24.

Peterborough are going steadily in the league above their hosts and will head to Mansfield unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, but that run may just come to an end this midweek.

Team news

Mansfield’s strong start to the season has been made all the more impressive as they have had their fair share of injury issues to contend with, particularly in defence where Alfie Kilgour, Stephen McLaughlin and Elliott Hewitt all remain unavailable.

Stephen Quinn and Rhys Oates are also still sidelined, while Callum Johnson is a doubt with a hamstring problem, but midfielder George Maris could return to the starting XI after making his comeback from injury as a substitute in the weekend victory over Barrow.

Peterborough also have injuries to contend with, notably goalkeeper Will Blackmore and midfielder Jeando Fuchs, who both remain sidelined, as does young forward Malik Mothersille.

Mansfield to win @ 11/8

Agonisingly, Mansfield missed out on the League Two play-offs last season by one goal, but they have not been feeling sorry for themselves, instead starting the current campaign in fabulous form.

Not only are the Stags unbeaten in the league, they have also progressed through to this stage of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2005, notably seeing off Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in round two.

Mansfield have collected four wins and four clean-sheets from their five home matches to date in 2023-24 and they may be able to spring a minor surprise against a Peterborough team that have failed to win any of their last four away assignments inside 90 minutes.

The Posh drew 1-1 at Bolton last time out, despite playing more than half that match against ten men and they may struggle to contain this confident Mansfield side, who are eyeing a place in round four for the first time in 48 years.

David Keillor-Dunn to score anytime @ 7/4

Mansfield have scored 16 goals in League Two this season and almost half of those – seven – have been converted by forward Davis Keillor-Dunn.

The 25-year-old has already beaten his league tally for the whole of last season and he will be looking to net for the third time in four games on Tuesday night after finding the back of the net in Mansfield’s recent victory over Accrington Stanley and draw at Colchester.

Only Swindon’s Jake Young has scored more goals in the fourth tier than Keillor-Dunn this season and the former Oldham ace could represent good value to open his cup account for the campaign against Peterborough.