Shaun Derry eager for Cambridge United to continue run against resolute Mansfield Town

Stags arrived at Cambs Glass Stadium on good run of form

Shaun Derry is anticipating a tough task for Cambridge United in breaking down Mansfield Town at the Cambs Glass Stadium on Saturday.

The U’s are on an impressive run of form of eight league games without defeat, with their latest match being a 0-0 draw with Blackpool.

But Steve Evans’s Mansfield are also on a good run and have not lost in their last four games, and have not conceded a goal in their last three matches.

“Steve will want to go out and win the game,” said U’s boss Derry. “He is a new manager at the helm and he has been given the green light to go change the squad dramatically.

“He has made a number of changes and a technical change as well in terms of the way that they set up the team.

“We’re pretty aware of what the strengths of the players are and we’re all aware as well of what a track record Steve has got.

“But at the same time, we’re in good form and I want them to be coming to Cambridge United and seeing the problems that we can pose to them.

“And we can because we’ve proved that over a number of weeks now. Even last week, Leon Legge’s header goes in and it’s a different type of game, and obviously Luke Berry’s penalty on a different day rockets in the back of the net and you come out 1-0 victors and it’s a different story.

“I understand that this weekend is going to be a tight affair because of the goals against column and it is pretty healthy for Mansfield Town.

“We have to be on top of our game and we have to make sure that we the take game to the opposition and that’s all I ever concentrate on, and with the coaching staff who work so closely with me we will always pay the opposition the type of respect they deserve.

Mansfield have one of the worst goals for records in the division, but they have this week added Peterborough striker Shaquile Coulthirst on loan, along with Posh midfielder Hayden White.

“Matt Green has obviously led the line for them over the last couple of years and he has done it particularly well and is a good player,” said Derry.

“With Yoann Arquin up the top and Shaquile Coulthirst just arrived, and there are two or three others there - Pat Hoban – so they’ve got options up at the top and they are playing a system where they cater for two centre forwards as well.

“We know that they’ve got options on the subs bench as well. But we just need to concentrate on ourselves.”