LEADERS Mansfield have suffered two defeats in their last three games.

But Nigel Clough insists there is no need for the Stags to start getting twitchy.

For the second Tuesday running, they were beaten by a deflected goal – although that blow at Tranmere was softened with news that fourth-placed MK Dons had slipped up against Grimsby.

“The brilliant news when we came in was that Grimsby did us a favour,” said Clough. “That’s another game ticked off and we’re still five points clear of fourth.”

Mansfield and Clough are well experienced with the tension of the run-in to the season.

Beaten at Wembley in the 2022 play-off final, they missed out on the top seven on goals scored a year ago.

It’s tight among the leading pack again but Clough remains relaxed.

“It is a lovely position to be in at this stage.

“Being top is certainly better than chasing, like if we were five points behind and relying on other people all the time. It is very much in our hands.

“I just don't want us to get nervous or anything like that.”

Davis Keillor-Dunn, often a thorn in City’s side, could come back in after being given a breather on the bench at Prenton Park. Midfielder Ollie Clarke is rated “50/50” with a jarred knee.

Clough is confident of a reaction from only their sixth loss, although he is wary of the condition of the Valley Parade pitch.

“I don’t know about the surface we’re going to get,” he said. “But we’ll get a team out there and will have a right go as we always do.

“All the defeats this season have been so close and there’s an argument to say in every one of them we could have had a draw at least.”