Indeed, after a slow start to life in League Two last season, Mansfield were one of the stronger sides in the division throughout the second half of the campaign.
Nigel Clough’s side ultimately left themselves too much to do in terms of achieving automatic promotion, finishing three points behind third-placed Bristol Rovers, before losing 3-0 to Port Vale in the playoff final after Oliver Hawkins was shown a red card in only the 35th minute.
The early odds suggest Mansfield should be pushing for promotion once again, though, with Clough’s record in the lower divisions during his time at Burton Albion very difficult to argue with.
Only Scott Flinders and Hiram Boatenghave joined the club this summer so far, with the pair arriving from Cheltenham Town and Milton Keynes Dons respectively on free transfers, but the Stags are usually busy in the market and their recruitment is unlikely to end there.
Clough will have been satisfied with his team’s 1-0 win against local non-league outfit Matlock Town on Tuesday, but the former England and Liverpool midfielder will be acutely aware that Saturday’s test against Championship new boys Rotherham will pose a far greater one.
Unlike their forthcoming opposition, Rotherham did not end last season in particularly fine fettle whatsoever, failing to win seven of their last 11 matches as they limped over the automatic promotion line from League One.
Ultimately, however, Millers boss Paul Warne will not care one jot about that. The 49-year-old has now impressively achieved three promotions during his six-year spell at the club, with his greatest mission now clearly being keeping Rotherham in England’s second tier for a prolonged period of time.
So far in their attempts to stave off their growing yo-yo status, the club have attracted forwards Conor Washingtonand Tom Eaves on free transfers from Charlton Athletic
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and Hull City respectively, while the defence has been bolstered by the additions of Cameron Humphreys, Jamieq McCart, Peter Kiosoand Cohen Bramall.
Seven first-team players have departed with no incoming cash for their services, though, including Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo to League One sides Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town respectively, which perhaps illustrates the uphill battle Warne is facing at this lofty level.
Smith and Ladapo scored 35 goals between them last campaign and one of the pair finished as the Millers’ top goalscorer in each of the last four seasons; unless further additions are made, then, there is clearly instant pressure on Washington and Eaves to deliver.
