Match details and context
Mansfield Town will face Sheffield United in the first round of the EFL Cup at the One Call Stadium on Sunday, 9 August, with a 4pm kick-off. The game will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
| Competition | EFL Cup (First round) |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 9 August |
| Kick-off | 4pm |
| Venue | One Call Stadium, Mansfield |
| TV | Sky Sports Football & Sky Sports Main Event |
Squad changes and team news
Mansfield enter the tie with fresh additions to their playing squad. The Stags have recruited experienced forwards David McGoldrick and Michael Smith, and secured midfielder Liam Thompson from Derby County. Those signings have strengthened manager Nigel Clough’s options as he seeks to build on last season’s strong home results.
Sheffield United’s summer transfer activity, by contrast, has been limited. The Blades’ only reported permanent arrival to the senior squad is Matt Doherty on a free transfer. Off the pitch, long-serving assistant Alan Knill has left the club, and there are ongoing discussions over midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who is understood to be close to a return to former club Coventry.
"Manager Nigel Clough masterminded an FA Cup third-round win over the Blades last season, edging a seven-goal thriller 4-3 in the Steel City."
That FA Cup victory — an entertaining 4-3 result in Sheffield — will remain fresh in Mansfield supporters’ memories and is likely to be a motivating factor for the home side.
Form and what it means for Mansfield
Mansfield’s recent record at the One Call Stadium points to confidence for Sunday’s fixture. The Stags are reported to be unbeaten in their last six home matches and have not lost on home soil since a 2-1 defeat to Premier League champions Arsenal in March. Last season, Mansfield suffered fewer home defeats than most League One clubs; only eight sides in that division lost fewer times at home.
Those statistics underpin the local expectation that Mansfield can cause problems for higher‑division opposition, particularly in a cup tie where momentum and match-day selection can have an outsized influence.
Sheffield United concerns and away record
Sheffield United arrive with questions over squad depth and recruitment. The Blades won nine of their 23 away games in the Championship last season — a return that suggests vulnerability on the road — and internal change has come in the form of coaching departures rather than a flurry of new signings.
Those factors—limited summer investment and off-field change—have been flagged as potential constraints for Chris Wilder’s side heading into the 2026–27 campaign.
Odds and betting pointers
- Best bet (reported): Mansfield 2pts 3-1 (BoyleSports).
- Anytime scorer market mentioned: David McGoldrick at around 11-4 (Paddy Power).
Local supporters will be weighing those odds alongside the form lines and the psychological edge of last season’s cup victory in Sheffield. For Mansfield, a strong showing — irrespective of result — would be regarded as further proof that the club can compete with teams from the division above when the squad is at full strength.
Local significance
For Mansfield the fixture is more than a single cup tie. It represents a test of the club’s summer recruitment and of how quickly Clough can integrate new signings into the team. For supporters, a positive result would raise expectations for the league campaign; for the town it offers the excitement of hosting a club with recent Premier League and Championship history.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, cannot afford complacency. Limited transfer activity and staff departures increase the risk of an upset on Sunday, and a poor showing could intensify scrutiny over how the club approaches the opening weeks of the season.
Kick-off is at 4pm on Sunday; local interest will be high as Mansfield bid to again unsettle higher-ranked opposition at the One Call Stadium.
