Despite missing the likes of Tyler Roberts, Regan Hendry, and George Maris, I still feel Mansfield have enough to find the back of the net against League Two Accrington on Saturday.

The Stags have enough in attacking areas to cause problems, whilst they are also pretty good from set pieces, with the 5th-most goals scored from them in League One.

They face a similar test in the first round when they took on Harrogate in a game which they edged 3-2. Accrington have home advantage in this one and have been playing well, unbeaten in seven in all competitions. Both teams have scored in seven of their last nine games, with Accrington scoring in all of them.

John Doolan's Stanley will fancy their chances of finding the back of the net, given Mansfield's recent run of form. The Stags have lost their last three on the bounce, granted, last time out was a 3-0 loss to league leaders Cardiff. Losses to Northampton and Huddersfield previously saw Mansfield scoring also.

To my surprise, when researching this game, Grimsby have dropped to 12th position in League Two after a strong start, failing to win any of their last five league games.

The good news is that in a truncated League Two table, just six points is the difference between 3rd and 12th. They are still projected as the best side in League Two according to FotMOB’s xG table, but in my opinion are let down between the sticks by Christy Pym, who I saw play a lot for my team, Mansfield, and who simply just does not save enough shots.

Wealdstone of the National League are the visitors to the seaside situated Blundell Park, a side who are enjoying a good start, currently sat in 9th place in the fifth tier of English football. The Stones have only lost twice in their last fifteen games, which is sure to give them confidence heading into this game.

Nevertheless, I think a side projected as one of the best in League Two should have enough to see off a National League side, especially on home soil, where they have beaten the likes of Man United this season.

Cheltenham have improved since the arrival of Steve Cotterill in the dugout, replacing the outgoing Michael Flynn at the end of September, and winning four of their eight league games during that time.

There hasn’t been a massive uptick in performances, but they have managed to keep games tight for the most part, with only two going over 2.5 goals.

National League North side Buxton are currently 13th in their division and are out of form. Since qualifying for the first round proper, they have lost five of their six games, but their sole victory did come against table toppers AFC Fylde, suggesting they may be able to raise their performance levels for a big game. They have conceded twelve goals in those five defeats.

Steve Cotterill may be eyeing a place in the third round and a big draw to boost his transfer coffers in order to stave off relegation, and they should come out on top of what I am calling the ‘spa town derby’.

Barrow are a side that I do not have much faith in this season.

They are currently 18th in League Two, having scored just one goal per game, and having not won a league game since mid-October. They have a nondescript manager and very few players that you look forward to watching. If they survive relegation this season, it will likely be because other teams were just worse, rather than anything outstanding they have done.

They travel to a Wigan side who, despite being midtable, are 4th in the xG table, just one Expected Point behind the top-rated side, Bolton Wanderers. They are strong on home turf, having won five and drawn two of their nine games, and over the last five games are 6th in the form table.

Everything tells me that even if the actual table turns out to more accurately rate Wigan’s ability than the underlying numbers, they should beat a Barrow side who are 22nd in League Two’s xP table.