Quick bit of housekeeping.

James Perch was booked in the aftermath of the Cobblers goal for an agricultural challenge on Mitch Pinnock in the build up to the strike.

Mansfield go to their bench for the first time.

Newcastle loanee Matty Longstaff, who I have to say had been quite quiet, is off and Kieran Wallace is on.

Northampton are certainly making the home side work a bit more this half.

Home goalkeeper Nathan Bishop still to really make a save of note this evening though.

Image source, PA Media

Cobblers boss Jon Brady has seen enough.

Idris Kanu is off and Josh Eppiah is on.

Northampton go close.

Sam Hoskins shows lovely feet to move away from some would-be challengers and then curls an effort just past the post from 20 yards out.

Better from the Cobblers.

You feel they need to get Hoskins more involved if they're to get back into this.

Ouch.

George Maris cynically chops down Sam Hoskins as the Northampton man looks to break forward and he's rightly booked.

Nasty that.

How important could this prove to be?!

Jonny Maxted makes a big save in the Cobblers goal to stop Rhys Oates making it 3-0.

The forward raced in on goal from the angle and sent a powerful shot at goal that Maxted, only playing because number one Liam Roberts is banned, had to stand up well to.

Mansfield get us back under way in this one.

Can the Cobblers find a way back into it or can the Stags put themselves in total control for the second leg?

If there's ANY positives Northampton can take from that first half it's that they do have a recent history of coming back from 2-0 down to win in the play-offs.

The Cobblers lost 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Cheltenham in 2020 before roaring back to win 3-0 in the second leg in Gloucestershire and eventually go up to League One with an emphatic win over Exeter in the final.

Second half coming up shortly.

If you're just joining us - especially if you've been glued to the FA Cup final - here's a reminder of how the first half went.

First Rhys Oates drilled Mansfield in front from an angle.

Image source, Getty Images

Jordan Bowery tapped in a second for the Stags just after the half hour.

Image source, Rex Features

And the Mansfield fans have loved it. For Northampton's? So far it's been Cobblers....

Image source, Rex Features

Jon D'Laryea
Former Mansfield Town midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

It's been relatively flawless from Mansfield, they have taken some of the chances they have had and not been under too much pressure at the other end.

It's now about them keeping their concentration and doing the same things to make sure they remain the team in charge.

Image source, Rex Features

Dominant first 45 minutes for the home team.

The Stags took an early lead through Rhys Oates' crisp strike and Jordan Bowery doubled their money with a tap in after nice approach play.

Northampton haven't been blown away by any measure but they're yet to really test Nathan Bishop in the home goal.

You really could excuse Northampton players and fans for feeling a bit sorry for themselves.

They missed out on automatic promotion last Saturday on goals scored after Bristol Rovers thumped Scunthorpe 7-0 and now here they are a week later well and truly under the pump at Mansfield in the play-offs.

Two minutes added on at the end of the first half and boss Jon Brady has a massive teamtalk ahead of him.

Image source, Dan Westwell

Both the regular season meetings between these sides ended with the home team winning to nil.

Mansfield would certainly take that record continuing this evening as it stands.

Some lovely play on the right wing ends with James Perch sending a cross over everyone in the middle but the Stags have certainly got their tails up.

Do Stags really have tails? Not sure.

This is the seventh EFL play-off game this post-season and none of them have ended 0-0.

The Cobblers win a corner after a long throw into the box is only half dealt with.

It comes to nothing though.

Simon Dutton: Hi, West Ham Derek (20:05) - I was at Field Mill that night in 1969 to watch 4 World Cup winners come unstuck against the Stags. It’s been my dining out claim to fame ever since.

What is this, Friends Reunited?!

Don't forget you can get in touch with us about tonight's game, or indeed one played in 1969 apparently, if you like by using #bbcefl on Twitter.

Jon D'Laryea
Former Mansfield Town midfielder on BBC Radio Nottingham

Image source, Getty Images

It's another great goal. Being 2-0 up is no less than what Mansfield deserve.

Jordan Bowery has worked hard to get there for the tap-in finish.

It's been a near-perfect performance so far from the Stags.

Image source, Rex Features

Few familiar faces out on the pitch this evening.

Mansfield have Matty Longstaff on loan from Newcastle in their midfield with veteran former Sheffield United man Stephen Quinn and ex-Rangers man Jamie Murphy is out on the wing.

Boss Nigel Clough, a bit like his dad Brian, is a big fan of signing players he's worked with at other clubs.

So far, so good for the Stags.