Nigel Clough has a problem concerning two fan favourites at Mansfield Town | OneFootball

The old guard at Mansfield have started to feel the pressure of the relentless nature of League One football with recent performances below par

It has been quite the incline for Mansfield Town in recent seasons and Nigel Clough has done a magnificent job with this core group of players – winning automatic promotion just two seasons after hearts were broken at Wembley in a 3-0 humiliation against Port Vale.

The 58-year-old has leaned on a fair bit of experience to get them into this position but there comes a point when even the best servants and fan favourites start to falter. Clough now faces difficult decisions on two of his – Aden Flint and Lucas Akins.

Akins was initially brought in to provide goals and given the number seven shirt but that hasn't quite played out. Instead, the 35-year-old has been deployed in a range of positions from a striker to a wing-back. He's even had to play as part of a back four. His versatility is a reason why Clough and the fans have loved him over the years, being dependable in a range of different situations throughout a season.

But, the Stags need more than that. Despite being of incredible physique for his age, he doesn't offer the output that Mansfield need – with just one goal and two assists to his name – and is getting caught out on a regular basis when operating as a wing-back.

In League Two, he was bailed out but he has had no such luck this season as Flint, the club captain, has been out of sorts as well.

The towering central defender was seen as a statement signing last season when he came to Field Mill from Sheffield Wednesday and certainly added a warrior-like attitude in defense. Despite not being comfortable on the ball, the skipper delivered aerial dominance, which had been Mansfield's undoing at times.

There are signs once more that League One is exposing his defending, with the team having to compensate for his lack of pace by dropping deep with new defender Deji Oshilja (31) showing the build of a League One centre-half. Being quick on your feet is integral to coping with the young forwards that are coming to the third tier and flourishing.

Mansfield Town could benefit from rotating out Aden Flint and Lucas Akins

The Stags last season had, for the large part, a very settled back four with plenty of continuity. However, this season has been a stark contrast. The change to a back five has certainly helped cause this, and it's clear that plenty of Mansfield's defenders are exposed.

Furthermore, only the remarkable form of Christy Pym has kept them six clean sheets this season – despite being avalanched with 110 shots they've only conceded 32 of them. It is clear to see that the protection is no longer there, and you can't look any further than Akins and Flint for differing reasons. When your skipper has only made nine starts (nineteen appearances) but been dribbled past eight times, you are in for a world of trouble.

Akins is similar, despite starting fifteen games, he has been dispossessed 35 times while, as per Fotmob, they have both only managed a 6.5 rating – the joining worst in the squad alongside George Marris.

There are, in fact, only two defenders, Baily Cargill and Deji Oshilaja, who have an average rating above 7, and when you watch Mansfield games, it is pretty evident that Jordan Bowery is also struggling.

The solution has to be to stop playing underperforming players and, with Alfie Kilgour coming back after a long injury, the time is now to integrate him in.

Aden Flint and Lucas Akins may still have a part to play

With just under half the season left to play and Mansfield sitting twelve points above the drop zone, there is still an awful lot to play for. Both Flint and Akins still have a role to play but along with Bowery, they should be rotated much more and that will add new energy to the team.

Yes, it is good to keep a settled back line, but when players are underperforming and becoming an area for the opposition to target, then action is needed.

Given their poor recent form, Clough has a decision to make on two of his trusted lieutenants. He needs his veterans to step up but the fear is that they just aren't able to.