Mansfield vs Macclesfield Preview & Prediction | 2026-27 English FA Cup | First Round
by Trystan Pugh ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Mansfield host Macclesfield on Saturday afternoon in a first round contest in the 2026-27 FA Cup.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not Televised / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Cannot be streamed
Mansfield vs Macclesfield prediction
This tie features two sides who made the FA Cup headlines last season. Mansfield Town beat Premier League side Burnley in the fourth round and went all the way to the last 16 before losing 2-1 to Arsenal, while Macclesfield beat holders Crystal Palace 2-1 in the third round and reached the fourth round, where they lost 1-0 to Brentford.
Mansfield are 11th in League One with five wins from 13, and come into this on the back of a 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic that followed a 2-0 home defeat to Notts County. That is an unspectacular run for a side who have shown plenty of knockout steel, although it is worth remembering they were beaten at this stage in 2023-24 by Wrexham.
Macclesfield are third in National League North with eight wins from 13 games, and they won 3-0 at Bedford Town last time out. They reached this stage by coming through the qualifying rounds, including a replay win over Scarborough, so they are well drilled in cup football and unlikely to be overawed. The gap in quality still favours Mansfield at home, but the Silkmen’s recent record against league opposition makes a one-sided scoreline unlikely. We expect a narrow home win.
Mansfield vs Macclesfield tip: Mansfield to win by 1-2 goals
