Season 14/15 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Northampton Town
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Oliver 48.
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Richards pen 90+3
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Attendance: 4614 (1210 from Northampton)
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Date: 14 February 2015
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STAGS DENIED BY INJURY TIME PENALTY AGAINST 10 MEN
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town conceded an injury time penalty, converted by Marc Richards, to deny the Stags what would have been three very valuable points. Northampton were down to ten men from 36 minutes after John-Joe O’Toole was given a straight red card for an off the ball incident with Ritchie Sutton in the Stags penalty area. Neither the match DVD nor our pitchside camera give any clarity on the sending-off incident. The Stags took the lead on 48 minutes when a free-kick from Lee Beevers was flicked on by Martin Riley to Vadaine Oliver, unmarked at the far post, and he fired home from close range, for his sixth goal for the Stags. Disappointingly the Stags were unable to dominate against the ten men and had no good opportunities to extend the lead. Instead it was Northampton who looked the more likely to score. Lenny Pidgeley made a great save from a free-kick on 86 minutes. But in stoppage time, Northampton sub Ivan Toney went over a combination of Junior Brown and Lee Beevers in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. From reviewing the incident on the DVD, you can see why the referee gave the penalty, even though some referees wouldn’t have given it. Stags players and management were incensed but it made no difference. Richards took the spot kick and blasted it down the middle as Pidgeley dived to his left. Disastrous for Mansfield to throw away two points against a team that played for 55 minutes with ten men. In my opinion the Stags should have been more positive against ten men instead of dropping deeper and deeper as the game went on, and as Northampton chucked more players up front there should have been opportunities for Mansfield exploit gaps in the Northampton defence. A devastating result. The Stags are two points above the drop zone. If the unthinkable happens and the Stags go down, I will look back at this game as one that definitely should have been won. One positive to take from the game was a first start for young Jack Thomas. He had a fine game. He was taken off two minutes after picking up a yellow card, perhaps to protect him from getting a second yellow because of his inexperience. There was a surprise on the bench as Adam Murray named himself as one of the subs, and brought himself on with 4 minutes left to cheers of “Adam Murray’s barmy army”. But he was unable to help the side see the game out in those vital final minutes. Murray made four changes to the side that lost at Morecambe. As a general comment, I would like to see fewer changes made each game and the Stags try and find a settled team. However several changes each game are being enforced. On this occasion Raynes was out with the hamstring injury he picked up at Morecambe, and Elder was out with a calf injury. While Ravenhill was available again after the hamstring injury he picked up warming up against Stevenage. Riley came in for Raynes, as expected. Ravenhill came back into the side in place of McGuire. Junior Brown and surprise starter Jack Thomas came in for Elder and Rhead. It was a return to 4 at the back, with Sutton at right back and Beevers at left back. Ravenhill sat just in front of the back 4 to protect it. Thomas and Heslop were in central midfield with Lambe and Brown either side, and Oliver on his own up front, in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Others have described it as 4-3-3, but in my opinion Oliver was primarily on his own up front, with Lambe and Brown on the wings. Billy Kee was on the bench. He was the “wow” signing in January and in my opinion the player who was most likely to be a regular goalscorer for us. It was clear he needed game time to get up to match fitness, and I don’t agree with him being jettisoned after a poor half against Stevenage when he was played completely out of position as an attacking midfielder. In my opinion, he needs a run in the team as a striker, because given chances, his record throughout his career suggests he will get goals. With Murray on the bench, there was no place for Joe Fitzpatrick, who made his debut coming on at half time at Morecambe. The Stags injury list now reads Jones, Hearn, Blair, Clements, Raynes, Elder (plus Dempster who is fit though not match fit). Northampton arrived at Field Mill having shot up the table with 5 consecutive wins followed by defeat at Hartlepool on Tuesday. They also arrived as top scorers in the division. The away fans had called this “John-Joe O’Toole day” and a lot had turned up with headbands and long-haired wigs in his honour. But the day was to turn sour for O’Toole. It was the first crowd of over 4000 at the One Call Stadium this season, in the third in the series of 3 games with £7 entry for adults and also thanks to a big following of 1200 from Northampton. However, disappointingly, the number of home fans of 3400 was 200 down on the 3600 home fans in the last £7 game against Exeter. The Stags created the first chance, on 3 minutes. Thomas played the ball forward. It was mis-controlled by Horwood and Oliver tried his luck from 25 yards with a shot which was blocked through to the keeper Duke. On 5 minutes, Ravenhill, sitting just in front of the back 4, got in a good block to put the ball behind for a corner. A chance for the Stags on 9 minutes as Oliver back heeled and Heslop got in a shot from 10 yards but it was saved by Duke. The ball came back to Brown who went down in the area but the referee decided it was no penalty. It looked like the defender got to the ball first and took Brown down as well (confirmed on the match DVD), so the referee made the right call. On 13 minutes, Holmes got past Ravenhill and got in a left footed shot which Pidgeley palmed away. The ball came back to Holmes who fired into the side netting. Ravenhill was booked on 19 minutes for a late challenge. Oliver was regularly getting caught offside perhaps because he was isolated up front and getting caught as the last man. On 25 minutes, Oliver did well to win the ball and Heslop had a sight of goal but his shot was blocked. On 27 minutes, Beevers’ free kick from the half way line came out to Brown on the left who crossed the ball back in and Heslop shot weakly into the ground and into the keeper’s arms but who still needed two attempts to grab it. On 30 minutes, great play from Jack Thomas. He got in a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked. It came back to him and he showed quick feet and skill drawing a foul from a defender. Northampton players complained as the Stags took the free kick two yards further back from where the incident happened. Heslop took the kick from 23 yards just to the right of centre, and hit the top of the bar and it went over. A very good effort from Heslop after his fine goal on Tuesday. The Stags came within a whisker again on 33 minutes as a long ball forward from Pidgeley flicked off a defender to Oliver who fired in a rapier-like low shot which whistled inches past the left post. A good effort from Oliver which would have been reminiscent of his goal at Wimbledon. On 35 minutes, a free kick from the left by Lambe and Oliver sent a soft header straight at the keeper. Northampton were down to ten men from 36 minutes as John-Joe O’Toole was given a straight red card for an off the ball incident with Ritchie Sutton in the Stags penalty area. O’Toole had previously been booked but this was a straight red. I couldn’t tell what happened as it was off the ball and I didn’t see it. Neither the match DVD nor our pitchside camera give any clarity on the sending-off incident. The report on messageboards from Northampton fans who were closest to the incident is that Sutton had O’Toole in a headlock and pulled off his headband and O’Toole responded by hitting him the stomach, then as Sutton was on the ground O’Toole smacked him in the head. As I said, video evidence is inconclusive and can’t verify this. After the game, Northampton assistant Alan Knill said that O’Toole said that Sutton had him in a headlock and he just reacted. In the aftermath, Pidgeley ended up on the deck. From the match DVD, Pidgeley was thrown to the floor by a combination of Oliver and Collins. Oliver tried to pull Pidgeley away, and Collins pushed him but only gently as he was already off balance, on to the floor. I think even with video evidence, that would not have been a red card offence. So the Stags would have 55 minutes against 10 men - could they make it count? On 40 minutes, a booking for Holmes and Sutton, as Holmes pulled Sutton to the floor. It wasn’t clear to me why Sutton was booked. Update: from the DVD, Sutton pushed Holmes away as he was getting up, so was booked for retaliation. On 43 minutes, a good challenge by Ravenhill to clear the ball. On 45+1 minutes, a good patient move from the Stags found Lambe on the edge of the area and his left footed shot was saved diving to his left by Duke. Half time 0-0 I expected the Stags to make a change at the break playing against ten men, removing the position sitting in front of the back four and putting on a second striker. However, there were no changes. The Stags were ahead on 48 minutes, when a free-kick from Lee Beevers was flicked on by Martin Riley to Vadaine Oliver, unmarked at the far post, and he fired home from close range, for his sixth goal for the Stags. It was a bit of a mis-kick by Oliver but it gave the keeper no chance. There might have been a suspicion of offside against Oliver. I initially thought the ball flicked off a defender, but the video suggests it was flicked on by Riley. Northampton were nearly level on 50 minutes. A corner from the left and Cresswell thumped a header against the bar. On 55 minutes, a great tackle by Tafazolli on the edge of the box. Moments later, a great run by Thomas to the edge of the area and eventually a clearance cannoned off Oliver and wide. On 62 minutes, Pidgeley did well to punch away from a free kick. Thomas was booked for kicking the ball away on 71 minutes, after a foul by Lambe. On 72 minutes, a Northampton cross from the left was well-taken low down by Pidgeley. Good defending from Tafazolli came moments later as D’Ath cut inside from the right and as he shot, it was well blocked by Tafazolli. On 73 minutes, a chance for Northampton as the Stags switched off from a corner which was taken to the edge of the box where Moloney got the ball on to his left foot and fired wide of the right post. Bingham replaced Thomas on 73 minutes, the Stags youngster having been booked two minutes earlier. Ravenhill moved into central midfield, and Bingham joined Oliver up front in 4-4-2 formation. On 76 minutes, Riley almost put his side in trouble as he tried to shepherd the ball back to Pidgeley but it was never getting there and he eventually he just about cleared. It would be better just to get rid of the ball into row Z on these occasions. Heslop was booked on 77 minutes as he took one for the team as the Stags were exposed after Lambe gave the ball away. On 80 minutes, a foul by Riley gave Northampton a free kick 24 yards out to the left of centre. The Stags set up with a wall but were caught napping as Byrom made an overlapping run down the left and his ball across goal somehow missed everyone. The Stags were sitting further and further back. Meanwhile Northampton brought on another striker in Ivan Toney for centre half Collins. On 84 minutes, Riley was booked for a foul, Pidgeley punched away the resulting free kick. On 86 minutes, there was another free kick for Northampton, this time 26 yards out in a central position. Richards took the free kick and Pidgeley made a great save pushing the ball away diving to his left. Before the game restarted, Murray brought on himself for Lambe to chants of “Adam Murray’s barmy army”. It was of course Murray’s first appearance since becoming manager. But disaster struck on 90+3 minutes. Northampton sub Ivan Toney went over a combination of Junior Brown and Lee Beevers in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. From reviewing the incident on the DVD, you can see why the referee gave the penalty, even though some referees wouldn’t have given it. Stags players and management were incensed but it made no difference. Richards took the spot kick and blasted it down the middle as Pidgeley dived to his left. A disastrous and deflating end to the game for the Stags. Whether or not it was a penalty you can argue about and the Stags may have been a little unlucky but in my opinion, Mansfield paid the penalty for sitting deeper and deeper rather than going for the jugular against ten men. Had Northampton had 11 men, sitting back would have been more understandable. The Stags are two points above the relegation zone. And they are three points worse off than the same stage last season. Luton come to town on Tuesday and it’s another massive game against the old enemy. There have been some monumental battles against Luton in the past decade or so, and the Stags need a win now more than ever. Come on Mansfield! Man of the match: Jack Thomas |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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Pidgeley 7 Great save from the free kick on 86 minutes. Some other easier saves and good handling and punching. And good kicking.
Sutton 7 Solid performance with no mistakes. Riley 6.5 His header set up the goal for Oliver. Generally solid though hesitant defending rather than putting it into row Z was nearly costly. Gave away two free kicks in dangerous positions. Tafazolli 7 Good performance with some good tackles and blocks. Beevers 5.5 Good free kick set up the goal for Oliver. Played out of position at left back and he struggled a bit. Ravenhill 6 Beaten too easily by Holmes who got in a double-shot. But did reasonably well in front of the back four. Lambe 6 Would like to see him involved more. Thomas 8 Very good game on his first start for the Stags. Quick feet to earn the free kick from which Heslop hit the bar. Great run to the edge of the area to set up a chance for Oliver. Very encouraging performance. Heslop 7 Fine free kick against the bar, and another good effort pushed away by the keeper. Brown 6 Didn’t make enough runs. Want to see much more from him, and get back to the form from when he first arrived. Oliver 7 Involved in most of the good things going forward. Got another goal, and unlucky with a rapier-like shot just past the past. Set up a good chance for Heslop. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Bingham (for Thomas, 73) - Did ok trying to chase balls down with precious little service as the Stags sat further and further back.
Murray (for Lambe, 86) - Brought himself on to try to see the game out. Subs not used: Studer, Marsden, McGuire, Rhead, Kee. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-1-1): Duke; Moloney, Cresswell, Collins (Toney 82), Horwood; D’Ath, Taylor (Bodin 90+1), Byrom, Holmes (Newey 90+4); O’Toole; Richards. Subs not used: Carter, Hackett, Tozer, Snedker.
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Referee:
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Lee Collins 5 Was too lenient early on and it led to the game getting out of hand. Started making erratic decisions later on. The booking for Thomas was overly harsh. I can see why he gave the penalty though some refs wouldn't have given it. He probably got the red card for O’Toole right though without video evidence that can’t be confirmed.
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