Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Luton Town
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Mansfield Town
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McGeehan 77.
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Green 9
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Attendance: 7787 (295 from Mansfield)
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Date: 22 October 2016
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BATTLING STAGS EARN GOOD DRAW AT LUTON
Martin Shaw at Kenilworth Road Mansfield Town drew 1-1 at fourth-placed Luton Town this afternoon in a game of two halves. It was a good performance from Mansfield, who deserved the draw though Luton finished the game on top. Both teams came into the game with unbeaten records, Luton unbeaten in 6 games in all competitions, with 3 wins and 3 draws, Mansfield unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions, with 2 wins and 3 draws. Mansfield were good value for the lead at half time, having gone ahead when Matt Green headed in Rhys Bennett’s goalbound header from Kevan Hurst’s fine corner. Green’s 5th goal in his last 4 games. Luton were happy keeping possession in their own half in the first half but Scott Shearer had nothing to do. Luton started exerting pressure in the second half, pushing Mansfield further and further back in the last half an hour and should have equalised on 66 minutes when Alan Sheehan missed a sitter from 7 yards. Mansfield didn’t have many chances in the second half but a free kick from Chris Clements on 69 minutes was on target and caught by the keeper. Luton equalised on 77 minutes when Cameron McGeehan fired in a terrific shot from 25 yards into the bottom left corner giving Shearer no chance. On 83 minutes, Shearer kept Mansfield on level terms with a brilliant save pushing away a shot from Cuthbert. Then in stoppage time, Jack Marriott fired just wide of the left post with what turned out to be the last kick of the game. Mansfield defended extremely well and have become such a hard team to beat, just three defeats all season, and this was a deserved point, despite Luton exerting huge pressure in the final 25 minutes. Several good performances, indeed throughout the Mansfield team. And Hoban and Green linked well together giving encouragement to their new partnership which will surely continue in the coming matches. Now it’s important that Mansfield follow it up with better results at home, starting at home to Stevenage next Saturday. Mansfield remain just a point outside the play-offs in a very tight league. Mansfield made two changes from the side that drew with Wycombe: Kevan Hurst returned for Oscar Gobern who was disappointing last week. And Matt Green returned to the starting XI after 4 goals in the last 3 games from the bench, in place of Danny Rose. Hoban and Green started up front for the first time together. Iacovitti was back on the bench after Scotland U21 duty. A stroke of good fortune for Mansfield as Luton were without suspended top scorer Danny Hylton, a player who Adam Murray wanted to sign at the end of last season from Oxford. Former Stag Johnny Mullins was on the bench, but didn’t come on. Alan Sheehan, on loan at Field Mill a decade ago, started for Luton in central defence. Luton’s keeper Christian Walton played for England U21 against Bosnia just over a week ago. The opening 4 minutes saw Luton keep the ball in their own half passing from side to side and back to the goalkeeper. An interesting approach that was as entertaining as watching paint dry but Mansfield were happy to watch them. I could already sense some unrest among home fans. When Luton did get the ball into the Mansfield half on 6 minutes Cook turned and fired well over the bar from the edge of the box. Mansfield were in front on 9 minutes. Benning crossed from the left, and Sheehan put behind for a corner. Hurst’s corner from the right was beautifully flighted, Bennett headed goalwards from 9 yards, and Green headed on, glancing it into the roof of the net from close range. A well worked goal. Green’s 5th goal in 4 games, and his 81st for Mansfield. On 12 minutes, Benning’s free kick from 40 yards was floated into the area, Pearce’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked, and eventually cleared out to Hurst who shot over the bar. At the other end on 13 minutes, a low ball from the right by Gillead into the Stags box and cries for handball from the home fans as the ball got stuck under Pearce and then Marriott’s close range shot was blocked by Shearer (description from the video, I couldn’t see the incident in real time because it was behind a large pillar!). Then Rea tried to slip the ball forward to Marriott but he just overhit it, through to Shearer. On 16 minutes, another corner from Hurst, Collins was barged off the ball but it was no penalty. Then a minute later Clements sent a left footed shot on the half-volley from 28 yards sweetly towards goal but it was straight at the keeper when a couple of yards either side could have seen the net bulging. On 19 minutes, at the other end, Jack Marriott shot from 20 yards and it was deflected for a corner. On 24 minutes, Benning took a free kick from the right, Pearce headed down and it came off a defender for a corner. Luton’s best chance of the first half came on 30 minutes. Jack Marriott laid off to Jordan Cook who twisted and turned and shot wide of the right post from the left. On 38 minutes, a free kick for the Stags 35 yards out. Benning took it and struck it well, it bounced in front of the keeper but he clutched it well. On 41 minutes, Benning crossed from the left and Green headed wide. Then on 44 minutes, McGeehan shot over the bar from 28 yards. A very good half from Mansfield. Scott Shearer had nothing to do. Green’s goal had Mansfield in front and Luton seemed happy to keeping the ball in their own half for long spells without going forward, to groans from the home fans. Half time 0-1 On 52 minutes, a left footed shot from Marriott deflected off Collins wide of the right post for a corner. Hoban did well to head away two corners. On 54 minutes, Gillead got down the left, to the byline, and pulled back to Jake Gray who curled just over from 18 yards. Mansfield made their first change on 55 minutes, Jack Thomas replaced Hoban. Jack Thomas went in just behind Green. Then on 58 minutes, Iacovitti replaced Hurst. Iacovitti slotted in at left back, Benning moved forward to left midfield. I said during full match commentary on StagsPlayerHD that I would not have taken Hoban off, but that was as he had just headed away two corners and looked to be an important cog defending from set pieces. But instead Murray brought on Iacovitti to give that aerial presence at the back, and pushed Benning forward. Jack Thomas was booked on 60 minutes. He thought he should have had a free kick, not given, and almost immediately put in a reckless late tackle to earn the yellow card. It’s an aspect of his game he needs to improve after a decision doesn’t go his way and I could see it coming. On 65 minutes, Potts got to the byline, and Jack Thomas put in a great tackle, for a corner. Luton could have equalised on 66 minutes. Gray crossed to the far post, it was headed back by Rea, and Sheehan fired over from 7 yards. A sitter. But terrible marking in the Stags defence with no-one picking up Sheehan. On 69 minutes, Mitch Rose was brought down from behind. A free kick for the Stags 26 yards out, just to the left of centre. Clements got it on target but the keeper caught to his right. On 70 minutes, a good tackle by Pearce on Marriott. Mansfield made their final substitution on 72 minutes. Hamilton replaced Mitch Rose. Mitch Rose was too slow leaving the pitch and was rightly yellow carded. Another stupid yellow card, and Mansfield are getting too many of these. Murray pushed Hamilton to the left and Green to the right up front. This was an attempt to stop Luton’s full back’s bombing forward, and to some extent that worked over the remaining minutes. On 74 minutes, Gray made a good run to the edge of the area and his shot was blocked by Pearce for a corner. We noted on full match commentary on StagsPlayerHD that Luton were really upping the ante now. And on 77 minutes they were level. Pelly Ruddock’s shot was blocked, Jack Marriott lad back to McGeehan, who fired in a terrific shot from 25 yards into the bottom left corner giving Shearer no chance. At least my initial reaction was the Shearer had no chance, but from the video possibly he could have done better if we’re being ultra-critical though I’d like to have seen the goal from a different angle, that we don’t have. And Clements possibly could have done better in being quicker to close McGeehan down. On 78 minutes, Howkins made a good run surging forward before he was fouled and Mansfield wasted the free kick. On 83 minutes, Shearer kept Mansfield on level terms with a brilliant save pushing away a shot from Cuthbert from 12 yards that was heading for the right of the net. Benning was booked on 85 minutes for kicking the ball away after a foul. A third silly booking. On 87 minutes, McGeehan shot wide of the right post from 30 yards. 5 minutes of stoppage time was added on. On 90+3, Stags cleared a corner, with the help of a save from close range by Shearer from Rea and Benning blocking the rebound from Rea, Hamilton embarked on a good run and was hacked down, but the Stags wasted the free kick. Then on 90+5 minutes, Jack Marriott fired just wide of the left post, from the right, with what turned out to be the last kick of the game. He held his head in his hands. I didn’t have the best angle on that but it was probably pretty close. Full time and a good reception for the players for a deserved point. Some Stags fans thought afterwards that boss Adam Murray threw away two points with his substitutions as Mansfield looked to sit back. Mansfield didn’t sit back, in my opinion, they were pushed back as Luton whipped up a head of steam in the final 25 minutes. It coincided with the substitutions but was not caused by them in my opinion. All in all a good point at a club that I think will gain automatic promotion this season. Mansfield are unbeaten in 6 games. On to the game with Stevenage next week. Stevenage by contrast are a team that I think will be flirting with relegation and I expect Mansfield to look to take the game to them. Come on Mansfield! FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY BLOG FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER): Mansfield Town continued to show how hard they have become to beat with a hard earned draw at high flying Luton Town on Saturday. It was a good performance from the Stags, who deserved the draw though Luton finished the game on top. Both teams came into the game with unbeaten records, Luton unbeaten in 6 games in all competitions, with 3 wins and 3 draws, Mansfield unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions, with 2 wins and 3 draws, so perhaps a draw shouldn’t have been a surprise. Mansfield were good value for the lead at half time, having gone ahead when Matt Green headed in Rhys Bennett’s goalbound header from Kevan Hurst’s fine corner. Green’s 5th goal in his last 4 games and he’s suddenly in a rich vein of form. Luton were happy keeping possession in their own half in the first half but Scott Shearer had nothing to do. Luton started exerting pressure in the second half, pushing Mansfield further and further back in the last half an hour and should have equalised when former Stags loanee Alan Sheehan missed a sitter from 7 yards. Luton equalised on 77 minutes when Cameron McGeehan fired in a terrific shot from 25 yards into the bottom left corner. My initial reaction was that Scott Shearer had no chance with the goal but I would have liked to have seen it again from a different angle and maybe he could have done better if we’re being ultra-critical. And Chris Clements probably should have done better in being quicker to close McGeehan down. Shearer then kept Mansfield on level terms with a brilliant save pushing away a shot from Cuthbert. He also made two good blocks from close range. Mansfield defended extremely well and have still suffered just three defeats all season. Several good performances, indeed throughout the Mansfield team really. And Pat Hoban and Matt Green linked well on their first start together giving encouragement to their new partnership which will surely continue in the coming matches. There was some disagreement among Stags fans afterwards as to whether Mansfield’s substitutions played a part in the result. Some fans thought that boss Adam Murray threw away two points with his substitutions as Mansfield looked to sit back. In my opinion, Mansfield didn’t sit back, they were pushed back as Luton whipped up a head of steam in the final 25 minutes. This coincided with the substitutions but was not caused by them in my view. All in all a good point at a club that I think will gain automatic promotion this season. Mansfield remain just a point outside the play-offs in a very tight league. On to the game with Stevenage on Saturday. Stevenage by contrast are a team that I think will be flirting with relegation and I expect Mansfield to look to take the game to them. Man of the match: Krystian Pearce |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Kenilworth Road
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Line Up:
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(4-1-3-2)
Shearer 7 Brilliant save from Cuthbert late on to preserve a point. Also two good blocks from close range. My initial reaction was that he had no chance with the goal but I would have liked to have seen it again from a different angle and maybe he could have done better if we’re being ultra-critical. Bennett 7 Good header to set up the goal for Green. Defended well. Howkins 7 Solid as an ox. Pearce 8 Very good under pressure especially in the second half. Good tackles and blocks. Benning 7 One good block. Some good crosses. Collins 7 Decent game, working hard in front of the back four. M.Rose 7 Worked hard; the occasional good surge forward. Clements 7 Played very well. A momentary lapse when he didn’t close down McGeehan for the goal was costly. A couple of decent shots on target. Hurst 7 Beautifully flighted corner set up the first goal. Green 7 His 5th goal in 4 games and a poacher’s goal. Worked extremely hard throughout. Hoban 7 A handful for the Luton defence with good link play. Some good headers away from corners. Linked well with Green giving encouragement to their new partnership. |
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Sub Line Up:
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J.Thomas (for Hoban, 55 mins) 7 One great tackle. Reckless late tackle to earn a yellow card just after a decision didn’t go his way and I could see it coming. Needs to improve this aspect of his game after something doesn’t go his way.
Iacovitti (for Hurst, 58 mins) 7 Good, didn’t put a foot wrong in defence. Hamilton (for M.Rose, 72 mins) - Subs not used: Jensen, Hemmings, D.Rose, Henderson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Walton; O’Donnell, Cuthbert, Sheehan, Potts (Vassell 68); Rea, McGeehan, Gray (Lee 80), Gilliead; Cook (Ruddock 68), Marriott. Unused subs: King, Smith, Mullins, Mackail-Smith.
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Referee:
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Graham Salisbury 7 Got most decisions right. I don’t think we can complain about the Stags’ bookings.
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