Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Tranmere Rovers
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Oates 18 mins, Johnson 67. Johnson missed pen 2 mins.
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Attendance: 4,484 (630 from Tranmere)
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Date: 30 October 2021
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STAGS END RUN WITH COMFORTABLE WIN OVER TRANMERE
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town ended a run of 12 league games without a win with a comfortable 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at the One Call Stadium. The Stags were excellent all over the pitch and even showed the spirit to recover from missing a penalty after just 2 minutes when Danny Johnson fired over the bar, Mansfield’s third penalty miss on the trot which had Stags fans thinking 'here we go again'. But goals from Rhys Oates and Johnson, who atoned for that penalty miss, saw the Stags home in convincing style and the margin of victory could have been greater. Importantly, the win took Mansfield out of the relegation zone, a place we don’t want to be, or anywhere near. Tranmere were made to look really poor over all the pitch, yet came into the game just two points outside the top 3, and ended it still only one point outside the play-offs. After the game, Tranmere boss Micky Mellon admitted: “We did not match Mansfield’s intensity. We got outrun at times, which is not like us. It was just a really poor all round performance. I thought them missing the penalty might have got us going, but it didn’t.” Nigel Clough meanwhile was relieved to get the win. Asked by Dave Bracegirdle what his dad Brian Clough would have said about him going 14 league and cup games without a win, Nigel laughed and said “What are you still doing in a job!” Once again the Stags fans stayed with their side even after that penalty miss. They have been superb, staying with their side throughout this bad run and Nigel Clough told me afterwards how much he appreciated this and acknowledged that the fans of some clubs would not have done that. Stags fans now have a trip to the Stadium of Light to look forward to in the FA Cup next weekend. Mansfield won there at the same stage last season but it wasn’t the same without fans and it’s brilliant that fans will get a chance to visit there this season. Mansfield were without George Lapslie who was suspended, but importantly Elliott Hewitt and Stephen McLaughlin were back from injury and slotted in at full back, George Maris returned from concussion, and Danny Johnson returned up front. Mansfield had 9 of the 11 starting that started the first game of the season against Bristol Rovers, and today looked somewhere near the side that I expected to be in the top 7 this season. Only James Perch, out for the season of course, and Kellan Gordon were missing, and Gordon was to come on as substitute here, returning from injury. The game went ahead after very heavy morning rain. The game would have been postponed last season I’m sure, but the excellent work done by groundsman Mez and his team in the summer, with the investment from John and Carolyn, means the pitch can now withstand a lot of rain. Before the game, The Last Post was performed beautifully followed by minute’s silence to remember the fallen. The club had put up huge banners on the West Stand hoardings with poppies on them and “Lest we forget” written on them. The game was off to an incredible start in the opening 5 minutes. The Stags were awarded a penalty after 60 seconds. Quinn and McLaughlin combined down the left. McLaughlin played inside to Johnson who turned and shot but his effort was blocked. The ball was cleared as far as Maris, who lifted it forward, Johnson headed it on, and the ball was heading towards the keeper who came out to claim it but Oates nipped in to get the first touch on the ball and was brought down by the keeper. A clear penalty. Johnson had converted Mansfield’s first penalty of the season, but Bowery and Hawkins had both missed since then. Johnson stepped up and curled a dreadful penalty way over the bar. It didn’t miss by inches, it was miles over. Johnson put his shirt over his head. Here we go again ... At the other end after 4 minutes, a shot from McManaman was diverted goalwards by Morris, and Bishop was down quickly to tip it away at full stretch for a great save. The resulting corner from the right by Feeney was headed away by Hewitt, Morris controlled the loose ball and sent a low left footed shot towards the right post. It was probably going just wide and Foley, standing a yard offside and two yards from the goalline, flicked the ball into the net with the outside of his right boot. The goal was ruled out and no complaints from Tranmere players who knew it was offside. The Stags took the lead after 18 minutes. Quinn received the ball from Hawkins in the centre circle, turned and curled a magnificent ball forwards into the path of Oates. The first touch of Oates was excellent, it took him into the area, and his second touch was to curl the ball past the keeper low into the left of the net from 14 yards. What a high quality goal. What a pass from Quinn. The Stags were right on top for the rest of the half and had a couple of chances to increase the lead. On 36 minutes, a low free kick from McLaughlin into the area from the left came out to Charsley whose shot from 16 yards was goalbound but superbly blocked by Davies. Two minutes later, a great run down the left by Quinn after intercepting the ball just inside his own half, he powered into the area and slid a lovely ball inside to Charsley. Charsley turned it goalwards with a first time shot and it was brilliantly blocked on the line by Peter Clarke. The Stags were deservedly ahead at the break, but Tranmere could have equalised after 49 minutes in what turned out to be a rare chance for them in the second half. From Duffy’s corner from the right, Davies volleyed over the bar from 8 yards. At the other end two minutes later, a fine cross from Quinn from the left, Johnson headed it down but wide. A couple of good moves from the Stags then as Maris pushed forward and found Charsley who couldn’t quite get his shot away, and then Charsley himself made a great run but lost the ball as he was about to shoot. Ollie Clarke then fired wide after 66 minutes. But the Stags got the all-important second goal after 67 minutes. Hewitt lifted the ball into the Tranmere half. As the ball bounced up, Oates rose to win the header against Peter Clarke 40 yards from goal and knock it forward, he then lifted the ball over the other central defender Davies just outside the area in Paul Gascoigne style, before steadying himself, and laying it on a plate for Johnson, unmarked, to fire past the keeper from 8 yards. Magnificent, staggeringly wonderful play from Oates. Wow. The Stags were never really troubled after that. Morris fired wide from 30 yards for Tranmere, while Quinn fired over the bar for the Stags from 20 yards. The final whistle brought a standing ovation from the Stags fans. For the second home game running. But this time it was a victory, and it felt super sweet after such a long time without a win. So many good performances throughout the Stags side. The man of the match has to be Oates, winning the penalty, scoring the first goal, and that incredible play to the put the second on a plate for Johnson. This has to be a 10/10 rating from me. Johnson recovered well from the early penalty miss to have a good game. Quinn was superb in midfield, and once again linked well with McLaughlin. Charsley worked extremely hard in the attacking midfield role and got a couple of shots on target. Maris played very well in a defensive midfield role. At the back, Rawson and Hawkins were excellent at centre half, while Hewitt did very well at right back, switching to left back after McLaughlin had to go off with a hamstring injury. McLaughlin will be doubtful for the FA Cup game at Sunderland but should be fit for the next league game in two weeks. Gordon returned from injury as substitute to replace McLaughlin and slotted back in very well. Bishop had a quiet afternoon but made a great save early in the game. The Stags are off to Sunderland next Saturday. It’s one to look forward to. If you can’t travel, we will have commentary on iFollow Stags, but there will be no live video streaming of the game on iFollow or any other platform unfortunately (last season was a one-off because the game was behind closed doors). DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made 4 changes from the side that lost at Exeter. Hewitt and McLaughlin were back from injury to replace James Clarke and Burke at full back. Maris returned to the starting line-up after his concussion to replace Lapslie who was suspended. Johnson returned up front in place of Bowery. Gordon was back from injury on the bench. O’Toole was preferred to Forrester on the bench as O’Toole is closer to being fully fit at the moment. However Forrester is getting there. He played for Stoke U23 this week, his first game for more than 3 months. He'll play again for them this week, then he'll play in the EFL Trophy game for Mansfield against Newcastle U21 a week on Tuesday. He should then be match fit. The Stags were 12 games without a win in the league, just two short of equalling the club record of 14 set in 2000, and desperate to end that run. Tranmere made one change from their last game, a defeat against Northampton, which came after 6 league games unbeaten. They brought in former Stags loanee Mani Dieseruvwe up front, for Elliott Nevitt. Dieseruvwe was to be totally ineffective, superbly marshalled by Rawson and Hawkins. Nicky Maynard was not in the 18 for Tranmere. He has only started one league game this season but has made 6 substitute appearances in the league, including in their last game. The game was off to an incredible start in the opening 5 minutes. The Stags were awarded a penalty after 60 seconds. Quinn and McLaughlin combined down the left. McLaughlin played inside to Johnson who turned and shot but his effort was blocked. The ball was cleared as far as Maris, who lifted it forward, Johnson headed it on, and the ball was heading towards the keeper who came out to claim it but Oates nipped in to get the first touch on the ball and was brought down by the keeper. A clear penalty. Johnson had converted Mansfield’s first penalty of the season, but Bowery and Hawkins had both missed since then. Johnson stepped up and curled a dreadful penalty way over the bar. It didn’t miss by inches, it was miles over. Johnson put his shirt over his head. Here we go again ... At the other end after 4 minutes, a shot from McManaman was diverted goalwards by Morris, and Bishop was down quickly to tip it away at full stretch for a great save. The resulting corner from the right by Feeney was headed away by Hewitt, Morris controlled the loose ball and sent a low left footed shot towards the right post. It was probably going just wide and Foley, standing a yard offside and two yards from the goalline, flicked the ball into the net with the outside of his right boot. The goal was ruled out and no complaints from Tranmere players who knew it was offside. After 12 minutes, a free kick for Tranmere from the edge of the area on the left, taken by Feeney, was straight at Bishop. Three minutes later, a 16 yard shot from MacDonald was straight at Bishop. Charsley escaped a booking when his challenge was late after 16 minutes. The Stags took the lead after 18 minutes. Quinn received the ball from Hawkins in the centre circle, turned and curled a magnificent ball forwards into the path of Oates. The first touch of Oates was excellent, it took him into the area, and his second touch was to curl the ball past the keeper low into the left of the net from 14 yards. What a high quality goal. What a pass from Quinn. A bad foul on Johnson on the halfway line after 24 minutes was not even given as a foul. Maris tried his luck from 25 yards after 33 minutes. It was heading wide, struck Charsley and went further wide. On 36 minutes, a low free kick from McLaughlin into the area from the left came out to Charsley whose shot from 16 yards was goalbound but superbly blocked by Davies. Two minutes later, a great run down the left by Quinn after intercepting the ball just inside his own half, he powered into the area and slid a lovely ball inside to Charsley. Charsley turned it goalwards with a first time shot and it was brilliantly blocked on the line by Peter Clarke. After 45+2 minutes, great skill from McLaughlin to get past several players though ultimately it came to nothing. The Stags were deservedly ahead at the break. Half time 1-0 Tranmere could have equalised after 49 minutes in what turned out to be a rare chance for them in the second half. From Duffy’s corner from the right, Davies volleyed over the bar from 8 yards. At the other end two minutes later, a fine cross from Quinn from the left, Johnson headed it down but wide. Oates was nearly through on goal from a Tranmere mistake on 52 minutes, but not quite. McLaughlin was booked for sliding in late on Morris after 54 minutes. A couple of good moves from the Stags then as Maris pushed forward and found Charsley who couldn’t quite get his shot away, and then Charsley himself made a great run but lost the ball as he was about to shoot. On 61 minutes, Tranmere sub Glatzel was fouled by Maris 22 yards out, left of centre. Duffy took the resulting free kick, blocked by the wall, then Morris’s shot from the rebound was also blocked for a corner. McLaughlin went off after 62 minutes. He had been limping. McLaughlin was given a huge ovation by the Stags fans. Nigel Clough later confirmed it was a hamstring injury (that also kept him out of the Exeter game). He will be doubtful for the FA Cup game at Sunderland but should be fit for the next league game in two weeks. Gordon returned from injury to replace him. Hewitt switched to left back, with Gordon at right back. Ollie Clarke fired wide from 20 yards after 66 minutes after a good run from Gordon and his low ball was cleared to Clarke. But the Stags got the all-important second goal after 67 minutes. Hewitt lifted the ball into the Tranmere half. As the ball bounced up, Oates rose to win the header against Peter Clarke 40 yards from goal and knock it forward, he then lifted the ball over the other central defender Davies just outside the area in Paul Gascoigne style, before steadying himself, and laying it on a plate for Johnson, unmarked, to fire past the keeper from 8 yards. Magnificent, staggeringly wonderful play from Oates. Wow. Great play from Oates and Gordon to win a corner after 70 minutes. The Stags were never really troubled after that. Morris fired wide from 30 yards for Tranmere after 72 minutes. A minute later a good clearance by Rawson. Then at the other end, Quinn fired over the bar for the Stags from 20 yards after 77 minutes. Sinclair replaced Johnson after 84 minutes. He got a good ovation from the crowd and had worked very hard. Oates was taken off after 90+2 minutes. He got a rapturous reception. O’Toole came on for his Stags debut and slotted into midfield. Charsley went up front. Rawson made another clearance moments later as Foley tried to break into the area. The final whistle brought a standing ovation from the Stags fans. And a great deal of relief after so long without a win. Man of the match: Rhys Oates Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals: Hawkins, Johnson 4, Lapslie, Oates 2, O.Clarke, Hewitt, Maris, Quinn 1 Assists: Oates, Quinn 3, O.Clarke, McLaughlin, 2, Bowery, Hawkins, Johnson, Rawson, Sinclair 1 (note: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist. In the case of a solo goal, such as Maris against Newport, nobody gets an assist.) Average home league attendance: 4697 (average away fans: 635, average home fans 4062) |
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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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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Bishop 8 Made a great save early on. Rolled the ball out and bowled it out accurately on several occasions to get the Stags moving. Hewitt 8 Did very well at right back, switching to left back later on. Rawson 9 Excellent at centre half. Superbly marshalled Dieseruvwe. Hawkins 9 Also excellent at centre half. Superbly marshalled Dieseruvwe. McLaughlin 8 Linked well with Quinn. Some good low crosses. Had to go off with a hamstring injury. Maris 8 Played very well in a defensive midfield role. O.Clarke 7 Decent game though did give the ball away a few times. Quinn 9 Superb in midfield, and once again linked well with McLaughlin. Wonderful assist for Oates’ goal. Charsley 7 Started the game slowly with some poor play. Worked extremely hard in the attacking midfield role and got a couple of shots on target, after that slow start. Johnson 7 Recovered well from the early penalty miss to have a good game and score his 4th goal of the season. Oates 10 Has to be the man of the match, winning the penalty, scoring the first goal, and that incredible play to the put the second on a plate for Johnson. This has to be a 10/10 rating from me. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Gordon (for McLaughlin, 61 mins) - Returned from injury as substitute to replace McLaughlin and slotted back in very well.
Sinclair (for Johnson, 84 mins) - O’Toole (for Oates, 90+2 mins) - Stags debut. Subs not used: Shelvey, Burke, Bowery, Gale. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-5-1): Doohan; Cogley, Davies, P. Clarke, MacDonald; McManaman (Glatzel 46), Foley, Spearing, Morris, Feeney (Duffy 46); Dieseruvwe (Nevitt 68). Subs not used: Murphy, Knight-Percival, O’Connor, Watson.
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Referee:
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James Bell 8 Handled the game well. Got the penalty right, got the disallowed goal right.
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