Season 23/24 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Everton U21
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Chermiti pen 90+1
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Attendance: 819 (74 from Everton)
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Date: 7 November 2023
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STAGS BEATEN BY EVERTON U21 IN EFL TROPHY
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 by Everton U21 in the EFL Trophy (now named Bristol Street Motors Trophy) at the One Call Stadium last night. Everton U21 surprisingly included four players with Premier League experience. They hadn't included any in their previous two games in the competition, which they had lost. And it was one of them, Youssef Chermiti, a £15 million signing from Sporting Lisbon, who had come on as sub 5 times in the Premier League this season, who scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time as he converted a penalty which had harshly been given for a foul on him by George Cooper. It was tough on young Cooper, who had a good game for the Stags. The penalty looked soft in real time, and even softer on the replay. The game was even overall, and a draw would have been a fair result. Mansfield made 9 changes from the side that lost to Wrexham, with only Johnson and Cargill starting both games. An alternative way to look at it was 2 changes from the last EFL Trophy game, against Doncaster: McLaughlin and Cargill for Maris and Brunt. It was the same 4-3-3 formation as that game with Abdullah (right), Swan and Gale (left) up front. It was an entirely left footed midfield of Boateng (right), Cargill, McLaughlin (left). Johnson, Williams, Cooper and Macdonald were the defence. Flinders was in goal. Williams (ill at the weekend) and Boateng were returning after not being fit to make the squad against Wrexham. The bench included young Finn Flanagan, who came on, and U17 youth teamer Ollie Taylor, who has been training with the first team. Keillor-Dunn, Reed, Lewis and Oates were rested. Keillor-Dunn and Reed were exhausted after the previous week and also didn't train on Monday. Clough said that Oates needed a breather after he did 80 minutes against Wrexham and also came on against Port Vale, returning earlier than expected. "He did enough on Saturday", said Clough. Nigel Clough said after the game that Ollie Clarke is going to be out for a few weeks after he had a scan on his thigh strain. Akins remains out, and will hopefully be back a week on Saturday against Newport. See details in my Wrexham report. Nigel Clough said about the return of O'Toole and Quinn that they are both scheduled to return against Burton in the EFL Trophy in 2 weeks. O'Toole is back running. And Clough said if all goes well with Quinn next week, he will get 45 minutes against Burton. Owen Mason is back from his loan in Ireland with their season now finished, but under the terms of the loan, can't play again in England until January. Injury news from the game against Everton U21 is that McLaughlin felt his groin and "it was precautionary that he came off straight away, we will see how he is after tonight", said Clough. Everton U21 included Chermiti, plus Lewis Dobbin, who has made 3 Premier League sub appearances this season and spent the full season at Derby last season, including playing against Mansfield in the League Cup last season. Also Joao Virginia in goal, who was on the bench in the Premier League on Saturday, and experienced Seamus Coleman, who is returning from injury. Everton U21 had lost their first two games, 2-0 to both Doncaster and Burton, but this a much different team. Mansfield had the better chances in the first half. After 21 minutes, it looked like Boateng must score but his shot was brilliantly blocked by defender Ryan Astley. Then on 33 minutes, McLaughlin sent a free kick from 30 yards just wide of the left post. And on 35 minutes, Swan laid off to Abdullah who curled a shot just wide from the corner of the area, a good effort. Into the second half. Cooper put in a good block on a shot from Chermiti. Then Flinders made a great save from Mackenzie Hunt after 59 minutes. And four minutes later, Flinders made another brilliant save, one handed from Dobbin. And on 66 minutes, the pacy Dobbin cut in from the left and hit the top of the bar from 20 yards. Then more chances for Mansfield. Gale headed just wide from a Maris cross after 67 minutes. On 79 minutes, Gale was inches away from scoring when his effort was deflected just wide from Bowery's volleyed cross. Owen Barker missed a good chance to put Everton U21 in front after 84 minutes sending a sitter over the bar, after the very fast Roman Dixon, who Clough said could catch pigeons, got to the byline on the right. The winning goal came in stoppage time as Cooper and Chermiti tangled and the referee pointed to the spot. Poor decision in my opinion. Nigel Clough said after the game "soft is an understatement, it wasn't a penalty." Chermiti sent the penalty down the middle as Flinders dived to his right. Young Finn Flanagan fired in a great effort after 90+3 minutes, just wide from 30 yards. A draw would have been a fair result, but that penalty handed the win to Everton U21. Mansfield will still qualify for the second round if they beat Burton in 2 weeks, or draw and win the penalty shootout for an extra point. Some good performances. Flinders made two great saves and remains a great deputy for Pym. Johnson had a good game at right back, including getting forward well. Cooper played well, with some good blocks. McLaughlin impressed in midfield, winning lots of tackles before he had to go off. Abdullah was very impressive up front on the right. Gale and Swan were looking for a goal or assist to boost their confidence but neither could manage it on a frustrating night for both of them. A word on the attendance, 819, which was just 19 more than the club record low attendance at Field Mill, which was set against Crewe in this competition four years ago, and against Torquay in the league in 1939. The next game is at Salford on Saturday back in the league, as the Stags will look to extend the unbeaten run. DETAILED REPORT: Team news and injury news above. The pitch had recovered well from being very heavy against Wrexham on Saturday. After 5 minutes, a Boateng corner was headed back by Cooper, and Johnson flicked a shot just wide of the right post. Dobbin shot straight at Flinders after 8 minutes. Then moments later, a good run from Dobbin with real pace and he shot over the bar. Good defending by Johnson in his own area after 16 minutes. After 21 minutes, after a good Stags move, Macdonald crossed in, it looked like Boateng must score after creating a yard of space to shoot and putting defender Elijah Campbell on his backside, but his shot from 12 yards was brilliantly blocked by defender Ryan Astley. After 24 minutes, a great ball from Gale out to the right touchline for Johnson, and Johnson’s decent cross back in nearly found Gale again. On 29 minutes, a great turn and pass from McLaughlin in midfield. At the other end on 30 minutes, Francis Okoronkwo headed just over the bar from a cross from the left. Then on 33 minutes, Swan was fouled, 30 yards out, central position. McLaughlin sent the free kick just wide of the left post. And on 35 minutes, a great Stags move, Swan laid off to Abdullah who curled a shot just wide from the corner of the area, a good effort. A good break from the Stags a minute later, but it ended as Gale couldn’t find Swan. More good play by Abdullah a minute later - he was impressing. Meanwhile McLaughlin was winning balls in midfield. Gale gave the ball away then fouled Dobbin after 42 minutes, 22 yards out, central position. Hunt’s free kick was blocked by the wall, the wall doing its job. Great defending by Cooper on 44 minutes, after Chermiti got into the area. To the other end, and Abdullah won a corner after a good run. A succession of Stags corners followed. Eventually a Johnson header was cleared away. Mansfield had the better chances in the first half and could have been ahead. Half time 0-0 After 51 minutes, McLaughlin limped off, replaced by Maris. McLaughlin felt his groin and "it was precautionary that he came off straight away, we will see how he is after tonight", said Clough. After 54 minutes, Cooper put in a good block on a shot from Chermiti after Chermiti broke into the area on the right. The resulting corner was headed over the bar. Then Flinders made a great save from Mackenzie Hunt after 59 minutes, after Hunt surged forward. And four minutes later, Flinders made another brilliant save, one handed from Dobbin. Halid Djankpata fired well over the bar after 64 minutes. And on 66 minutes, the pacy Dobbin cut in from the left and hit the top of the bar from 20 yards. Then more chances for Mansfield. After 67 minutes, Swan cut inside from the left, and his shot was blocked for a corner. Following the resulting corner, Gale headed just wide from a Maris cross. On 69 minutes, Jenson Metcalfe was just over the angle of bar and post with a free kick from 22 yards. A free kick from Boateng from a tight angle near the corner flag was straight at the keeper after 71 minutes. A double chance for the Stags after 72 minutes. Abdullah did well to get along the byline, cut inside and his low shot was parried by the keeper. Johnson recycled the ball into the middle, Swan turned it goalwards, and the keeper saved low down on his line. Four changes for Mansfield after 74 minutes: Flint, Bowery, Finn Flanagan, Brunt replaced Johnson, Macdonald, Cargill, Abdullah. Williams switched to right back, Bowery went in at left back, Brunt and Flanagan went into midfield. Flint at centre half. After 75 minutes, Kyle John shot straight at Flinders. On 79 minutes, Gale was inches away from scoring when his effort was deflected just wide from Bowery's volleyed cross from the left, after Flint’s ball out to Bowery. Owen Barker missed a good chance to put Everton U21 in front after 84 minutes sending a sitter over the bar, after the very fast Roman Dixon, who Clough said could catch pigeons, got to the byline on the right. The winning goal came in stoppage time after 90+1 minutes as Cooper and Chermiti tangled and the referee pointed to the spot. Poor decision in my opinion. Nigel Clough said after the game "soft is an understatement, it wasn't a penalty." Chermiti sent the penalty down the middle as Flinders dived to his right. Flint went up front. To accommodate this, Bowery moved to centre half, and Maris to right back. Young Finn Flanagan fired in a great effort after 90+3 minutes, just wide from 30 yards. But no more chances. Disappointing to lose in that fashion. Mansfield will still qualify for the second round if they beat Burton in 2 weeks, or draw and win the penalty shootout for an extra point. On to Salford on Saturday. The Stags haven’t won in the three games between the sides at Moor Lane. Now would be a good time to change that. Running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Keillor-Dunn 8, Akins 7, Maris 4, Oates 4, Flint 2, Gale 2, Reed 2, Bowery 1, Brunt 1, Cargill, Clarke 1, Johnson 1, Lewis 1, Swan 1. Assists (league and cup): Keillor-Dunn 8, Oates 4, Quinn 4, Swan 4, Flint 3, Bowery 2, Clarke 2, Maris 2, Gale 2, Akins 1, Macdonald 1, Reed 1. (notes on assists: 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 at home two seasons ago, nobody gets an assist. In the case of the scorer scoring from the rebound after a shot is saved or blocked, the player who had the shot saved gets an assist. In the case of an own goal, the player who caused the own goal gets an assist, for example McLaughlin against Newport away two seasons ago where his shot was deflected in for an own goal. In the case of a cross that is headed away before the goal is scored, such as Clarke’s goal at Doncaster last season, nobody gets an assist.) Injuries (including quotes from Nigel Clough): Kilgour (ruptured Achilles, return July), Hewitt (ACL, “on schedule for February time"), Akins (will have an operation on a small fracture just below his eye on Monday (6 Nov), he will miss the Salford game and there is a chance he will be back for the Newport game the Saturday after), Clarke (out for a few weeks after he had a scan on his thigh strain picked up vs Wrexham in FA Cup). O'Toole and Quinn: Nigel Clough said about the return of O'Toole and Quinn that they are both scheduled to return against Burton in the EFL Trophy in 2 weeks. O'Toole is back running. And Clough said if all goes well with Quinn next week, he will get 45 minutes against Burton. yellow cards are competition specific, so not listed here. |
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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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(4-3-3)
Flinders 8 Two great saves in the second half. Johnson 7.5 Had a good game at right back, including getting forward well. Williams 7 Good game. Cooper 7 The penalty was really tough on him. Poor decision in my opinion by the referee. Played well, with some good blocks. Macdonald 7 Good game. Good cross for Boateng chance. Boateng 6.5 Had one shot brilliantly blocked. One good corner. Cargill 6.5 Did ok in midfield. McLaughlin 7.5 Impressed in midfield, winning lots of tackles before he had to go off. Abdullah 8 Very impressive up front on the right Swan 6 Had a few good moments. Was looking for a goal or assist to boost confidence but couldn’t manage it on a frustrating night. Gale 5.5 Like Swan, was looking for a goal or assist to boost confidence but couldn’t manage it on a frustrating night. Was inches away from scoring when his effort was deflected just wide. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Maris (for McLaughlin, 51) 6.5 One good cross. Switched to right back late on.
Flint (for Johnson, 74) - Bowery (for Macdonald, 74) - Flanagan (for Cargill, 74) - Brunt (for Abdullah, 74) - Subs not used: Pym, Ollie Taylor. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-2-3-1): Joao Virginia; Seamus Coleman, Elijah Campbell, Ryan Astley, Kyle John; Halid Djankpata, Jenson Metcalfe; MacKenzie Hunt, Francis Okoronkwo, Lewis Dobbin; Youssef Chermiti. Subs: Roman Dixon (on 66 for Coleman), Sean McAllister (on 66 for Djankpata), Owen Barker (on 74 for John), Isaac Heath (on 89 for Barker). Subs not used: Barrett, Butler, Sherif.
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Referee:
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Neil Hair 5 The penalty was a very poor decision in my opinion. It was the key moment of the game.
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