Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Carlisle United
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Mansfield Town
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Sowerby 4, Hope 26, 80.
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Preston 78, Walker 87. Bishop sent off 45.
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Attendance: 4563 (335 from Mansfield)
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Date: 5 January 2019
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STAGS LONG UNBEATEN RUN OVER
Martin Shaw at Brunton Park Mansfield Town’s long unbeaten run came to an end at Carlisle United this afternoon as the Stags went down to a 3-2 defeat. The Stags were unbeaten away from home for 15 games, a club record. And unbeaten home and away for 17 games, the club’s best run since a 20 game unbeaten run in 1976. But Carlisle were on a good run themselves, having won 5 games on the trot including 6-0 against Oldham and 4-0 against Colchester, and were quite simply too good for the Stags on the day as Mansfield can have no complaints with defeat here. Carlisle manager John Sheridan had resigned yesterday and I had hoped that might knock some wind out of the Carlisle sails, but pre-match the Carlisle local media told me that the majority of the Carlisle side (at least 8 of the 11 starters) would be happy to see the back of Sheridan, to completely dispel my theory. And to prove that point, Carlisle tore out of the traps, taking the lead after just 4 minutes. A quick break saw Jamie Devitt lay off to Ashley Nadesan. Nadesan in turn laid off to Jack Sowerby who was completely unmarked, and he fired into the net from the edge of the D, with a little deflection off Ryan Sweeney’s knee, though I think the shot would have beaten Conrad Logan anyway. Carlisle were within a whisker of making it 2-0 after 12 minutes when Tom Parkes headed inches wide from Danny Grainger’s free kick. And they did make it 2-0 on 26 minutes. Devitt threaded a fabulous ball forward for Nadesan to run on to in the box, Nadesan got away from his marker Sweeney and slid a great ball across the box for Hallam Hope to sweep into the net from 10 yards. Hope had got goalside of his marker Matt Preston. A very well-worked goal from Carlisle, but both Sweeney and Preston could have done better. On 45 minutes, Neal Bishop was caught by a high tackle from Grainger, a nasty tackle that from studying the video could have been a red card for Grainger. Instead the referee just awarded a yellow card to Grainger while Bishop was also shown a yellow card for reacting angrily. As the referee blew for half time, Bishop ran past Grainger into the tunnel and as boss David Flitcroft then described “Grainger has put his face into Bish’s, and Bish has put his face into his, and the referee has deemed it a second yellow for Bishop.” Clearly a mistake from Bishop to put himself in that position and get himself sent off, though Grainger should surely have seen red too but didn’t. Bishop will face a one match ban and miss the game against Yeovil. Cock-a-hoop Carlisle had outplayed Mansfield in the first half and deservedly led 2-0. Now down to 10 men it looked an impossible task for the Stags to make a game of it. Carlisle were on top for most of the second half, but unable to extend their lead as the Stags worked really hard with 10 men. Somewhat out of the blue, Mansfield pulled a goal back on 78 minutes. Benning dinked a free kick from 40 yards into the box and Preston rose to guide a back header wide of the keeper into the net from 9 yards. Game on from nowhere. But with the Stags committing men forward Carlisle restored the two goal lead on 80 minutes. A clever move as Gillesphey pulled a cross back to Devitt who laid off for Hope who fired into the bottom left corner of the net from 10 yards. Logan made a wonderful save to prevent Hope completing his hat-trick on 84 minutes. And the fighting Stags reduced the arrears to 3-2 on 87 minutes. Jacob Mellis chipped a super ball forward for Hayden White to run onto in the box, great play from White to bundle the ball past the onrushing keeper Adam Collin. White then crossed high more or less along the byline into the middle where Tyler Walker headed into the net from almost under the bar for his 16th goal of the season. The Stags were unable to create another chance though to pull off a miraculous recovery with the hapless referee playing just 3.5 minutes of stoppage time when a minimum of 4 minutes had been indicated. No argument that Carlisle deserved their win though perhaps with 11 men in the second half Mansfield might have been able to rescue a point in the closing minutes. A disappointing performance overall but only the second defeat of a terrific season so far, and I think there’s more to come from this side, which will hopefully be strengthened this month. After the game, Stags boss David Flitcroft explained that Nottingham Forest have only until 15th January to recall Tyler Walker should they wish to, after which he cannot be recalled. Flitcroft explained that Forest are very comfortable that Walker is developing well at Mansfield so he is not expecting that to happen but you just never know what can change in football. With Liverpool’s defeat at Manchester City on Thursday, Mansfield were the only side in the 92 to remain unbeaten away from home this season going into today’s game. Indeed, no other side down to and including step 3 of non league football (that's Evo-Stik Northern Premier league, Evo-Stik Southern Premier league Central, Evo-Stik Southern Premier league South, and Bostik League) were unbeaten away from home either, so Mansfield were the only side in the top 7 tiers of English football. That remarkable record is now gone. Mansfield made one change from the side that won at Grimsby, with Timi Elsnik coming back in, in place of Danny Rose, so reverting to the side that had drawn with Swindon and beaten Bury and Stevenage prior to that. Carlisle were unchanged from their side that had won at Morecambe. Ashley Nadesan was playing the last game of his loan spell from Fleetwood. It was a very pleasant day in Cumbria for early January. Some comedy in the matchday programme with the manager’s notes from John Sheridan proclaiming “let’s all stick together”. Mansfield won a free kick inside the opening 15 seconds as Mellis was brought down 32 yards from goal. But Mellis fired the resulting free kick straight into the wall. Carlisle took the lead on 4 minutes. A quick break saw Devitt lay off to Nadesan. Nadesan in turn laid off to Sowerby who was completely unmarked, and he fired into the net from the edge of the D, with a little deflection off Sweeney’s knee, though I think the shot would have beaten Logan anyway. Carlisle were within a whisker of making it 2-0 after 12 minutes when Parkes headed inches wide from Grainger’s free kick. Straight to the far end and Elsnik volleyed powerfully just over the bar from 25 yards. On 20 minutes, Benning crossed in from the left, it deflected off a defender and Pearce stuck out a boot to try and deflect it goalwards but could only knock it high over the bar. An unsavoury moment came on 22 minutes. Sweeney put his head in to win a header and got a high kick in the face. The referee awarded Mansfield a free kick and ordered that Sweeney had to leave the pitch with blood on his face. The home fans cheered. Unsavoury and it reminded me of the Matty Blair incident four years ago when the Carlisle fans chanted “cheat cheat cheat” at Blair as he was stretchered off with an injury that kept him out for the next 8 months. A rare piece of quality from Mansfield on 24 minutes as Walker put a great ball out to the right and White won a corner. Carlisle made it 2-0 on 26 minutes. Devitt threaded a fabulous ball forward for Nadesan to run on to in the box, Nadesan got away from his marker Sweeney and slid a great ball across the box for Hope to sweep into the net from 10 yards. Hope had got goalside of his marker Preston. A very well-worked goal from Carlisle, but both Sweeney and Preston could have done better. Mellis was fouled 38 yards from goal on 30 minutes. Benning took the free kick into the area but straight to the keeper. Mansfield’s set pieces had been poor. Good play by Mellis on 31 minutes with some super control. He got to the byline but his cross was cleared for a corner. Carlisle however were right on top and looking impressive. Mansfield made a tactical change on 33 minutes. Rose replaced Elsnik. On 35 minutes, Benning played a good ball forward with the outside of his left foot. Hamilton ran on to it and got into the area but his shot was blocked for a corner. Preston was booked on 39 minutes. The whistle had already gone for a foul by Preston when he slid in on Etuhu. On 44 minutes, the Stags took a free kick quickly to Hamilton but he lost it straightaway. It summed up a poor performance in the first half. However, things were to get worse. On 45 minutes, Bishop was caught by a high tackle from Grainger, a nasty tackle that from studying the video could have been a red card for Grainger. Instead the referee just awarded a yellow card to Grainger while Bishop was also shown a yellow card for reacting angrily. As the referee blew for half time, Bishop ran past Grainger into the tunnel and as boss David Flitcroft then described “Grainger has put his face into Bish’s, and Bish has put his face into his, and the referee has deemed it a second yellow for Bishop.” Clearly a mistake from Bishop to put himself in that position and get himself sent off, though Grainger should surely have seen red too but didn’t. Bishop will face a one match ban and miss the game against Yeovil. This had not been a typical Stags performance with Carlisle cutting through Mansfield’s defence too easily. Half time 2-0 Atkinson replaced Sweeney at the start of the second half. The Stags switched to a 4-3-2 formation with Atkinson in midfield. A chance for the Stags to cut the arrears on 49 minutes came as Walker cut inside from the right and curled a shot just over the angle. It was close. Good play from Rose on 50 minutes to get in a cross from the left but it just eluded Walker. On 53 minutes, Pearce lost the ball in the area but the Stags escaped as Devitt miskicked. A minute later, a shot from Grainger was blocked by Walker following a well-worked corner. On 57 minutes, Devitt got to the byline and Nadesan fired in a shot which was on target but was blocked by Preston. A minute later, Devitt fired over the bar from 20 yards. Then on 61 minutes, Gillesphey crossed and Devitt headed well wide. Hope cut inside on 66 minutes and Preston got in a great block. A minute later, Gillesphey fired just wide from 30 yards. On 72 minutes, a good block from Preston again from Etuhu’s shot from 25 yards. It had been all Carlisle with chance after chance in a 20 minute spell. Atkinson was impressing and made a couple of good runs forward as the Stags tried to regain some initiative. Somewhat out of the blue, Mansfield pulled a goal back on 78 minutes. Benning dinked a free kick from 40 yards into the box and Preston rose to guide a back header wide of the keeper into the net from 9 yards. Game on from nowhere. But with the Stags committing men forward Carlisle restored the two goal lead on 80 minutes. A clever move as Gillesphey pulled a cross back to Devitt who laid off for Hope who fired into the bottom left corner of the net from 10 yards. On 83 minutes, Hope’s low shot was stopped by Logan. Then, a minute later, Logan made a wonderful save to prevent Hope completing his hat-trick. Hope fired towards the top right corner and Logan tipped it wide. And from the resulting corner, Nadesan hooked wide of the post from point blank range. The fighting Stags reduced the arrears to 3-2 on 87 minutes. Mellis chipped a super ball forward for White to run onto in the box, great play from White to bundle the ball past the onrushing keeper Adam Collin. White then crossed high more or less along the byline into the middle where Walker headed into the net from almost under the bar for his 16th goal of the season. In stoppage time, Logan saved from Sowerby, then Devitt fired wide from 20 yards via a deflection. The Stags were unable to create another chance though to pull off a miraculous recovery. Carlisle pull level with the Stags though Mansfield have two games in hand. Bury have moved a point above Mansfield into third place, though Mansfield have two games in hand. Carlisle were very impressive going forward with the trio of Hope, Nadesan and Devitt causing Mansfield all sorts of problems. Man of the match: Will Atkinson |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Brunton Park
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Logan 6 Made a wonderful save to prevent Hope completing his hat-trick. Not at fault for the goals in my opinion. Preston 6.5 Allowed Hope to get goalside of him for the second Carlisle goal. Got in three good blocks. Scored a good goal. Pearce 6 Did ok. Sweeney 5.5 Allowed Nadesan to get away from him and cross for Carlisle’s second goal. Sacrificed at half time. White 6 Good persistence to provide an assist for Walker’s goal. Mellis 6 Clattered after 15 seconds, a “reducer” as Martin Keown would call it. Super ball for White to cross for Walker’s goal. One or two nice pieces of skill but didn’t hurt Carlisle other than that. Bishop 5 Has taken the plaudits for a tremendous season so far but let his team-mates down here. Elsnik 6 Sacrificed after 33 minutes. Benning 6 Super free kick for Preston’s goal. Some other poor set pieces. Great ball forward for Hamilton to run on to. Walker 6.5 In right place to convert his goal. Went close with a shot curled just over. Hamilton 5.5 Not his afternoon. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Rose (for Elsnik, 33 mins) 5.5 Didn’t really get into the game.
Atkinson (for Sweeney, 46 mins) 7 Impressed and made a couple of good runs forward as the Stags tried to regain some initiative. Made a case for replacing Bishop next Saturday. Subs not used: Kean, Law, Butcher, Khan, Graham. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2) Collin; Gerrard, Parkes, Gillesphey; Liddle, Sowerby, Etuhu, Devitt, Grainger; Nadesan, Hope (McCarron 85). Subs not used: Gray, Miller, Kennedy, Jones, Bennett, Slater.
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Referee:
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Robert Lewis 5 With his fourth official Seb Stocksbridge, they made a pigs ear of the Bishop/Grainger incidents. Clearly Grainger was the aggressor with a nasty tackle yet Bishop was sent off over it and Grainger stayed on. That said, it was clearly badly handled by Bishop to put himself in that position.
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