Archived News from March 2021
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STAGS BEATEN AT BRADFORD
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Bradford City 1 - 0 Mansfield Town Rowe 32. O.Clarke sent off 90+4 Attendance: behind closed doors Date: 2 March 2021 Martin Shaw at Valley Parade Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at in-form Bradford City on Tuesday evening, and like the defeat at Harrogate a week earlier, it was a moment of poor defending that proved decisive. A free kick after 32 minutes to the edge of the Stags area from 45 yards out was headed back across and into the area by Niall Canavan, who beat Farrend Rawson to the header, and then striker Danny Rowe got away from his marker Jordan Bowery to fire past Aidan Stone from 9 yards. Poor defending from Rawson and then a lack of concentration from Bowery to let Rowe get away from him. After the game Stags boss Nigel Clough was once again left fuming with one of his central defenders “not doing his job”. In a tight game, the Stags didn’t have too many chances but came desperately close right at the start and right at the end of the game. After just 2 minutes, Jason Law, who had another good game, chested the ball down 16 yards from goal and did well to create enough space for a shot from the right which he curled left-footed against the inside of the left post. It was a tremendous effort and he was so unlucky not to score. Then, on the stroke of 90 minutes, Ollie Clarke came within a whisker of equalising as he rose well to meet Jason Law’s corner from the right with a glancing header that was inches wide of the far post. Aside from that, Jordan Bowery had a shot deflected wide after an hour. And substitute Harry Charsley had a goal disallowed in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Jamie Reid did well just outside the area to tee him up for a shot past the keeper, but Charsley was a yard offside. Bradford had plenty of shots from distance and Aidan Stone had to make some good saves. After 7 minutes, Danny Rowe’s free kick from 20 yards on the left was saved by Stone at his near post. Callum Cooke shot wide from 16 yards after 19 minutes. Another free kick from Rowe, this time from 35 yards, was again saved by Stone at his near post. In the second half, a mistake by Ryan Sweeney after 50 minutes allowed Danny Rowe a shot from a tight angle on the right and Stone managed to get something in the way of it to turn an absolute blockbuster over the bar. Rowe sent yet another powerful effort from 25 yards over the bar after 58 minutes, and Callum Cooke brought another good save from Stone with a shot from 25 yards after 83 minutes. Six decent shots from distance from Bradford, four from Danny Rowe and two from Callum Cooke. But in the end, it was that single goal from Rowe after poor defending that was the difference between the sides. To make matters worse for the Stags, skipper Ollie Clarke was given a straight red card five seconds from the end of stoppage time at the end of the game after putting an arm in the face of Connor Wood on the right touchline. Nigel Clough said after the game that the club will be appealing the red card tomorrow as it was an arm to hold off Wood (as opposed to an elbow in the face), and as Clough discussed it with one of the Bradford joint managers afterwards the Bradford joint manager was agreeing with him. The Stags will be hoping to overturn the red card as losing Ollie Clarke for three matches, with George Lapslie still out for another week or so, and possibly George Maris out too (he limped off with a sore groin this evening after just 20 minutes, in what was a blow to Mansfield as he has been playing very well), will see the midfield resources stretched very thinly. A disappointing night for Mansfield, while Bradford march on after their 10th win in 14 games (and 5th win on the trot) since their joint managers Mark Trueman and Connor Sellars took over. The Stags remain 11 points above 23rd placed Barrow as the bottom three teams all lost. The Stags visit Barrow on Saturday in a game where we will hope to bounce back with a victory but as a minimum must not lose. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------- TUE 02 MAR 2021, LEAGUE TWO Bradford City 1-0 Mansfield Town Rowe (32'minutes) Assist Canavan (32'minutes) O Clarke (Dismissed at90'+5minutes) Match report supplied by PA Media https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56164004 In-form Bradford made it five wins in a row with a 1-0 victory over Mansfield. Returning Danny Rowe, who replaced loanee Andy Cook against his parent club, bagged the only goal of the game at Valley Parade. Mansfield went close to opening the scoring when Jason Law's early effort hit the post. But Rowe was on hand to fire home in the 32nd minute after Elliot Watt's free-kick was nodded into his path by Niall Canavan. Paudie O'Connor headed wide at the back post on the stroke of the break. Stags goalkeeper Aidan Stone produced a fine save to tip Rowe's effort over the bar. And Stone pulled off another fine stop to deny Rowe when he tipped his strike past the post. Substitute Clayton Donaldson headed straight at Stone late on before Farrend Rawson missed a great chance to steal a point when he glanced Law's corner wide. Ollie Clarke was sent off deep in stoppage time for an apparent elbow on Connor Wood. Match Stats Home Team Bradford Away Team Mansfield Possession Home 46% Away 54% Shots Home 12 Away 6 Shots on Target Home 6 Away 0 Corners Home 3 Away 7 ------------------------- Mansfield Town slip to defeat at on-form Bradford City chad.co.uk, Tuesday 2nd March 2021 Mansfield Town slipped to their fourth defeat in five after a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Bradford. Returning Danny Rowe bagged the only goal of the game as the hosts made it five wins on the spin. The Stags have worryingly picked up just five points from a possible 21 after going eight games unbeaten. And their defeat was compounded by skipper Ollie Clarke being sent off late on at Valley Parade. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-slip-to-defeat-at-on-form-bradford-city-3152422 Clough kept the same side that got the Stags back to winning ways on Saturday against Morecambe. Jason Law almost made it the perfect start for the visitors as his curling effort hit the post. Down the other end, Callum Cooke dragged a shot wide as the hosts started to gain a foothold. And Rowe marked his return for the Bantams, replacing Mansfield loanee Andy Cook who was ineligible against his parent club, as he fired home after Niall Canavan knocked Elliot Watt’s free-kick into his path in the 32nd minute. Stags’ stopper Aidan Stone barely had to move to catch Rowe’s free-kick. The Stags were let off as another delicious Watt delivery was headed over by Paudie O’Connor at the back post on the stroke of half time. After the break Stone produced a fine save to tip Rowe’s powerful strike over the bar. Home defender Connor Wood was booked for simulation in the box. Stephen Quinn had a sight at goal for the visitors, but could only fire tamely at Sam Hornby. The Stags piled on the pressure, but Mark Trueman’s side fought for their lives to ensure they clung on to all three points. And Stone kept the visitors in with a chance of nicking a late point when he superbly tipped Cooke’s strike past the post. Stone was once again called upon to keep out substitute Clayton Donaldson’s header. Farrend Rawson missed a great chance to steal a point right at the death as he glanced Law’s corner wide at the front post. And the Stags ended with ten when Clarke caught Wood with an elbow deep in stoppage time. Bradford: Hornby, P.O'Connor, A.O'Connor, Canavan, Wood, Sutton, Watt, Vernam (Stevens, 77), Cooke (Cousin-Dawson, 90+3), Crankshaw (Clarke, 55), Rowe (Donaldson, 77). Unused subs: O'Donnell, Scales, Burrell. Mansfield: Stone, Gordon, Rawson, Sweeney, Benning, Clarke, Maris (Charsley, 20), Quinn (Sinclair, 86), Law, Reid, Bowery. Unused subs: Stech, O'Keeffe, Clarke, Wright, Perch. Referee: Paul Howard (London) -------------------- REPORT: Returning Rowe extends Bradford City's winning run thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, By Simon Parker CITY 1 MANSFIELD 0 IT IS now over a year since Valley Parade last rang to the sound of City fans. The anniversary of that Plymouth game - watched by an audience of 15,225 - passed at the weekend. The Bantams faithful would have so much to shout about right now. A fifth win on the bounce - equalling a sequence last set 17 years earlier - maintained the feelgood factor. It was not a vintage performance, and there were scares at both ends of the game, but City can currently do no wrong. Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars were grateful to a typical poacher’s finish from Danny Rowe, who answered the criticism in fitting fashion after a couple of off-colour outings. What a prospect for the weekend now and the visit of a Bolton side whose current purple patch boasts six successive victories. Valley Parade, in a normal year, would be fit to burst. It was almost five years ago to the day that Mansfield boss Nigel Clough brought Burton to Valley Parade on a Tuesday night and was beaten by a Phil Parkinson side hitting their play-off stride. That began a burst of six wins in seven that powered the Bantams into the promotion mix. The current team were enjoying equally hot form going into their clash with Clough’s Mansfield - the best winning run since that time. Clough had been as complimentary towards City in the build-up as Walsall boss Brian Dutton prior the weekend, describing them as the most confident side his men had faced all season. The one home change from Saturday was enforced as in-form Andy Cook was barred from facing his parent club. Rowe got the nod over Clayton Donaldson to take over the strike role - after a gentle kick up the backside from Trueman about getting back to his pre-illness high standards. Any fears that Mansfield might try to “park the bus” as Leyton Orient had done in the previous home game were dispelled by a fast start from the Stags. City had an immediate escape when Jason Law’s drive rattled the inside of the post after just two minutes. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19130663.report-returning-rowe-extends-bradford-citys-winning-run/ Charles Vernam was cut down on the edge of the Mansfield box on the counter but Rowe’s free-kick was straight at keeper Aidan Stone. But the visitors were quick to the ball and made it clear that City had a fight on their hands to extend the winning run. They weren’t helping themselves by giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas and Ollie Crankshaw was the first City name in the book for a touchline foul on Kellan Gordon. Callum Cooke screwed a volley wide from Connor Wood’s half-cleared cross but Mansfield continued to press high up the pitch and carry a speedy threat. City had been forced to defend in numbers for most of the half and had done so diligently. But then they struck the opening blow on 32 minutes. Vernam was kicked by Mal Benning just over the halfway line. Elliot Watt’s free-kick was nodded on by Niall Canavan, such a powerful presence again, and Rowe flicked it home from eight yards with an almost nonchalant right foot. Having notched his third goal in a City shirt, Rowe then blasted an ambitious set-piece from way out but Stone had it covered. City’s lead had come against the run of play but you could sense the belief building again. Mansfield left back Mal Benning was booked for pulling down Ollie Crankshaw and Paudie O’Connor headed over from another decent Watt delivery. It looked a good chance. The Stags did have the ball in the net before half-time but sub Harry Charsley had mistimed his run and was flagged offside when he dispatched Jordan Bowery’s through pass. Despite their extra possession, Mansfield had not managed an effort at goal since that early close call. The second half began in much more open fashion - and Rowe almost caught out Stone with a pinging effort out of nothing that the keeper just about managed to smuggle over the bar. Rowe drove another over from outside the box as City brought on Billy Clarke for Crankshaw. Anthony O’Connor’s slip allowed Mansfield to break but Connor Wood got an important touch to turn Charsley’s effort wide. It reminded everyone that their advantage was a narrow one. It was a rare lapse from O’Connor who was swiftly back on it with two big interventions at the far post from Jamie Reid crosses. He continues to look very assured at right back. Concentration remained the key for the Bantams, who threw on Clayton Donaldson and Jordan Stevens for the closing stages. Cooke, who had been quieter by his recent standards, exploded into life with a fierce long-ranger that was well beaten away by Stone. But Mansfield came so close to equalising as the game headed into stoppage time. Skipper Ollie Clarke ghosted in to meet Law’s corner but his flick header flew inches past the far post. Clarke’s misery then continued when he was shown a straight red for elbowing Wood before the final whistle sounded seconds later. CITY: Hornby 6, A O’Connor 8, P O’Connor 7, Canavan 8, Wood 7, Sutton 6, Watt 7, Vernam 6 (Stevens 77min), Cooke 6 (Cousin-Dawson 90min), Crankshaw 6 (B Clarke 58min, 6), Rowe 7 (Donaldson 77min). Subs (not used): Burrell, Scales, O’Donnell. MANSFIELD: Stone 7, Gordon 6, Rawson 7, Sweeney 7, Benning 6, O Clarke 6, Maris 6 (Charsley 20min, 7), Quinn 6 (Sinclair 86min), Law 7, Reid 6, Bowery 6. Subs (not used): O'Keeffe, Perch, J Clarke, Wright, Stech. CITY MAN OF MATCH: Anthony O'Connor. ------------------------ |
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