Northampton 2nd leg report and final preview by Sweden Stag

[Sweden Stag]

Northampton-Mansfield 0-1 (0-1, Stags win 3-1 on aggregate)

Goal, Mansfield: McLaughlin (32).

Attendance: 7619 (1463 from Mansfield)

STAGS BEAT COBBLERS AND FACE PORT VALE IN PLAYOFF FINAL

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag having watched the game in Sweden

The Stags won also the playoff semifinal second leg at Northampton by the only goal of the game to reach the playoff final at Wembley where Port Vale are the opponents after disposing of Swindon after extra time and penalties in a game sadly marred by crowd trouble. At Sixfields, the decisive sucker-punch and breakthrough was delivered by McLaughlin 32 minutes inside the first half in front of a Stags sell-out crowd.

KEY MOMENTS

One key moment came as early as inside the first minute. Northampton had to come out strongly. Hoskins crossed from the edge of the area, finding Eppiah who headed towards the back post. A great header and an equally great save from Bishop, diving at full strength. An excellent and very crucial save which set the pattern for the remainder of the game. The Cobblers were not have an equally good chance of quality for the remainder of the game.

The Stags got the team selection, formation and tactics completely spot on being a tactical masterpiece worthy of a Stagsnet 10 rating for the management.

Northampton brought back first choice keeper Roberts after his suspension while the Stags operated with a back four of Hewitt, Perch, Hawkins and McLaughlin.
Two of those were to have a significant and decisive impact with 32 minutes gone on the Sixfields clock. A free-kick from Bishop reached Akins. Then, the ball came to Koiki, who made a bad pass. Former Cobbler O’Toole was involved, Akins took control of the ball again and slid the ball forward. Quinn, in an offside position, was experienced and sensible enough to leave the ball to Hewitt in an onside position. Hewitt ran on to it, Quinn overlapping, and slid a superb ball to McLaughlin, who slid the ball into the Cobblers net leaving Eppiah flat-footed and first-choice keeper Roberts with no chance. Ball in the middle of the net. A superb strike with hugh significance and with the Stags a couple of further steps to Wembley.

On 40 minutes, Hoskins spurned a good chance for Northampton by shooting over in a good position. On 44 minutes, a double chance for the Stags. First Akins, then Hewitt had goal-bound shots blocked.

Early on in the second half, Northampton wanted a penalty. Eppiah crossed to Appéré, who went down under a challenge from O’Toole. The referee, who had a good game overall, correctly wawed away the appeal.

On 63 minutes, a controversial moment. Wallace put in a bad challenge on Eppiah inside the Northampton half. Wallace was rightly yellow-carded. Other officials might have dished out of a different colour. Eppiah had to be subbed.

On 71 minutes, another moment of controversy. Quinn was tough against McWilliams and the ref gave a free-kick against Quinn. It could have been a yellow, or even a red against Quinn, but the ref only gave the free-kick. Here, Quinn was lucky to escape a card regardless of colour.

A very good chance for the Stags on 73 minutes, and it could have been a spectacular goal. Hewitt crossed in to Bowery, who headed it down to Quinn, who sent an over-head kick over the bar. A good strike by Quinn, who was subbed ten minutes later for Lapslie. Quinn had put in a great shift.

On 87 minutes, Pinnock made a dreaful challenge on McLaughlin and was rightly booked. That one was equally as bad as the one Wallace made on Eppiah earlier in the second half and could have resulted in a red for Pinnock. Ref was consistent.

In added time, some Northampton “fans” invaded the pitch and pushed Bowery. Dreadful behavior to print the most appropriate. But it was nothing compared to the scenes at Vale Park a night later after the spot-kick drama against Swindon, sending Port Vale through to Wembley.

The full-time whistle at Sixfields brought great scenes.

A tactical masterclass by Nigel Clough throughout, worthy of a Stagsnet 10 rating-

Man of the match: the whole team (rated 9 all over) and management

Report by: Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag having watched the game on Telly in Sweden

Stags line-up with ratings:

Bishop 9
Hewitt 9
Perch 9
Hawkins 9
McLaughlin 9
O’Toole 9
Wallace 9
Quinn 9
Akins 9
Bowery 9
Oates 9
Subs:
Lapslie (for Quinn, 82)
O Clarke (for Wallace, 85)

Subs not used: Štěch, Rawson, Murphy, Stirk, Longstaff.

Northampton line-up: Roberts; Mills (Rose 65), Horsfall, Guthrie, Koiki; McWilliams, Sowerby; Pinnock, Eppiah (Zimba 68); Hoskins, Appéré. Subs not used: Maxted, Harriman, Dyche, Lewis, Kanu.

Referee: Ben Toner 7.

FINAL PREVIEW

For the final place in next season’s League One, the Stags and Port Vale battle out at Wembley on Saturday. For the winner, it will be a first as neither side previously have been promoted from the bottom tier via the playoffs.

All previous Stags promotions as well as those of Port Vale have been automatically with both sides promoted together in 1985-86.

Here are the previous Stags promotions from the bottom tier in chronological order:

1962-63 in fourth position after drawing 1-1 at Stockport in the final game (after three seasons)
1974-75 as Champions (after three seasons)
1985-86 in third position (above Port Vale) after six seasons
1991-92 in third position, straight back after beating Rochdale 2-1 in the final game
2001-02 in third position after beating Carlisle 2-0 in front of the writer

Three of the previous Stags automatic promotions have been decided on the final game

Port Vale promotions from the bottom tier:

1958-59 as the first-ever Division Four champions with over 100 goals scored
1969-70 in fourth position after five seasons
1982-83 in third position after five seasons
1985-86 in fourth position (just below the Stags) after two seasons
2012-13 in third position after five seasons

Three of the previous Port Vale promotions from the basement have been achieved after five seasons. Currently, Port Vale have five consecutive League Two seasons following relegation in 2016-17 while the Stags have nine following League Two return in 2013. When the Stags last were promoted inside the EFL, they had played nine consecutive seasons inside the bottom tier.

So it will be an “unwanted” League Two record for the side to lose on Saturday as the Stags never have played more than nine consecutive seasons in the same League since 1958-59 (also nine consecutive at third level between 1963-64 and 1971-72) while Port Vale never have played more than five consecutive campaigns at current League Two level.

Current player connections are Aidan Stone, Malvind Benning and Harry Charsley. These are the most recent players who have appeared for both sides. For more player and previous results information, see the latest EFL preview from mid-March this year.

For the Stags, it will be their first Wembley appearance since the FA Trophy final against Darlington way back in 2011, while Port Vale have a previous playoff winning appearance to record. Their return to the second level after the 1988-89 season and an absence since 1956-57 by beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 on aggregate then. And in 1992-93, Vale lost the playoff final to the second tier against West Bromwich to a 3-0 scoreline. Since then, Port Vale haven’t featured in the EFL playoffs, while the Stags featured in 2003-04 and 2018-19 respectively.

Expect a tight game on Saturday. Come on Mansfield!

[smulls]

Hope you are coming to Wembley!