Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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West Bromwich Albion
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Mansfield Town
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Leko 26, Edwards 75.
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Bishop 69.
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Attendance: 10,574 (1183 from Mansfield)
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Date: 28 August 2018
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SUPER STAGS MISS CHANCES TO FORCE A SHOCK AT THE HAWTHORNS
Martin Shaw at the Hawthorns Mansfield Town produced a super performance at the Hawthorns last night to come close to forcing a shock in nearly knocking out West Bromwich Albion, who were relegated from the Premier League last season. Although West Brom made ten changes from their side that lost at Middlesbrough on Friday, this was still a strong Championship side and the Stags should have at least taken it to a penalty shoot-out. It was a night on which the Stags missed a hatful of chances. As early as the second minute, Craig Davies missed a glorious chance, when he chested down a great cross from CJ Hamilton and fired wide when it was easier to score. Just two minutes later, Otis Khan fired wide from a another Hamilton set-up. The Stags then went close on 18 minutes when Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill made a great save to prevent an own goal and Craig Davies’ follow-up was blocked. West Brom took the lead on 26 minutes with a good break as Oliver Burke found Jonathan Leko who rolled into the net. Bobby Olejnik had a good night with some fine saves, including a superb save 1-on-1 against Burke on 30 minutes. West Brom might have had a penalty on the stroke of half time when Leko rounded Olejnik and went down but the referee decided that Leko had dived and booked him. Olejnik then made two more fine saves early in the second half, firstly tipping over a bouncing shot from Adarabioyo then pushing a chip from Leko wide. Danny Rose replaced Craig Davies on 64 minutes and it was then that the Stags went into overdrive with Rose in inspired form. Within 36 seconds of coming on, Rose sent a sensational shot from 25 yards against the inside of the post but it somehow didn’t go in. Mansfield were deservedly level on 69 minutes as the excellent Neal Bishop side-footed into the right corner of the net from 25 yards giving Myhill no chance. A wonderful goal. The Stags fans were in tremendous voice and the Stags were all over West Brom as Rose volleyed over the bar on 74 minutes. I said in commentary that with Mansfield so much in control this was the moment to take the game. Sickeningly West Brom went straight to the other end against the run of play and scored a second goal, a classy finish from Kyle Edwards who cut into the area from the left and smashed past Olejnik. But the Stags were not done, far from it and produced a barnstorming finish, pummelling West Brom in extraordinary fashion. On 87 minutes, a great ball forward from Ryan Sweeney was superbly controlled by Rose in the area but Myhill saved Rose’s shot at point-blank range. Seconds later, Tyler Walker found Rose whose low shot was straight at the keeper. On 90 minutes, Stags young sub Jordan Graham somehow looped a shot wide from 6 yards, another glorious chance. On 90+2 minutes, Rose headed straight at the keeper. On 90+3 minutes, Olejnik came up for a corner, and had a chance to score as his shot was blocked, it finally came to Krystian Pearce who side-footed wide from 6 yards. How on earth did that not go in?!? It was an unbelievable finish to the game with West Brom completely and utterly on the ropes, but somehow they hung on to go through to round 3. It was wonderful entertainment and a night for the superb Stags following to remember in Premier League surroundings. The Stags fans chanted “one Johnnie Radford” and chanted “Danny Rose” and produced a super atmosphere. Rose was inspirational in his best performance since Steve Evans left. A couple of days until the transfer window closes and in my opinion Rose will be crucial if the Stags want to mount a promotion campaign, he should not be allowed to leave. If he does leave, there would have to be a top class replacement lined up. Back to the league on Saturday and the visit of Carlisle to the One Call Stadium, and if the Stags can recreate this sort of performance, then wins will surely follow. It was Mansfield’s first game at the Hawthorns since December 1992, nearly 26 years ago, a game in the third tier (now League One). The Hawthorns has changed a lot since then and is now a magnificent Premier League ground. Mansfield made two changes from the side that drew at Macclesfield. Calum Butcher came in for Alex MacDonald in midfield. Will Atkinson came in for Lewis Gibbens. Hamilton moved to left wing back, Atkinson came in at right wing back, Benning moved into central defence on the left of the three with Pearce in the middle and Sweeney on the right. Unsurprisingly, West Brom made ten changes from their last game as they have a big league game against Stoke at the weekend with only Tosin Adarabioyo keeping his place. West Brom included Gareth Barry as captain. The former England international made his pro debut more than 20 years ago. Former Stags loanee Kyle Howkins was on the bench and they also had 16 year old Morgan Rogers on the bench. Inside the first minute, Leko played the ball forward to Edwards who sent a cross-shot over the bar. The Stags should have been ahead on two minutes. Hamilton put in a great cross from the left, Davies chested down and fired a half volley wide. It was a glorious chance, and it seemed easier to score. Two minutes later, more good play from Hamilton finding Khan who sent a left footed shot wide from 16 yards. Just two minutes later, Otis Khan fired wide from a another Hamilton set-up. On 8 minutes, shot wide from a tight angle by the Baggies. On 10 minutes, Burke found Leko whose shot deflected up and looped just wide of the right post. The Stags went close on 18 minutes when Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill made a great save to prevent an own goal and Craig Davies’ follow-up from 8 yards was blocked when he should have scored. On 20 minutes, great play from Davies to Walker and Walker’s shot was blocked for a corner. Bishop was bundled over 30 yards from goal on 22 minutes. Khan sent the resulting free kick straight into Myhill’s midriff. Burke got past Pearce with a good pace on 24 minutes but Benning put in a good tackle. West Brom took the lead on 26 minutes with a good break as Oliver Burke found Jonathan Leko who rolled into the net. Superb goalkeeping from Olejnik on 30 minutes saving one on one from Burke. On 43 minutes, Khan played a great ball to Walker who got into the area, Walker squared the ball to Davies whose shot looped up to Hamilton but Hamilton was offside as he headed towards goal. West Brom might have had a penalty on 45 minutes when Burke found Leko who rounded Olejnik and went down but the referee decided that Leko had dived and booked him. Four ties in this round were selected for VAR but not this game. On 45+1 minutes, a foul on Mears 30 yards out. Townsend fired the free kick just wide. An exciting first half. The Stags shouldn’t have been behind with the chances they had, especially for Davies. Half time 1-0 David Flitcroft made a change of formation at half time from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2: Olejnik; Atkinson (right back), Pearce, Sweeney, Benning (left back): Butcher (right), Bishop (in front of back four), Hamilton, Khan; Walker, Davies. It was a surprising change, given Flitcroft’s insistence on playing 3 at the back through the entirety of pre-season and up to this point. On 51 minutes, Edwards’ corner from the left came back to him and he swung in a cross that curled just wide. On 52 minutes, Walker crossed from the right and Butcher was nearly able to get in a header but there was a clash of heads with Butcher going down. The referee had to stop play which was a shame as the ball had come to Hamilton in a good area. Butcher had to come off on 53 minutes following that clash of heads and was replaced by MacDonald. On 54 minutes, Edwards got into the area but Benning got back with good defending. MacDonald was straight into the action with a couple of good tackles. On 56 minutes, a West Brom corner from the left, Adarabioyo sent a bouncing shot towards the roof of the net and Olejnik made a fine save tipping it over. Khan twice lost the ball in good positions. On 59 minutes, Leko broke into the area and Olejnik was out quickly to make a good save tipping Leko’s chip wide. Olejnik then made a good catch from the corner. Rose replaced Davies on 64 minutes and it was then that the Stags went into overdrive with Rose in inspired form. Within 36 seconds of coming on, Rose sent a sensational shot from 25 yards against the inside of the post but it somehow didn’t go in. On 67 minutes, Rose was brought down. Benning’s free kick came out to MacDonald who shanked a shot wide. Benning made a good tackle on Burke on 69 minutes. Mansfield were deservedly level on 69 minutes as the excellent Neal Bishop side-footed into the right corner of the net from 25 yards giving Myhill no chance. A wonderful goal. Hamilton made a great tackle on Leko on 71 minutes. Kyle Howkins came in for his West Brom debut on 72 minutes. The Stags fans were in tremendous voice and the Stags were all over West Brom as Rose volleyed over the bar on 74 minutes when Khan’s free kick was punched out to him. I said in commentary that with Mansfield so much in control this was the moment to take the game. Sickeningly West Brom went straight to the other end against the run of play and scored a second goal, a classy finish from Kyle Edwards who cut into the area from the left and smashed past Olejnik. MacDonald was booked for a deliberate foul on 78 minutes. Benning made a great tackle on Burke on 80 minutes. On 81 minutes, Rose won a free kick taking his defender on. MacDonald sent the resulting free kick from 29 yards over the bar. At the other end a minute later, a high cross from Mears and Gayle fired into the side netting from an impossible angle. On 85 minutes, Gayle broke forward and fired wide. Graham replaced Benning on 85 minutes, Hamilton moved to left back, Walker, Rose and Graham were up front in a 4-3-3 formation. The Stags were not done, far from it and produced a barnstorming finish, pummelling West Brom in extraordinary fashion. On 87 minutes, a great ball forward from Ryan Sweeney was superbly controlled by Rose in the area but Myhill saved Rose’s shot at point-blank range. Seconds later, Tyler Walker found Rose whose low shot was straight at the keeper. On 90 minutes, Stags young sub Jordan Graham somehow looped a shot wide from 6 yards, another glorious chance. A good tackle by Pearce on 90+1 minutes. On 90+2 minutes, Rose headed straight at the keeper. On 90+3 minutes, Olejnik came up for a corner, and had a chance to score as his shot was blocked, it finally came to Krystian Pearce who side-footed wide from 6 yards. How on earth did that not go in?!? It was an unbelievable finish to the game with West Brom completely and utterly on the ropes, but somehow they hung on to go through to round 3. |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Hawthorns
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Line Up:
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(3-5-2)
Olejnik 8 Had a very good night with three fine saves. Then had a shot blocked in stoppage time when up for a corner. No chance with the goals. Sweeney 7 Solid game. Great ball forward to create a chance for Rose. Pearce 7 Good game. Beaten for pace once, but some other good defending. Side-footed wide when he should have scored in stoppage time. Benning 8 Moved into central defence for the first half. Defended very well with some great tackles. Atkinson 6 Did ok at right wing back then right back. Butcher 6 Had to go off after a clash of heads. Did ok. Bishop 8 Very good game capped with a wonderful goal. Khan 6.5 Mixed game. At least he wasn’t subbed after my comments on the Macclesfield game! Interestingly Flitcroft admitted after the West Brom game that he got the substitution of Khan at Macclesfield wrong. Hamilton 7.5 Great play to set up a couple of early chances. Some good defensive work. Walker 6 Not heavily involved. Davies 6 Missed two good first half chances. |
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Sub Line Up:
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MacDonald (for Butcher, 53 mins) 7 Straight into the action with some good tackles.
Rose (for Davies, 64 mins) 8 Inspirational performance. Graham (for Benning, 85 mins) - Missed a great chance at the end. Subs not used: Logan, Gibbens, Mellis, Sterling-James. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(5-4-1): Myhill; Mears, Adarabioyo, Dawson (Howkins 72), Field, Townsend; Edwards (Barnes 76), Harper, Barry (c), Leko (Gayle 76); Burke. Subs not used: Bond, Livermore, Brunt, Rogers.
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Referee:
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Steve Martin 7 Had a good game.
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