Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Morecambe
|
||
|
Maynard 39, Rose 72. Preston sent off 82.
|
Lavelle 5, Alessandra 21.
|
|||
|
Attendance: 4465 (110 from Morecambe)
|
||||
|
Date: 10 August 2019
|
||||
|
STAGS FIGHT BACK FOR POINT, IN REPEAT OF LAST WEEK
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill In the first home league game of the new season, Mansfield Town put in a terrible first 35 minutes to find themselves 2 goals down to Morecambe this afternoon, before coming back to draw level at 2-2 and look favourites to win the game, but then a red card took the wind out of the Stags’ sails, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it followed exactly the same pattern as the draw at Newport 7 days ago! A truly extraordinary start to the season. Mansfield’s performance in the opening 35 minutes was a big worry. Last season Mansfield had the best defensive record in League Two, but cracks had been beginning to appear in pre-season with a catalogue of uncharacteristic defensive errors. And that has continued into the league season. It is no exaggeration to say that the Stags could have been 5-0 down here against Morecambe after 35 minutes. Lewis Alessandra had already shot inches wide of the right post (from the video, it was actually well-saved by Logan with his legs), before Morecambe took the lead after 5 minutes as John O’Sullivan crossed from the right to the far post where Sam Lavelle headed in, unmarked. Maybe the Stags were slightly unlucky there, as Krystian Pearce had been felled having been hit on the head by a powerful shot from Adam Buxton, and was still not back on his feet as the cross came in. After 19 minutes, the evergreen Kevin Ellison had a low shot from the edge of the box tipped around the post by Conrad Logan. After 21 minutes, Morecambe made it 2-0. Ellison curled a high ball from the halfway line on the left touchline into the middle where it bounced up and Alessandra headed over Logan from the edge of the area. In my opinion, no blame attached to Logan who was correctly positioned, but Pearce should have done better, allowing Alessandra to get in the header. Last week at Newport, the Stags had started with a 3-5-2 formation and switched to 4-4-2 when they went 2-0 down. Here, the Stags started with a 4-4-2 formation and switched to 3-5-2 when they went 2-0 down. The Stags nearly conceded again after 28 minutes when Adam Buxton tried an audacious shot from more than 60 yards, with a free kick from the edge of the centre circle in his own half, which crashed against the bar with Logan watching it all the way. A stroke of luck for Logan and the Stags. Magnificent effort from Adam Buxton. The fightback after started after 39 minutes, when a good shot from Alex MacDonald from the edge of the D was parried by Morecambe veteran keeper Barry Roche against defender Steven Old and fell nicely for Nicky Maynard to tuck into the net from 5 yards. Maynard in the right place at the right time for his first Stags goal in a competitive game. Maynard could have equalised after 44 minutes when his shot from the left was deflected wide by the keeper. Into the second half, and Pearce sent a free header over the bar from a good corner from Otis Khan, then Benning had two efforts from more good Khan corners, firstly having a shot blocked then heading wide. Morecambe had a chance to increase the lead after 70 minutes as Stockton headed against the post and Logan did well to save the follow-up from Aaron Wildig. The Stags were level after 72 minutes when MacDonald curled in a delightful cross from the left and Danny Rose thumped a header downwards and past the keeper into the net, for his second goal in two games. Rose was close to scoring again when headed onto the roof of the net after 79 minutes after Khan cut inside and his shot was blocked and looped up, and then seconds later Rose went close again with a magnificent piece of play, winning the ball, powering forward to the edge of the area and hitting the outside of the post with a great effort. This was the Rose of two years ago, a man possessed and it looked like he could win the game on his own. But the wind was taken out of the Stags sails by a red card. Matt Preston, who had been booked in the first half for a lunging challenge, was over the top in a sliding challenge on Alessandra after 82 minutes and was given a straight red card. It was a ridiculous challenge, in a non-dangerous position on the touchline, especially given that he was already on a yellow card. Maynard had to be sacrificed, to bring on another defender in Sweeney. And later Rose, who looked Mansfield’s possible matchwinner, was very surprisingly taken off, with Andy Cook coming on. Cook had claims for a penalty in stoppage time, as MacDonald crossed from the right. From the pitchside video, it does appear that Cook’s shirt was pulled by Buxton, so Morecambe got away with one there. So, another 2-2 draw. The Stags have to defend better than the shambolic defending of the first 35 minutes here and last week at Newport, and have to stop getting red cards. Then we’ll be in a position to start putting wins on the board. On to Tuesday, and another game against Morecambe in the Carabao Cup. Just a note on Morecambe: always tipped to be near the bottom of the table, but today they were very impressive for long spells of the game. John Dempster started with a 4-4-2 formation. He explained that the side had done well having switched from 3-5-2 when they went 2-0 down at Newport. Kellan Gordon started his first game, in place of Ryan Sweeney. Otis Khan came in for the suspended Mellis. Hayden White returned to the bench after his injury in pre-season. Dempster got a good reception from the home fans for his first home league game as manager. It was forecast to be a windy afternoon. Indeed only an hour before kick the met office was still predicting gusts to 40 mph. However, the predicted wind did not really materialise and did not affect the game at all. The Stags created a chance within the opening 45 seconds as Rose flicked on to Khan, who cut inside from the left and his shot was deflected over for a corner. On 4 minutes, Morecambe had a corner at the other end and from it, Alessandra’s low shot from the left was well-saved by Logan with his legs, and flew inches wide of the right post. Morecambe took the lead after 5 minutes, as John O’Sullivan crossed from the right to the far post where Sam Lavelle headed in, unmarked. Maybe the Stags were slightly unlucky there, as Krystian Pearce had been felled having been hit on the head by a powerful shot from Adam Buxton in the build-up, and was still not back on his feet as the cross came in. Rose was fouled, 26 yards from goal on the left, within a minute after the goal. Khan’s free kick was headed well wide by Preston, so far wide that it stayed in play. After 11 minutes, Gordon curled a ball forward which nearly fell for Maynard but Roche was out to collect. A poor header backwards from Bishop gifted Morecambe a corner after 18 minutes. After 19 minutes, the evergreen Kevin Ellison had a low shot from the edge of the box tipped around the post by Conrad Logan. After 21 minutes, Morecambe made it 2-0. Ellison curled a high ball from the halfway line on the left touchline into the middle where it bounced up and Alessandra headed over Logan from the edge of the area. In my opinion, no blame attached to Logan who was correctly positioned, but Pearce should have done better, allowing Alessandra to get in the header. Last week at Newport, the Stags had started with a 3-5-2 formation and switched to 4-4-2 when they went 2-0 down. Here, the Stags started with a 4-4-2 formation and switched to 3-5-2 when they went 2-0 down. Benning was the left central defender, with Preston on the right and Pearce in the middle. Gordon and Hamilton (left) were the wingbacks. Bishop and MacDonald were behind Khan who was behind the front two. After 24 minutes, Stockton fired over from the edge of the D. The Stags nearly conceded again after 28 minutes when Adam Buxton tried an audacious shot from more than 60 yards, with a free kick from the edge of the centre circle in his own half, which crashed against the bar with Logan watching it all the way. A stroke of luck for Logan and the Stags. Magnificent effort from Adam Buxton. It could have been 5-0 to Morecambe. A truly dreadful 35 minutes from the Stags, even worse than at Newport, considering that Newport are expected to be promotion contenders, while Morecambe certainly aren’t. Preston was booked for a lunging challenge after 36 minutes. The fightback after started after 39 minutes, when a good shot from Alex MacDonald from the edge of the D was parried by Morecambe veteran keeper Barry Roche against defender Steven Old and fell nicely for Nicky Maynard to tuck into the net from 5 yards. Maynard in the right place at the right time for his first Stags goal in a competitive game. Maynard could have equalised after 44 minutes when his shot from the left was deflected wide by the keeper. On 45+3 minutes, Benning found Maynard, who attempted to shoot from too-tight an angle, and it went out for a throw-in. After a shambolic 35 minutes, the Stags were back in it at half time. Half time 1-2 After 49 minutes, a great flick on by Rose to Maynard, who controlled and sent in a shot that was deflected wide. From the resulting corner from the left by Khan, Pearce sent a free header just over the bar. A good corner from Khan. Good pace from Hamilton after 51 minutes, forcing a foul from Buxton who was booked. Khan took the resulting free kick from outside the area on the left, and Bishop glanced a header just over. Another Khan corner on 54 minutes found Benning with a late run, and Benning’s shot was blocked by Tutte. Bishop threaded a brilliant ball forward for Khan after 58 minutes, Khan pulled the ball back across goal but no-one was there. Morecambe wanted a free kick for handball just outside the area after 59 minutes, but from the video, it wasn’t. Hamilton immediately won a corner at the other end. Khan’s corner from the left, Benning stole in at the near post and glanced a header wide of the far post. A great move from the Stags after 68 minutes, Benning to Maynard who found Gordon who put in a great low ball and Lavelle knocked it just past his own post. From Benning’s corner from the right, Bishop glanced a header across goal and wide of the left post. Morecambe had a chance to increase the lead after 70 minutes as Stockton headed against the post, beating Preston to the header, from Cranston’s cross, and Logan did well to save the follow-up from Aaron Wildig. Mansfield had re best defence in the The Stags were level after 72 minutes when MacDonald curled in a delightful cross from the left and Danny Rose thumped a header downwards and past the keeper into the net, for his second goal in two games. After 75 minutes, Bishop chipped in a good cross from the left, and Maynard headed straight at the keeper. Rose was close to scoring again when headed onto the roof of the net after 79 minutes after Khan cut inside and his shot was blocked and looped up. So close. Then seconds later Rose went close again with a magnificent piece of play, winning the ball from Buxton, powering forward to the edge of the area and hitting the outside of the post with a great effort. This was the Rose of two years ago, a man possessed and it looked like he could win the game on his own. But the wind was taken out of the Stags sails by a red card. Matt Preston, who had been booked in the first half for a lunging challenge, was over the top in a sliding challenge on Alessandra after 82 minutes and was given a straight red card. It was a ridiculous challenge, in a non-dangerous position on the touchline, especially given that he was already on a yellow card. Maynard had to be sacrificed, to bring on another defender in Sweeney (84 minutes). Great defending from Pearce, to hold off Cranston after 85 minutes. After 87 minutes, Logan punched away very well from an Ellison cross, then Buxton got past Khan to the byline and went down in the area, but the referee wasn’t interested in a penalty. On 88 minutes, Rose, who looked Mansfield’s possible matchwinner, was very surprisingly taken off, with Andy Cook coming on. Rose had been a man-possessed in the second half. After 90+2 minutes, MacDonald punted a high ball forward to the edge of the area, Roche and Lavelle made a mess of clearing it but Old was just able to clear before Cook could pounce. Cook had claims for a penalty after 90+3 minutes, as MacDonald crossed from the right. From the pitchside video, it does appear that Cook’s shirt was pulled by Buxton, so Morecambe got away with one there. Cook was booked for protesting. On to Tuesday, and another game against Morecambe in the Carabao Cup. John Dempster has already clarified that there will be some changes to give other players a chance. I’d expect Stone, White, Sweeney, Donohue, Smith and Cook to start. Man of the match: Danny Rose |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(4-4-2)
Logan 6 Made 3 good saves (from Alessandra, Ellison and Wildig). Not to blame for either goal in my opinion. Got lucky with Buxton’s audacious shot from more than 60 yards (a free kick from the edge of the centre circle in his own half) which crashed against the bar with Logan watching it all the way. Gordon 6 Did ok on his first start, put in a couple of good crosses. Pearce 5.5 Should have done better for the second goal, allowing Alessandra to get in the header. Sent a free header over the bar. Preston 4 Had already been booked in the first half for a lunging challenge, and then went over the top in a sliding challenge on Alessandra and was given a straight red card, a ridiculous challenge, in a non-dangerous position on the touchline, especially given that he was already on a yellow card. Beaten by Stockton in the second half in heading against the post. Benning 6 Had two efforts on goal from Khan corners, firstly having a shot blocked then heading wide. Hamilton 5.5 Won a couple of free kicks and corners with his pace. But on reflection, the Stags need more from him. MacDonald 7 Good shot was parried to Maynard for the first goal and curled in a delightful cross for the second goal. Bishop 6 A couple of good balls/crosses, but not reached the heights of last season yet. Admitted in interview that it takes him a few games to get going in the season, hopefully that will come soon. Khan 7 Several good corners. Good second half. Maynard 7 Poachers instinct for his first Stags goal in a competitive game. Showed a good touch and control. Rose 8 Thumping header for his goal. So unlucky to hit the outside of the post with a great effort after magnificent play to win the ball and power forward to the edge of the area. This was the Rose of two years ago, a man-possessed in the second half. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Sweeney (for Maynard, 84 mins) -
Cook (for Rose, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, White, Donohue, Smith, Sterling-James. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(4-5-1): Roche; Buxton, Old, Lavelle, Conlan; O’Sullivan (Cranston 67), Tutte (Kenyon 76), Wildig, Alessandra, Ellison; Stockton (Miller 76). Subs not used: Halstead, Ritchie Sutton, Oates, Brownsword.
|
|
Referee:
|
Chris Pollard 6 Got the red card for Preston right. Missed a pull on Cook’s shirt in the area which should have been a penalty in stoppage time, but a difficult one for him to see.
|
|
|