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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
0 - 4
 Cambridge United
Preston sent off 49.
 
 Roles 74, Smith 86, Maris 90, Lambe pen 90+5
Attendance: 3567 (181 from Cambridge)
 
Date: 17 September 2019

STAGS SUFFER WORST HOME DEFEAT FOR 11 YEARS

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town suffered their worst home defeat in any competition since March 2008 when they were beaten 4-0 at home by Cambridge United last night. Back in March 2008, the Stags lost 4-0 at home to Rochdale and manager Billy Dearden was sacked after the game. No-one could be surprised if this result leads to a similar outcome. It was a shocking result against a side that will surely be no higher than mid-table at best by the end of the season.

In his programme notes before the game, chairman John Radford wrote: “Whilst nothing is won or lost after 10 matches, it is certainly a time where progress, or lack thereof, can be measured. .. We are all aware that results must improve. There can be no excuses this term and our ambitions for promotion .. remain as fervent as ever.”

The Stags have now played 9 games, have won just 2 of them, and are down in 18th place. It would seem therefore that only a big performance in the 10th game of the season, at Port Vale on Saturday, can prevent manager John Dempster from being relieved of his first team managerial duties and perhaps a return to a position in the Academy from where he came. Dempster had done a tremendous job in the Academy. But any first team manager needs results, and Dempster simply hasn’t got enough of them thus far. I, for one, will be hoping upon hope, that Dempster can turn it around on Saturday. He’s a thoroughly decent bloke, and doesn’t deserve abuse being thrown at him from a minority of supporters. Dempster is a former promotion winning player for the Stags and Stags fans hoped he would become a promotion winning manager.

There can be no doubt that the Stags defence, the best in League Two last season, has massively under-performed this season. And in recent games, the Stags have under-performed going forward as well, having looked promising in that regard earlier in the season. In short, the Stags look a long way from a promotion team at the moment, yet John Radford has re-stated his ambition for promotion this season.

The game against Cambridge summed up the season so far in many ways. As at Crawley on Saturday, the Stags missed some glorious chances. In the first half, CJ Hamilton did superbly to get away from his two markers to have a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but somehow he fired wide of the post. Hamilton then got away from his two markers again before firing wide. Earlier Krystian Pearce leapt to have a free header from a Mal Benning free kick, but sent his header inches wide of the left post. Then after 85 minutes, with the Stags trailing just 1-0, sub Andy Cook had a glorious chance to equalise as he had time to pick his spot from the edge of the box, having been superbly set up by Danny Rose, but took a bad first touch and the chance was gone. It was uncannily similar to Danny Rose’s golden chance at Crawley where he took a bad first touch.

And while those chances went begging, yet again a red card was costly. And for the second time this season, it was Matt Preston with a crazy challenge, lunging in late on Luke Hannant, to earn a deserved red card after 49 minutes, whilst at the same time putting Hannant out of the game through injury. That red card let his teammates, his manager and the whole club and supporters down. It had a massive impact on this game, a fact acknowledged after the game by both managers. The Stags had created the better chances before the red card. But having a man advantage gave Cambridge huge momentum and they took advantage of it very well, while the Stags collapsed embarrassingly, more so than they should have done with just a one man disadvantage.

Cambridge took the lead after 74 minutes, as Marc Richards was left unmarked from a corner to head against the bar, and sub Jack Roles was given too much space to knock in the rebound. Dreadful defending. The Stags should have been level after 85 minutes with that chance for Cook, but having missed it, Cambridge ruthlessly killed the Stags off with three more goals. After 86 minutes, a misplaced clearance from Hamilton gave Sam Smith a free shot at goal which he stabbed into the net from 15 yards. It went from bad to worse after 90 minutes as sub Andy Dallas slid a shot goalwards, Conrad Logan could only parry it away and George Maris was quickest to react turning home the loose ball with three Stags players around him. The Stags had collapsed, and more was to come after 90+5 minutes as Otis Khan needlessly pushed Harrison Dunk in the area, and former Stag Reggie Lambe put the resulting penalty into the top left corner. It had turned into a shambles.

A truly shocking night for the Stags.


DETAILED REPORT:

Mansfield made three changes from the side that lost at Crawley. Nicky Maynard was injured, while Alex MacDonald and Jacob Mellis were dropped. In came Omari Sterling-James, Mal Benning and Neal Bishop. Sterling-James was finally getting the chance that he deserved a few games ago, when I commented that in my opinion he should have started at Exeter. Andy Cook returned from injury to the bench. The Stags started with a 3-4-1-2 formation with Hamilton joining Rose up front, Sterling-James behind them, and Bishop and Shaughnessy in front of the back three. However there was fluidity as Sterling-James often moved to the right, so that Hamilton and Sterling-James were either side of Rose. Cambridge included three former Stags in their side, Greg Taylor and George Taft in central defence, and Reggie Lambe in midfield.

A positive start from the Stags. Inside the opening minute, Gordon put a ball in from the right, it came out to Bishop, whose shot was deflected wide. A good corner from Sterling-James to the far post where Sweeney headed over the bar.

The next few minutes was littered with fouls. The referee had to get a grip on it, and attempted to do so by booking Knoyle for a foul on Benning.

The Stags were nearly ahead after 10 minutes as Krystian Pearce leapt to have a free header from a Mal Benning free kick, but sent his header inches wide of the left post. A super free kick from Benning.

Good defending by Sweeney after 12 minutes to clear halfway inside his own half. A minute later, a good run forward by Hamilton but the ball was cleared.

An even better chance for the Stags after 15 minutes. Preston chipped a free kick forward quickly, Hamilton did superbly to get away from his two markers to have a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but somehow he fired wide of the post.

A minute later, Bishop sent a snapshot well wide from 30 yards.

After 28 minutes, at the other end, Hannant curled in a good free kick from 40 yards into a great area and it just needed a touch from Richards, but he missed it.

After 30 minutes, Sterling-James played a nice ball forward for Hamilton, whose shot was blocked for a corner. At the other end, Preston did well to block a shot from Hannant as Hannant got to the edge of the area.

Another good chance for Hamilton after 32 minutes. Gordon played a great ball forward down the right touchline, Hamilton again got away from his two markers, turning them one way then the other, before firing wide right footed. It was a poor shot after great work to get into that position. Hamilton looked hugely frustrated with himself.

Benning was gifted the ball by Cambridge after 33 minutes, but he shot well wide from outside the area.

A good move from the Stags after 36 minutes, Benning moved forward and found Hamilton, whose shot was deflected into the side netting.

After 41 minutes, a free kick from Maris into the Stags box was well-cleared by Preston. Into stoppage time and Sweeney did well to clear.

The Stags had created the better chances but it was 0-0 at the break.

Half time 0-0

A game-changing moment after 49 minutes as Matt Preston went in with a crazy challenge, lunging in late on Luke Hannant, to earn a deserved red card after 49 minutes, whilst at the same time putting Hannant out of the game through injury. That red card let his teammates, his manager and the whole club and supporters down. Preston had tried to dribble the ball forward on the halfway line, over-ran it and then lunged in to try to correct his poor touch.

The Stags switched to a 4-4-1 formation with Rose up front, Sterling-James and Hamilton on the wings, and 4 at the back, with Gordon and Benning as full backs.

Rose did well after 54 minutes to block a shot from Lambe on the line.

Gordon was booked for a late tackle on Dunk after 57 minutes.

A minute later Lambe fired a shot from 30 yards over the bar.

After 62 minutes, Sterling-James shot from the edge of the area and it was deflected for a corner.

Cambridge could have scored after 68 minutes as Lambe crossed, Richards got goalside of the defence and flicked wide.

The red card had completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Rose was booked for diving halfway inside the Cambridge half after 70 minutes.

Cambridge took the lead after 74 minutes, as Marc Richards was left unmarked from a corner to head against the bar, and sub Jack Roles was given too much space to knock in the rebound. Dreadful defending. The goal had been coming.

MacDonald replaced Sterling-James after 75 minutes.

Cook replaced Benning after 81 minutes.

Rose tried an ambitious left footed effort from 30 yards after 84 minutes, but it was an easy save for the keeper.

Then after 85 minutes, with the Stags trailing just 1-0, sub Andy Cook had a glorious chance to equalise as he had time to pick his spot from the edge of the box, having been superbly set up by Danny Rose, but took a bad first touch and the chance was gone. It was uncannily similar to Danny Rose’s golden chance at Crawley where he took a bad first touch.

Having missed that chance, Cambridge ruthlessly killed the Stags off with three more goals.

After 86 minutes, a misplaced clearance from Hamilton gave Sam Smith a free shot at goal which he stabbed into the net from 15 yards.

Khan replaced Gordon after 87 minutes.

It went from bad to worse after 90 minutes as sub Andy Dallas slid a shot goalwards, Conrad Logan could only parry it away and George Maris was quickest to react turning home the loose ball with three Stags players around him.

Shaughnessy lost the ball after 90+3 minutes. It summed up his poor night.

The Stags had collapsed, and more was to come after 90+5 minutes as Otis Khan needlessly pushed Harrison Dunk in the area, and Reggie Lambe put the resulting penalty into the top left corner. It had turned into a shambles.


Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(3-4-1-2)
Logan 5.5 Could only parry away the shot from Dallas and Maris knocked in the rebound for the 3rd goal. Had no chance with the other goals.
Preston 4 Crazy challenge to earn a deserved red card that let his teammates, his manager and the whole club and supporters down.
Pearce 5 Part of a dreadful defensive display.
Sweeney 5 Part of a dreadful defensive display.
Gordon 6 Some good attacking play.
Shaughnessy 5 A poor night.
Bishop 5.5 Not at his best.
Benning 6 One good free kick.
Sterling-James 6 Decent corners. One nice set-up for Hamilton.
Rose 6.5 Superbly set up a golden chance for Cook to equalise. One good block/clearance on the line.
Hamilton 6.5 Misplaced clearance gifted Cambridge the 2nd goal. Some super runs to create chances for himself, which he missed.
Sub Line Up:
MacDonald (for Sterling-James, 75 mins) -
Cook (for Benning, 81 mins) -
Khan (for Gordon, 87 mins) -
Subs not used: Stone, Smith, Mellis, Afolayan.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2): Mitov; Darling, Taylor, Taft; Knoyle, Lambe, Lewis (Roles 70), Maris, Hannant (Dunk 52); Richards, Smith (Dallaws 89). Subs not used: Ibehre, Burton, Knibbs, Ward.
Referee:
Darren Handley 7 Correct decision to send Preston off, and got most of the yellows right too.


Season 19/20 Reports