Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
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Burton Albion
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Mansfield Town
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Templeton 36.
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Rose 23, Sweeney 34
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Attendance: 485 (approx 140 from Mansfield)
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Date: 12 November 2019
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STAGS THROUGH IN EFL TROPHY WITH WIN AT BURTON
Martin Shaw at the Pirelli Stadium Mansfield Town produced an impressive display to win 2-1 at Burton Albion last night and qualify from the group stages of the EFL Trophy (now named Leasing.com Trophy, formerly Checkatrade Trophy). It was Mansfield’s first ever win against Burton Albion in any competition, at the 7th attempt. League One Burton fielded a strong side, the strongest they could in fact, making only four changes from their game at the weekend, and three of those were enforced with players on international duty. The Stags meanwhile made eight changes from Saturday, giving opportunities to those who have not had much game time lately. Burton, who needed just a draw to qualify, while Mansfield needed to win in normal time, started the stronger and had the Stags under the cosh in the opening 10 minutes. Conor Shaughnessy, on the line, blocked a header from former Stags defender Jake Buxton which was then flicked on by John Joe O’Toole, following a corner. Then Lucas Akins ran at the Stags and fired in a great shot from 22 yards that was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Bobby Olejnik with his finger tips. But Mansfield got a foothold in the game and went close after 12 minutes as Will Tomlinson did well to win the ball and feed Omari Sterling-James whose low cross-shot was pushed away by Burton keeper Ben Garratt with Danny Rose waiting unmarked at the far post to turn it in. The Stags took the lead after 23 minutes and what a goal it was. Brilliant play from young Alistair Smith who slid a perfect ball forward for Danny Rose to run on to in the area and dink the ball over the advancing keeper from 15 yards. A superb finish from Rose and great creativity from Smith. Rose’s 8th goal of the season to reinstate himself as the club’s outright leading scorer this season. And that came just a minute after more good play from Smith to create another chance for Rose who dragged a shot wide. After 29 minutes, a Shaughnessy free kick was flicked on by Rose and Sterling-James went around the keeper but the chance was snuffed out by a defender. The Stags increased the lead after 34 minutes. Great play by Smith to send CJ Hamilton away down the left, Hamilton got to the byline and delivered a brilliant cross that sailed over the keeper to the far post and was put behind for a corner. It was a great cross taking the keeper, who was backpeddling, out of the equation. Sterling-James took the resulting corner from the right, high into the middle where Ryan Sweeney rose above Buxton to head down and into the bottom left corner of the net from 10 yards. A great header from Sweeney, his second goal in three games, both from corners. A good corner as well from Sterling-James, into the right area for Sweeney. But the Stags could only hold on to their two goal advantage for two minutes. David Templeton turned superbly on the edge of the box and fired a wonderful shot into the top left corner of the net. Olejnik at full stretch got his finger tips on to it but could not keep it out and could not be blamed. In the final minutes of the half, Olejnik made three super saves to keep the Stags in front. Firstly he pushed away another shot by Templeton from just outside the area after more great play from Templeton. Then Templeton was clean through into the area and Olejnik saved again. And finally Olejnik did superbly again to tip over a shot from Scott Fraser after Fraser burst his way to the edge of the area. After a quiet start to the second half, Rose should have reinstated Mansfield’s two goal cushion. James Clarke played a perfect ball forward from inside his own half, Rose ran on to it and was clean through 1-on-1 with the keeper, with no defenders in sight, but fired wide of the right post. It really was a golden chance. Burton could have been level a minute later as Olejnik got down brilliantly, low to his left, to save a shot from 8 yards from Oliver Sarkic. Mansfield had another golden chance to score a third goal after 65 minutes as Jacob Mellis found Tomlinson on the edge of the area with a free shot at goal and just the keeper to beat, but Tomlinson shot with the outside of his boot was straight at the keeper. Sterling-James sent a free kick from 18 yards straight at the keeper after 81 minutes. Burton really only had one more chance to equalise when former Stag Junior Daniel miscued wide from 8 yards after a cross from the left from Jevan Anderson. Mansfield wound the clock down expertly with sub Dapo Afolayan showing several pieces of superb skill to keep the ball down in the corner as Burton didn’t look like equalising. So the Stags were the winners. It was an entertaining game and the 140 or so Stags fans really enjoyed their evening. There was a real energy about the Stags and some real quality too. Alistair Smith had a superb first half, setting up the first goal, playing a part in the second, and setting up another chance for Rose. Jacob Mellis also played well in midfield. Omari Sterling-James, after a poor opening few minutes, really blossomed, and provided quality from set pieces. Will Tomlinson had a much improved game in midfield. The back three of Preston, Shaughnessy and Sweeney did well. Young James Clarke at right wing back impressed, though was caught out a few times. And behind them, Bobby Olejnik made five super saves in a top showing. The draw for the next round is at 2pm on Saturday. Mansfield, having finished second in the group, should have an away tie at a northern based club. Stat update: The crowd of just 485 was the lowest to watch Mansfield in an EFL Trophy game. It was also the lowest to watch Mansfield during Mansfield’s time as a Football League club. However there were four lower attendances during Mansfield’s time as a Conference club, so it was the 5th lowest ever (stats from Paul Taylor). The Stags return to the league now at Macclesfield on Saturday. It’s vital of course that Mansfield bounce back from that defeat to Colchester and start to rise up the table. It was Mansfield first visit to the Pirelli Stadium for nearly 5 years, and only the 4th in our history. Mansfield made eight changes from the side that beat Chorley. Preston, Sweeney and Tomlinson were the starters who started on Saturday. It was a 3-4-2-1 formation: Olejnik; Preston, Shaughnessy, Sweeney; Clarke, Smith, Tomlinson, Hamilton; Sterling-James, Mellis; Rose. Jordan Graham was on the bench and came on in the second half for his first game since a long lay-off through injury. Great to see him back. Jimmy Knowles, scorer in the previous game in this competition against Crewe, was rested so that he can play in the FA Youth cup on Wednesday evening. Burton included three former Stags in their squad. Jake Buxton started at centre half though was withdrawn at half time. Junior Daniel played at left back. Chris Beardsley, who is the Burton fitness coach, was on the bench but did not come on. He did come on in Burton’s previous game in this competition. Lucas Akins, normally a striker and Burton’s top scorer last season, started at right back, but moved up front after half an hour. Apparently he has played in every position for Burton apart from in goal. Burton fielded a strong side, the strongest they could in fact, making only four changes from their game at the weekend, and three of those were enforced with players on international duty. Burton started the stronger and had the Stags under the cosh in the opening 10 minutes. Shaughnessy, on the line, blocked a header from former Stags defender Jake Buxton which was then flicked on by John Joe O’Toole, following a corner, after just 3 minutes. Then after 8 minutes Lucas Akins ran at the Stags and fired in a great shot from 22 yards that was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Olejnik with his finger tips. But Mansfield got a foothold in the game and went close after 12 minutes as Tomlinson did well to win the ball and feed Sterling-James whose low cross-shot was pushed away by Burton keeper Ben Garratt with Danny Rose waiting unmarked at the far post to turn it in. After 16 minutes, a good fast break by the Stags, Mellis found Hamilton, who won a corner. A minute later, Mellis fired over the bar from 25 yards, always rising. The Stags took the lead after 23 minutes and what a goal it was. Brilliant play from young Alistair Smith who slid a perfect ball forward for Danny Rose to run on to in the area and dink the ball over the advancing keeper from 15 yards. A superb finish from Rose and great creativity from Smith. Rose’s 8th goal of the season to reinstate himself as the club’s outright leading scorer this season. And that came just a minute after more good play from Smith to create another chance for Rose who dragged a shot wide. After 29 minutes, a Shaughnessy free kick was flicked on by Rose and Sterling-James went around the keeper but the chance was snuffed out by a defender. Akins was now up front for Burton as the home side regrouped. On 32 minutes, Fraser fired over the bar. The Stags increased the lead after 34 minutes. Great play by Smith to send Hamilton away down the left, Hamilton got to the byline and delivered a brilliant cross that sailed over the keeper to the far post and was put behind for a corner. It was a great cross taking the keeper, who was backpeddling, out of the equation. Sterling-James took the resulting corner from the right, high into the middle where Ryan Sweeney rose above Buxton to head down and into the bottom left corner of the net from 10 yards. A great header from Sweeney, his second goal in three games, both from corners. A good corner as well from Sterling-James, into the right area for Sweeney. But the Stags could only hold on to their two goal advantage for two minutes. David Templeton turned superbly on the edge of the box and fired a wonderful shot into the top left corner of the net. Olejnik at full stretch got his finger tips on to it but could not keep it out and could not be blamed. Jake Buxton picked up a yellow card after 37 minutes for a foul on Sterling-James. In the final minutes of the half, Olejnik made three super saves to keep the Stags in front. Firstly he pushed away another shot by Templeton from just outside the area after more great play from Templeton, after 42 minutes. From the resulting corner, Wallace slid a shot harmlessly wide. Then on 45 minutes Templeton was clean through into the area and Olejnik saved again. And finally on 45+1 minutes Olejnik did superbly again to tip over a shot from Scott Fraser after Fraser burst his way to the edge of the area. A really enjoyable half, Burton came out of the traps fast with the Stags under the cosh. But Mansfield fought back superbly with two goals, but the two goals lead only last two minutes. Then Olejnik kept the Stags in front with three super saves. Half time 1-2 Jake Buxton went off injured at half time, replaced by Sarkic. Preston was booked for wrestling Junior Daniel down after 47 minutes. A Burton low cross went across the 6 yard box and was put behind for a corner by Clarke two minutes later. A minute after that at the other end, Sterling-James sent an ambitious effort from 35 yards high and wide. Rose was booked for time-wasting after 53 minutes for botting the ball away after the whistle had gone. Unusual to see a player booked for this these days. A few years ago it was common. A dreadful ball from Clarke back to Olejnik after 57 minutes, Olejnik showed good skill to get out of trouble and dribble around a Burton player. Clarke then gave away an unnecessary free kick for a foul on Daniel after 58 minutes. Rose did well to head the free kick out for a corner. It had been a quiet start to the second half, but Rose should have reinstated Mansfield’s two goal cushion on 60 minutes. Clarke played a perfect ball forward from inside his own half, Rose ran on to it and was clean through 1-on-1 with the keeper, with no defenders in sight, but fired wide of the right post. It really was a golden chance. Burton could have been level a minute later as Olejnik got down brilliantly, low to his left, to save a shot from 8 yards from Oliver Sarkic. Jordon Graham replaced Rose after 62 minutes. Great to see him back. Mansfield had another golden chance to score a third goal after 65 minutes as Mellis found Tomlinson on the edge of the area with a free shot at goal and just the keeper to beat, but Tomlinson shot with the outside of his boot was straight at the keeper. Dapo Afolayan replaced Mellis after 68 minutes. Mellis had had a good game. Two good pieces of defending by Shaughnessy. Then a super tackle by Tomlinson. A great run by Afolayan after 74 minutes and he was cynically brought down by Quinn. Just a yellow card. After 78 minutes, Sweeney got in a good block on a shot. Then a good pouch from Olejnik on a low cross. Clarke did well to win a corner after 80 minutes. From the corner, Tomlinson was fouled on the edge of the area. Sterling-James sent the free kick from 18 yards straight at the keeper. Burton only late chance to equalise came on 82 minutes when Daniel miscued wide from 8 yards after a cross from the left from Jevan Anderson. After 86 minutes, Sterling-James sent n a free kick from the right, Shaughnessy headed goalwards and it was deflected on to the roof of the net. Clarke was booked after 86 minutes for pulling back Akins. MacDonald replaced Sterling-James after 88 minutes. Sterling-James was hobbling. Mansfield wound the clock down expertly with sub Dapo Afolayan showing several pieces of superb skill to keep the ball down in the corner as Burton didn’t look like equalising. Man of the match: Bobby Olejnik/Alistair Smith |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the Pirelli Stadium
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Line Up:
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(3-4-2-1)
Olejnik 8.5 Made five super saves in a top showing. Preston 7 Good game. Shaughnessy 7.5 Several pieces of good defending. Blocked a header on the line. Sweeney 8 His second goal in 3 games. One good block. Good game. Clarke 7 Impressed at right wing back, though was caught out a few times. Great ball to set up chance for Rose. Smith 8.5 Superb first half, setting up the first goal, playing a part in the second, and setting up another chance for Rose. Tomlinson 7.5 A much improved game in midfield. Hamilton 7 Brilliant run and cross to win the corner for the second goal. Sterling-James 7.5 After a poor opening few minutes, really blossomed, and provided quality from set pieces. Mellis 7 Good game. Rose 7.5 Superb finish for his goal. Missed a golden chance on the second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Graham (for Rose, 62 mins) - Great to see him back.
Afolayan (for Mellis, 68 mins) - Showed several pieces of superb skill to keep the ball down in the corner near the end. MacDonald (for Sterling-James, 88 mins) - Subs not used: Stone, Gordon, Benning, Cook. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-1-2): Garratt; Akins, O’Toole (Brayford 76), Buxton (Sarkic 46), Daniel; Edwards, Quinn, Wallace; Templeton (Anderson 71); Fraser, Sbarra. Subs not used: Livesey, Beardsley.
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Referee:
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Leigh Doughty 7 Handled the game well.
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