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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  
1 - 1
 Northampton Town
Cook 74.
 
 Smith 84
Attendance: 4496 (474 from Northampton)
 
Date: 21 December 2019

STAGS DRAW FIRST GAME OF COUGHLAN ERA

Martin Shaw and Simon Chamberlain at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town drew 1-1 with 7th placed Northampton Town at the One Call Stadium this afternoon in the first game under new manager Graham Coughlan. The first half was even and very competitive though Northampton had the better chances as Sam Hoskins rattled the Stags crossbar after just 18 seconds and Bobby Olejnik saved well on his line from Nicky Adams after 12 minutes.
But in the second half, Mansfield got on top and deservedly took the lead after 74 minutes. Andy Cook received a throw-in from Mal Benning, chested it down on the left, held off his defender and fired into the net, low and hard at the near post, from 23 yards. It was a great strike from Cook, though the keeper should have done better. The Stags had enough golden chances in the second half to have won comfortably. After 57 minutes, Matt Preston slid an excellent free kick from Mal Benning agonisingly wide when it seemed a certain goal. Then after 61 minutes, a magnificent run from CJ Hamilton who cut inside his defender Harriman from the right touchline to the edge of the area and fired a low shot inches wide of the right post. Then after Cook’s goal, Nicky Maynard was wide from the edge of the box as Cook laid off to him, and Maynard was a fraction too slow to shoot, allowing Sam Hoskins to get a get a toe on the ball and it squirmed wide. And then after 83 minutes, just a minute before Northampton equalised, Hamilton should have made it 2-0 when he sliced his shot wide from 7 yards when he was unmarked. It was a glorious chance for Hamilton.
Northampton were level after 84 minutes with their only good chance of the entire second half, as Nicky Adams floated in a cross from the right, and Harry Smith got away from his marker Preston to loop a header from 15 yards over Olejnik who was three yards off his line and the ball landed in the net.
The goal took the wind out of the Stags’ sails and Northampton finished the game stronger, albeit without creating any further chances.
Overall, there were plenty of promising aspects of this performance from Mansfield. There was a real intensity, passion and workrate about the performance, particularly in the second half, and it just needed that second goal to finish the game.
With Coughlan in charge, we’re confident Mansfield will climb the table, but reaching the play-offs looks like it might be too much of a tall order this season.

Graham Coughlan was appointed manager on Tuesday after John Dempster was sacked on Saturday night. Coughlan is an excellent appointment having dramatically turned around fortunes in his year as manager of Bristol Rovers where he took them from the relegation zone in League One to safety last season, and then to 4th place this season, with an impressive win ratio of 45%. Coughlan’s assistant at Bristol Rovers, Joe Dunne, joined him as assistant at Mansfield on Friday.

The pre-match warm-ups were taken by Lee Glover and Andy Burgess, who remain at the club. Drewe Broughton left the club soon after Dempster.

Coughlan made two changes to the side that drew at Crewe in John Dempster’s last game. Conor Shaughnessy was out with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Will Tomlinson. Nicky Maynard was dropped (for the first time this season) after missing 5 chances at Crewe, and was replaced by Danny Rose. Craig Davies returned to the bench after more than 12 months out with injury. No place in the 18 for Jacob Mellis. Well before the game, at about 1.30pm, Mellis, along with Hayden White, Sterling-James and Afoloyan were running round and round the pitch and so it was clear they would not be in the 18. Whether Mellis was not included in the 18 because of his appearance in court on Friday or for some other reason was not clear.
The Stags lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, as at Crewe, though Hamilton played the majority of the game on the right and MacDonald on the left.

Northampton, managed by former Stags boss Keith Curle, included two former Stags players, Vadaine Oliver up front, and Paul Anderson in an attacking midfield role. Oliver, incidentally, scored Mansfield’s winner in the first game of manager Adam Murray’s era (against Plymouth).

Northampton started the game in 7th place, 12 points above Mansfield. And ended it in exactly the same position.

There was a buzz around the ground before kick-off. Even the scoreboard was back working!

Graham Coughlan was given a rousing reception as he came out from the tunnel before the game.

There was nearly a terrible start in Coughlan’s first match as Sam Hoskins rattled the Stags crossbar after just 18 seconds with a crisp shot from 16 yards on the right.

Mansfield’s first shot came after 8 minutes as the returning Tomlinson sent a volley from 25 yards wide of the left post.

On 12 minutes, Paul Anderson chipped a good cross from the byline on the right to beyond the far post where Nicky Adams volleyed fiercely towards goal and Olejnik saved well on his line.

After 19 minutes, Benning chipped into the area, Cook did well to head on, and Rose sent an acrobatic overhead kick straight to the keeper. Brilliant technique from Rose, but he didn’t get enough power on it.

After 24 minutes, Ryan Watson fired in a low skiddy shot that was going wide before it took a deflection for a corner. From that corner, from Adams, Wharton headed over the bar. Three minutes later, Watson lobbed in, and Olejnik tipped the cross away from danger.

A great defensive header away by Rose after 29 minutes, Hamilton broke down the right straight to the other end, crossed in from the byline, and Cook headed over the bar.

Olejnik did well to hold a low cross from Watson after 32 minutes.

James Clarke was booked for a foul on Adams after 36 minutes.

After 41 minutes, Olejnik caught nicely, under pressure, from an Adams high ball in. Preston did well to put behind for a corner, from a dangerous Harriman cross two minutes later.

A half chance for Rose after 44 minutes. Benning’s ball in was flicked on by Cook, and Rose slid in on the half volley to fire straight at the keeper.

A fiercely competitive first half, that was pretty even, though Northampton came closer to scoring the shot against the bar and Olejnik’s save from Adams.

Half time 0-0

After 50 minutes, Bishop had a shot from 25 yards which was blocked at source.

The Stags were inches away from taking the lead after 57 minutes. Hamilton was chopped down 32 yards from goal, on the right. Benning curled in an excellent free kick, Preston slid in on it and it rolled agonisingly wide of the right post when it seemed a certain goal.

MacDonald fired over the bar from 25 yards after 59 minutes.

Then after 61 minutes, a magnificent run from Hamilton who cut inside his defender Harriman from the right touchline to the edge of the area and fired a low shot inches wide of the right post.

Northampton made a bold double change after 63 minutes bringing on strikers Andy Williams and Harry Smith to play alongside Vadaine Oliver.

Mansfield brought on Maynard for Rose after 68 minutes.

Cook was booked for protesting at not getting a free kick after 72 minutes.

Mansfield deservedly took the lead after 74 minutes. Cook received a throw-in from Benning, chested it down on the left, held off his defender and fired into the net, low and hard at the near post, from 23 yards. It was a great strike from Cook, though the keeper should have done better. It was Cook’s fifth goal of the season, and Mansfield haven’t been on the losing side when he’s scored.

After 75 minutes, Hamilton got down the left, and played inside to Benning who fed Maynard who turned on the edge of the area and fired over the bar.

A minute later at the other end, Williams crossed from the right, and Harry Smith headed down straight to Olejnik.

Maynard was brought down outside the area on the right after 79 minutes. Benning’s free kick was headed over the bar at the far post by Preston.

After 80 minutes, a Northampton defender missed the ball, allowing Cook to lay off to Maynard, and Maynard was a fraction too slow to shoot, allowing Sam Hoskins to get a get a toe on the ball and it squirmed wide.

Alistair Smith replaced Tomlinson after 80 minutes.

Hamilton made a great run down the left after 82 minutes and chipped a cross to the far post where MacDonald headed onto the roof of the net.

Craig Davies replaced Cook after 82 minutes. A great moment for Davies to return after more than a year out through injury.

The Stags should have sealed the game after 83 minutes. A great move from Mansfield, Benning’s cross-shot was pushed away by the keeper, MacDonald knocked it back across goal and Hamilton, unmarked, sliced his shot wide from 7 yards. It was a glorious chance for Hamilton.

And within a minute, Northampton were level after 84 minutes with their only good chance of the entire second half, as Nicky Adams floated in a cross from the right, and Harry Smith got away from his marker Preston to loop a header from 15 yards over Olejnik who was three yards off his line and the ball landed in the net.

The goal took the wind out of the Stags’ sails and Northampton finished the game stronger, albeit without creating any further chances.

After 86 minutes, Turnbull was not booked for a deliberate foul on Davies. It was of several poor decisions from the referee. Turnbull was already on a yellow card.

Bishop was booked for bringing down Watson after 90+4 minutes.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Olejnik launched a free kick into the Northampton box. As the ball ricocheted and dropped, it hit a Northampton hand, but despite appeals for handball and a penalty, the referee correctly waved away the appeals.
Seconds later, Preston was booked for fouling Oliver (90+7 minutes).

So a draw in Graham Coughlan’s first game in charge. There was a great atmosphere from the Stags fans, who really got behind their side, and appreciated the intensity, passion and workrate put in by their team. The approach from Mansfield was much more direct than under John Dempster. Gone was the playing the ball around from side to side in their own half, and instead the Stags tried to set CJ Hamilton away down the flanks as often and as quickly as possible. The Stags should have won, but Stags fans can look forward to another home game on Boxing Day with increased confidence.

Merry Christmas everyone!

By the way, a final stat from Paul Taylor: the goal conceded by Mansfield was the 5000th Mansfield have conceded in the Football League!

Man of the match: Andy Cook


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



Line Up:
(4-4-2)
Olejnik 6 Header looped over him for the goal. A good save in the first half, and a good tip away, plus some good handling. Some poor kicks straight into touch.
Clarke 6.5 Did ok.
Preston 6 Allowed Harry Smith to get in the header for the goal. Close to scoring from Benning’s free kick.
Sweeney 7 Solid.
Benning 7 Some good crosses into the box, including one excellent free kick.
Hamilton 7 Magnificent run and shot just wide in the second half. Missed glorious chance to make it 2-0 from 7 yards and seal the game. Caused Northampton plenty of problems.
Tomlinson 7 Decent game returning in midfield.
Bishop 7 More like the Bishop from last season.
MacDonald 7 Good game.
Rose 6.5 Didn’t get much service in the first half. One overhead kick straight to the keeper. One good defensive header away.
Cook 7.5 Great strike for the goal. Won plenty of headers. Set up Maynard for a chance.
Sub Line Up:
Maynard (for Rose, 68 mins) - Missed a good chance after 80 minutes.
Smith (for Tomlinson, 80 mins) -
Davies (for Cook, 82 mins) - Great to see him back after more than a year out through injury.
Subs not used: Logan, Pearce, Khan, Knowles.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-4-1-2): Cornell; Goode, Turnbull, Wharton; Harriman (Martin 80), McCormack (Williams 63), Watson, Adams; Anderson (Smith 63); Hoskins, Oliver. Subs not used: Arnold, Hall-Johnson, McWilliams, Warburton.
Referee:
Alan Young 5 Plenty of poor decisions, and got worse as the game wore on. Should have booked Turnbull for a deliberate foul on Davies, when Turnbull was already on a yellow card.


Season 19/20 Reports