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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 20/21 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
1 - 3
 Bradford City
Cook 85. Lapslie sent off 78.
 
 Stech OG 8, Wood 14, Donaldson 69
Attendance: behind closed doors
 
Date: 17 October 2020

STECH CATASTROPHE AS TERRIBLE STAGS BEATEN BY BRADFORD

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town dropped into the relegation zone in League Two for only the second time since promotion back to the Football League, after a terrible 3-1 defeat at home to Bradford City this afternoon. Bradford had not won away from home for a year but were helped on their way by a gift from Stags keeper Marek Stech who dropped a Bradford corner into his own net whilst under no pressure after just 8 minutes. A catastrophic error. Just two minutes earlier at the other end, the Stags had been presented with a gift from the Bradford keeper, who cleared straight to Jordan Bowery, but with only the keeper to beat, Bowery fired straight back at him.
Bradford made it 2-0 after 14 minutes as left back Connor Wood was left in yards of space in the box to fire past Stech from 16 yards. Dreadful defending. Mansfield’s brittle confidence, already so low, was completely shot, and the game was as good as over.
The Stags should have pulled a goal back after 22 minutes when Bowery had a chance from point blank range but fired straight at the keeper. The Stags were terrible in the first half, too often exposed at the back with Bradford finding too much space.
The second half didn’t get any better. Andy Cook who came on at half time, surprisingly for Nicky Maynard rather than Jordan Bowery, headed too close to the keeper after a great cross from Mal Benning, another half time substitute. But Bradford should have increased their lead when Pritchard was given too much space in the area before shooting straight at Stech. And it was no surprise when Bradford did add a third after 69 minutes as the Stags allowed Lee Novak, who seemed to be boxed in near the corner flag, to backheel to Wood who crossed for Clayton Donaldson who beat Sweeney to the ball and flicked into the net from close range.
The Stags’ best player on the day in my opinion was new signing George Lapslie, signed on loan from Charlton for the rest of the season. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did, as Lapslie picked up a second yellow card and was sent off. The first yellow card had been harsh, but the second yellow probably came from a bit of tiredness as he challenged Donaldson from behind.
The Stags did at least score a consolation goal five minutes from time as Cook headed firmly home from a good corner from O’Keeffe. But it was far too little too late.
A terrible day for the Stags with an awful performance. And the alarm bells are ringing loudly. Football is a results business and with the Stags in the relegation zone after just 6 games, manager Graham Coughlan needs wins quickly. If the Stags are in or around the relegation zone with about 10 games gone, the time at which the league table really starts to take shape, owners John and Carolyn Radford with CEO David Sharpe may decide that action needs to be taken, even though John and Carolyn are well-known for wanting to give managers every chance to succeed.

The Stags are at Morecambe on Tuesday, desperate for a victory. Morecambe were surprisingly top of the table before today’s 4-0 defeat at Crawley. A win could make a huge difference to the morale of everyone of a Stags persuasion. A reminder that the game kicks off at 6.30pm.


Mansfield made two changes to the side that drew with Stevenage. Lapslie came in for his Stags debut in place of Harry Charsley, while Bowery returned in place of Jamie Reid. It was the usual 3-5-2 formation, with James Perch in front of the back three, and Lapslie alongside George Maris in midfield. Gordon and Smith dropped out of the 18, while Sinclair came back on to the bench. Midfielder Ollie Clarke is out “for a number of weeks” through injury according to Coughlan, quite a blow.
Bradford made five changes from their side that lost to an impressive Harrogate side on Monday night.

After 2 minutes, Mottley-Henry nicked the ball in the Stags area as McLaughlin was fractionally too slow to clear, but the Bradford right midfielder fired into side netting. A let off for McLaughlin.

After 6 minutes, the Stags were presented with a gift from the Bradford keeper Richard O’Donnell, who cleared straight to Jordan Bowery, but with only the keeper to beat, Bowery fired straight back at him.

A minute later, McLaughlin’s free kick from the right was met by Menayese who headed wide of the left post. Moments later at the other end, Sweeney did well to block a cross from Novak after the ball bounced over McLaughlin.

But from the resulting corner, Bradford took the lead after 8 minutes. And it was a gift from Stags keeper Marek Stech who dropped a Bradford corner from Wood into his own net whilst under no pressure. A catastrophic error. And in truth, Stech has made too many errors this season.

After 10 minutes, McLaughlin’s corner from the right was met by Menayese again, and this time his firm header was on target and tipped away by the keeper.

Naive defending by O’Keeffe after 11 minutes as he slid in for the ball, missed it, and Pritchard could easily have fallen over him to earn a penalty but stayed on his feet.

Bradford made it 2-0 after 14 minutes as left back Connor Wood was left in yards of space in the box to fire past Stech from 16 yards. The goal came as Donaldson played the ball forward and a great flick from Pritchard found Wood in space. Dreadful defending with Menayese and Rawson well out of position. Mansfield’s brittle confidence, already so low, was completely shot, and the game was as good as over.

After 16 minutes, McLaughlin put in a good cross and Maynard glanced a header wide of the right post.

The Stags should have pulled a goal back after 22 minutes when Bowery had a chance from point blank range but fired straight at the keeper. The chance came as O’Keeffe’s corner reached Bowery in front of goal.

Two minutes later, McLaughlin put another ball in, O’Keeffe headed down, and it was saved by the keeper on his line.

A chance for Bradford after 36 minutes, as Novak found Donaldson who found Novak again, and Novak lifted a shot over Stech and over the bar from an angle.

A minute later at the other end, O’Keeffe crossed and McLaughlin headed wide. Then Maris did well to block a cross as Bradford broke well.

After 42 minutes, Maynard tried to slip in Maris but Watt blocked it and the ball went out for a corner.

Lapslie was booked for a foul on Watt after 44 minutes. It looked harsh.

The Stags were terrible in that first half, too often exposed at the back with Bradford finding too much space.

Half time 0-2

The Stags made a triple change at the start of the second half: Cook replaced Maynard, Charsley replaced Maris, and Benning replaced Rawson. Benning went in at left back, McLaughlin moved to left midfield, and Charsley right midfield, in a 4-4-2 formation. A surprise to me that it was Maynard who was replaced rather than Bowery, who had a terrible first half. Coughlan conceded after the game that if he could have changed all 11, he probably would have.

After 47 minutes, Bowery sent a weak shot through to the keeper.

Stech made a good save a minute later, diving to his left to deny Pritchard.

After 49 minutes, Charsley crossed from the right, Cook headed down and it hit O’Connor on the arm. It was at close range and not deliberate while his arm was in a natural position, so no penalty was the correct decision from the referee. Similar to the incident at Newport though where the hapless referee did give a penalty against Menayese.

A chance for Cook after 54 minutes as Benning put in a great cross, Cook was in space and planted a firm header too close to the keeper, who saved.

Bradford broke well two minutes later, and Hosannah’s cross deflected up off Perch and looped wide of the left post.

Then on 59 minutes, Bradford should have increased their lead when Pritchard was given too much space in the area before shooting straight at Stech.

And it was no surprise when Bradford did add a third after 69 minutes as the Stags allowed Lee Novak, who seemed to be boxed in near the corner flag by O’Keeffe and Charsley, to backheel to Wood who crossed for Clayton Donaldson who beat Sweeney to the ball and flicked into the net from close range. More very poor defending.

Cook sent in a shot from 25 yards after 77 minutes which the keeper saved at full stretch but still comfortably.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did, as Lapslie picked up a second yellow card after 78 minutes and was sent off. The first yellow card had been harsh, but the second yellow probably came from a bit of tiredness as he challenged Donaldson from behind. He will miss one match as a result.

After 80 minutes Donaldson knocked wide from Pritchard’s low ball in. Two minutes later, Bradford players were queuing up to score in the area as Donaldson’s shot was saved by Stech, then Novak and Cooke had shots blocked. This was painful to watch.

The Stags did at least score a consolation goal five minutes from time as Cook headed firmly home from a good corner from O’Keeffe. But it was far too little too late.

Into stoppage time and Sweeney glanced a header goalwards from O’Keeffe’s decent free kick, but it was an easy save for the keeper.

Benning was booked for a foul on 90+2 minutes.

So a painful defeat for Mansfield, and it is now just 3 points from 6 games. This is the Stags’ worst start to a season for nearly 50 years since 1971 when the Stags had just 1 point after 6 games.

On to Morecambe (6.30pm kick off on Tuesday). I would expect Aidan Stone to come into the side in place of Stech who has made too many important errors in the early part of the season. Stone didn’t make such errors in the games he has played. Stech’s error here set the course for the game. I’d expect Cook to start up front, and Bowery to be dropped. Bowery is yet to make a positive impression in the early part of the season, whereas Cook has had a relatively good start to the season. Lapslie will miss out due to suspension and will probably be replaced by Charsley. Clarke will remain out through injury.

Man of the match: George Lapslie


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



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Stech 4 Catastrophic error to gift Bradford the crucial first goal. I cannot recall a worse error by a Stags goalkeeper in 50 years of watching.
Menayese 5 Well out of position for Bradford’s second goal. Two headers at goal, one of which brought a good save.
Rawson 5 Also well out of position for Bradford’s second goal. Replaced at half time.
Sweeney 5 Donaldson beat him to the ball to knock in the third goal.
O'Keeffe 5.5 Naive defending when he could have conceded a penalty early on. Allowed Novak to somehow get out from the corner flag in the build-up to the third goal. Very good corner for Cook’s goal.
Perch 5.5 Unable to protect the defence.
Lapslie 7 Mansfield’s best player on the day in my opinion. Sent off for two yellows, the first of which was harsh.
Maris 5 Ineffective. Replaced at half time.
McLaughlin 5.5 Too slow to clear early on presenting a chance to Mottley-Henry. Did put in a couple of good crosses.
Maynard 5 Glanced a header wide.
Bowery 4 Terrible game. Missed two golden chances, the first a gift from the keeper.
Sub Line Up:
Cook (for Maynard, 46 mins) 6.5 Scored his second goal of the season. Should have started.
Charsley (for Maris, 46 mins) 6 Ok.
Benning (for Rawson, 46 mins) 6 Great cross for a Cook header straight at the keeper.
Subs not used: Stone, O'Driscoll, Sinclair, Reid.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Richard O’Donnell; Bryce Hosannah, Anthony O’Connor, Ben Richards-Everton, Connor Wood; Dylan Mottley-Henry (Tyler French 76’), Elliot Watt, Harry Pritchard (Jackson Longridge 90’), Callum Cooke; Lee Novak, Clayton Donaldson (Austin Samuels 86’). Subs not used: Sam Hornby, Billy Clarke, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Kurtis Guthrie.
Referee:
Paul Howard 6 Did ok.


Season 20/21 Reports