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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
Southend United  
0 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Dieng sent off 84.
 
 Reid 64
Attendance: behind closed doors
 
Date: 23 January 2021

5 WINS ON THE TROT AS STAGS WIN AT SOUTHEND

Martin Shaw at Roots Hall

Mansfield Town won 1-0 at Southend United to make it an incredible 5 wins on the trot in the league, after winning just 2 of the opening 19 league games. It is the first time the Stags have won 5 league games in a row in the Football League since 1991, though of course we did win 12 in a row in the Conference in 2013.

It was a deserved win for the Stags against the side who, although bottom, had only lost 2 of their last 9 games, and had won 4 of their last 5 home games.

The only goal of the game came after 64 minutes. Farrend Rawson made a great tackle on Ashley Nathaniel-George just outside his own area and set new signing Stephen Quinn away on a run into the Southend half. Quinn found Jordan Bowery on the left touchline. Bowery cut inside Greg Halford and Timothy Dieng before firing goalwards low from an angle on the left. Keeper Mark Oxley got down to save at full stretch to his left but could only push it into the path of Jamie Reid who was in the right place to knock the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. It was Reid’s 4th goal of the season. If it hadn’t fallen for Reid, it might have fallen for George Lapslie or Harry Charsley who were also well-positioned for any rebound, and much more alert to the situation than the Southend defence. A good team goal, with great play from Rawson to set the move off, a good run from Quinn and great play on the left from Bowery, who made several excellent runs down the left in the second half.

The first half had been fairly even with Kyle Taylor and Alan McCormack shooting wide for Southend in the opening 10 minutes before Aiden Stone saved low down from Simeon Akinola’s shot after a cross from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild after 15 minutes. But the Stags had the best two chances of the half as George Lapslie headed back to Reid whose shot from 8 yards seemed a certain goal with the keeper beaten but Dieng blocked it on the line, after 22 minutes. Then 2 minutes later, great play from the Stags just outside the Southend box as Lapslie found Bowery who found Reid, and Reid laid a superb ball forward into the path of Lapslie to put him through 1-on-1 with the keeper. But as Lapslie tried to take it round keeper Oxley, Oxley was out quickly and tackled Lapslie with his legs. It was great goalkeeping as Lapslie looked favourite to take it around the keeper or be brought down for a penalty.

Southend had a chance to take the lead after 53 minutes as Akinola crossed from the left and Dieng made a late run into the box, getting away from Quinn who was tracking him, but Dieng, now unmarked, headed tamely wide. Poor play from Quinn to allow Dieng into the box for a free header.

After the Stags took the lead, Southend wanted a penalty on 72 minutes as Dieng ran straight into Sweeney in the box. From the video, Dieng simply ran into Sweeney and it was not a foul.

After 82 minutes, Charsley shot over the bar from 23 yards after good play from Bowery on the left.

Southend were reduced to 10 men after 84 minutes. Dieng, who had already been booked, was adjudged to have stood on Charsley as Charsley lay on the ground after the whistle had already gone for a foul. From the video, it’s difficult to tell if he did catch him.

Southend had one chance to equalise and that came after 89 minutes as Hackett-Fairchild crossed from the right and Akinola rose at the far post above Gordon to head down but it was an easy save for Stone. Although Akinola got the header in, Gordon did just enough to make it difficult for Akinola.

The Stags had no further alarms in 4 minutes of stoppage time and were able to celebrate that 5th win on the trot.

Plenty of good performances in the Stags side with Rawson winning so many headers as well as that great tackle that started the move that led to the only goal, Sweeney played very well alongside him, the midfield did really well and controlled the game, and Bowery had a very good second half with several terrific runs down the left, including for the goal. A good performance all round that limited the home side to very little.

Mansfield are now 11 points above the relegation zone and 5 points behind the play-off places. A play-off push is certainly a genuine possibility. The next game is on Tuesday night as Bolton visit the One Call Stadium (7pm kick-off). Join us from 6.50pm on iFollow Stags.

DETAILED REPORT:

The Stags, without a game for 10 days, made one change from the side that won at Oldham. New signing Stephen Quinn, an experienced midfielder, signed on loan from Burton until the end of the season, came into the side. Andy Cook dropped to the bench. Ollie Clarke remained out through injury. James Perch returned from illness to the bench. Jason Law was named on the bench, in preference to Aaron O’Driscoll who warmed up with the side before the game, but didn’t make the 18. Mal Benning was also on the bench, and having made his 200th league appearance for Mansfield in the last game, today came on for his 300th appearance in all competitions and for all clubs. Congratulations Mal! Stephen McLaughlin was preferred to Benning today at left back, playing against his former club.

Southend made two changes from the side that lost at home to Cambridge on Tuesday. Before that Southend had won four on the trot at home. I watched that game on Tuesday on iFollow. Southend bombarded Cambridge from set pieces in the first half, with long throws from Greg Halford, corners and free kicks. They scored from a corner, and were 1-0 up at half time but should have been 3-0 up. In the second half, Cambridge stopped them getting set pieces in the final third and turned the game around the win 2-1.

The Stags would surely have been expecting a bombardment of long throws from Halford, but after one early on, he didn’t take any more and it later became clear that he had a shoulder injury that eventually forced him off. Perhaps a small bit of luck for the Stags, who of course had a barrage of long throws at Cheltenham recently and eventually succumbed to one in extra time. Halford, who played at centre-half on Tuesday, played the first half at centre-forward here, then moved to right back, before going off.

Southend were without James Olayinka, who scored that great goal in the 1-1 draw at the One Call Stadium. Olayinka is injured and has returned to his parent club Arsenal.

It was a nice day in Southend, with some sunshine, .. well apart from ten minutes of hail that very briefly turned the pitch white towards the end of the first half!

After 6 minutes, Kyle Taylor shot wide of the right post from 20 yards. Three minutes later, McCormack shot well wide of the left post following a corner. Then Stone saved low down from Akinola’s shot after a cross from Hackett-Fairchild after 15 minutes.

After 20 minutes, Charsley headed tamely straight at the keeper.

The Stags had the best chance of the half after 22 minutes as Lapslie headed back to Reid whose shot from 8 yards seemed a certain goal with the keeper beaten but Dieng blocked it on the line.

Then 2 minutes later, great play from the Stags just outside the Southend box as Lapslie found Bowery who found Reid, and Reid laid a superb ball forward into the path of Lapslie to put him through 1-on-1 with the keeper. But as Lapslie tried to take it round keeper Oxley, Oxley was out quickly and tackled Lapslie with his legs. It was great goalkeeping as Lapslie looked favourite to take it around the keeper or be brought down for a penalty.

After 30 minutes, Reid played a good ball forward to Bowery to run on to, but the keeper was out quickly.

No more chances for either side before the interval. A short hail shower briefly turned the pitch white.

A fairly even first half though with the Stags showing that extra bit of quality and having the two best chances through Reid and Lapslie.

Half time 0-0

After 47 minutes, Quinn found Reid who fired high and wide from 25 yards.

Southend had a chance to take the lead after 53 minutes as Akinola crossed from the left and Dieng made a late run into the box, getting away from Quinn who was tracking him, but Dieng, now unmarked, headed tamely wide. Poor play from Quinn to allow Dieng into the box for a free header.

The only goal of the game came after 64 minutes. Rawson made a great tackle on Nathaniel-George just outside his own area and set Quinn away on a run into the Southend half. Quinn found Bowery on the left touchline. Bowery cut inside Halford and Dieng before firing goalwards low from an angle on the left. Keeper Oxley got down to save at full stretch to his left but could only push it into the path of Reid who was in the right place to knock the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. It was Reid’s 4th goal of the season. If it hadn’t fallen for Reid, it might have fallen for Lapslie or Charsley who were also well-positioned for any rebound, and much more alert to the situation than the Southend defence. A good team goal, with great play from Rawson to set the move off, a good run from Quinn and great play on the left from Bowery, who made several excellent runs down the left in the second half.

Quinn was booked for a blatant foul after 70 minutes.

Southend wanted a penalty on 72 minutes as Dieng ran straight into Sweeney in the box. From the video, Dieng simply ran into Sweeney and it was not a foul.

Maris did well to stop Hackett-Fairchild breaking away after 74 minutes.

Cook replaced Quinn after 77 minutes. First team coach Andy Garner said after the game that Quinn was tired. Charsley dropped back into midfield, Reid moved on to the right, Cook into the middle up front.

A great run from Bowery after 78 minutes and he was only stopped by being chopped down by Hart who was booked.

After 82 minutes, Charsley shot over the bar from 23 yards after good play from Bowery on the left.

Southend were reduced to 10 men after 84 minutes. Dieng, who had already been booked, was adjudged to have stood on Charsley as Charsley lay on the ground after the whistle had already gone for a foul. From the video, it’s difficult to tell if he did catch him.

Another brilliant run down the left by Bowery after 86 minutes, as he won a free kick.

Southend had one chance to equalise and that came after 89 minutes as Hackett-Fairchild crossed from the right and Akinola rose at the far post above Gordon to head down but it was an easy save for Stone. Although Akinola got the header in, Gordon did just enough to make it difficult for Akinola.

Benning replaced McLaughlin after 90+2 minutes, for his 300th appearance in all competitions and for all clubs. A minute later as the Stags wound the clock down, the Stags had a corner on the right and Cook played the ball across the face of goal but no-one was there to turn it in, though Bowery kept possession beyond the far post.

So no further alarms in 4 minutes of stoppage time and were able to celebrate that 5th win on the trot.

Man of the match: Farrend Rawson


Report by: Martin Shaw at Roots Hall



Line Up:
(4-3-3)
Stone 7 Saved well, low down from Akinola’s early shot. Otherwise had little to do.
Gordon 7 Did just enough to make it difficult for Akinola’s late header.
Rawson 8.5 Set the move off for the winning goal with a great tackle. Defensively very strong, winning so many headers.
Sweeney 7.5 Played very well alongside Rawson.
McLaughlin 7 Decent game against his former club.
Quinn 7 Debut. Good run to play his part in the winning goal. Poor play to allow Dieng into the box for a free header though.
Maris 8 Plenty of good defensive work
Lapslie 7 Set up Reid for his shot blocked on the line.
Charsley 7 Good game.
Reid 8 Worked so hard and deserved his goal. Also had a shot blocked on the line. Mansfield have won 1-0 twice this season in the league, and Reid has got the winner in both.
Bowery 8.5 Had a particularly good second half with several terrific runs down the left, including for the goal.
Sub Line Up:
Cook (for Quinn, 77 mins) - Used the ball well as the Stags wound the clock down.
Benning (for McLaughlin, 90+2 mins) - On for his 300th appearance in all competitions and for all clubs.
Subs not used: Stech, O’Keeffe, Perch, Law, Maynard.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Oxley; Bwomono (Clifford, 46), Hobson, White, Hart; Hackett-Fairchild, McCormack (Nathaniel-George, 59), Dieng, K.Taylor; Halford (Acquah, 73), Akinola. Subs not used: Seaden, R.Taylor, Howard, Stewart.
Referee:
Ben Speedie 7 Handled the game well. Rightly turned down Southend’s claims for a penalty.


Season 20/21 Reports