Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Preston North End
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S.Sinclair 45+1, 81, Riis 71 mins
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Attendance: 2,526 (486 from Preston)
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Date: 10 August 2021
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STAGS BEATEN BY PRESTON IN LEAGUE CUP AFTER IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE FOR 70 MINUTES
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten 3-0 at home by Championship side Preston North End in the first round of the Carabao Cup last night. Mansfield played really well for 70 minutes and showed more promise for the season ahead. Indeed the Stags more than held their own during that 70 minutes. But a couple of defensive mistakes allowed Preston to score a fine goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half, and then add a second goal gifted to them after 71 minutes. For the final 20 minutes, Preston’s Championship quality finally showed through and they hit the post before adding a superb third goal after 81 minutes. A year ago, the Stags were hammered 4-0 by Preston at the same stage of the competition. There were no positives from that performance last season as the gulf in class was all too obvious. This time it was completely different and Stags fans in attendance were happy with what they saw for much of the game, and gave their side a good ovation at the final whistle. Nigel Clough made four changes from the side that beat Bristol Rovers, resting his two most experienced players Quinn and Perch, and resting his first choice strikeforce of Hawkins and Johnson. Ryan Stirk replaced Quinn in midfield, Ryan Burke went in at left back, the versatile McLaughlin switched to centre half. Jordan Bowery came in up front, Oates move up front alongside him from midfield, and George Lapslie started in an attacking midfield role. The first half saw a really good performance from Mansfield. Indeed the Stags were the better side in my opinion. Inside the opening seconds, Stirk did well to get down the left, but his cross evaded everyone. After 3 minutes, brilliant play from Oates on the left to get past two defenders into the area along the byline and his cross-shot was saved low down by the keeper. Bowery had a shot blocked for a corner after a good ball forward from Maris. Oates shot wide of the right post after good control on the edge of the area. Then Oates again got away from his defender onto his left foot and shot across the keeper and wide of the right post on 37 minutes. A minute later, a great cross in from Burke from the left and Lapslie volleyed a side-footed shot over the bar. And a minute before the break, a snap-shot was Stirk was saved by the keeper. At the other end, a chance for Preston after 13 minutes, as former Stags loanee Ben Whiteman slid a good ball forward for Sean Maguire to turn the ball into the area and Scott Sinclair got in between Rawson and McLaughlin to put himself 1-on-1 with Nathan Bishop, but Bishop made himself big and saved well. Brad Potts shot well over the bar after half an hour, but those were Preston’s only two chances in the opening 45 minutes. But after 45+1 minutes, Ollie Clarke gave the ball away 15 yards inside the Preston half, Sean Maguire pushed forward into the Stags half and laid a great ball forward for Scott Sinclair who got into the area and chipped an exquisite shot over Bishop into the net. Great quality in the goal. A real blow for the Stags conceding the goal in stoppage at the end of a half in which they had more than held their own, and created considerably more chances than the visitors. The opening 25 minutes of the second half saw the Stags remain as the better side. Burke shot well wide after 52 minutes. Then Burke put in a great cross which Oates headed wide of the right post. Great play between Oates and Gordon down the right hand side to win a corner after 64 minutes, but the corner was wasted. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Oates after 64 minutes and he was straight into the action having a shot deflected for a corner. It had been mostly Mansfield, and Preston hadn’t created any chances in the second half, but they were gifted a second goal after 71 minutes. Bishop, who hasn’t put a foot wrong until this point, miscued a goalkick straight to Scott Sinclair 40 yards from goal. Sinclair surged forward to the edge of the area and his shot was goalbound but Bishop redeemed himself making himself big and stretching out his right hand to make a wonderful save. The ball ballooned up in the air. Rawson had a chance to clear but instead tried to hold off Preston sub Emil Riis, and as Rawson slipped over, Riis was able to create an angle to shoot into the roof of the net giving Bishop no chance. A mistake by Rawson that was costly. Preston were now able to play with freedom and could have added a third on 75 minutes when Greg Cunningham crossed and Brad Potts sent a brilliant volley against the left post. Preston did make it 3-0 after 81 minutes. Ben Whiteman fed a magnificent ball forward into the area for Scott Sinclair who turned and fired past Bishop. A great goal. It was harsh on Mansfield. The Stags had a couple of chances to pull a goal back as Tyrese Sinclair won a free kick 27 yards out and sent his free kick straight at the keeper, and then Kellan Gordon fired wide from 30 yards in stoppage time at the end of the game. Despite the defeat, plenty of encouragement for Mansfield, in stark contrast to the same stage last season. More positives than negatives in my opinion. Back to the league on Saturday and Mansfield welcome Newport to the One Call Stadium, in a game switched from Rodney Parade to give more time for the summer pitch renovation at Newport. Newport have started the season with a couple of 1-0 away wins and it promises to be a tight and tough game. DETAILED REPORT Nigel Clough made four changes from the side that beat Bristol Rovers, resting his two most experienced players Quinn and Perch, and resting his first choice strikeforce of Hawkins and Johnson. Ryan Stirk replaced Quinn in midfield, Ryan Burke went in at left back, the versatile McLaughlin switched to centre half. Jordan Bowery came in up front, Oates move up front alongside him from midfield, and George Lapslie started in an attacking midfield role. Preston included former Stags loanee Ben Whiteman in midfield. They made seven changes from their 4-1 defeat at home to Hull on Saturday. I watched the highlights of that game for my preparation for commentary and it was a flattering scoreline for Hull, but interesting to see that it was a similar Hull side to that which we played, and shows what an outstanding performance it was from us that day (we already knew that of course). It was a pleasant evening in Mansfield. Inside the opening seconds, Stirk did well to get down the left, but his cross evaded everyone. After 3 minutes, brilliant play from Oates on the left to get past two defenders into the area along the byline and his cross-shot was saved low down by the keeper. Bowery had a shot blocked for a corner on 6 minutes after a good ball forward from Maris. At the other end, a chance for Preston after 13 minutes, as Ben Whiteman slid a good ball forward for Sean Maguire to turn the ball into the area and Scott Sinclair got in between Rawson and McLaughlin to put himself 1-on-1 with Nathan Bishop, but Bishop made himself big and saved well. Oates shot wide of the right post after good control on the edge of the area on 17 minutes, following a good ball from Stirk into him. Good defending from Gordon against Scott Sinclair after 27 minutes. Oates lost the ball after 29 minutes. Nigel Clough went mad on the touchline. Oates won it back, and then lost it again! Brad Potts shot well over the bar after half an hour, but that was one of only two chances in the opening 45 minutes for Preston. Oates again got away from his defender onto his left foot and shot across the keeper and wide of the right post on 37 minutes. A minute later, a great cross in from Burke from the left and Lapslie volleyed a side-footed shot over the bar. And a minute before the break, a snap-shot was Stirk was saved by the keeper. But after 45+1 minutes, Ollie Clarke gave the ball away 15 yards inside the Preston half, Sean Maguire pushed forward into the Stags half and laid a great ball forward for Scott Sinclair who got into the area and chipped an exquisite shot over Bishop into the net. Great quality in the goal. A real blow for the Stags conceding the goal in stoppage at the end of a half in which they had more than held their own, and created considerably more chances than the visitors. The first half had seen a really good performance from Mansfield. Indeed the Stags were the better side in my opinion. Defensively Mansfield held their shape very well and looked solid. But that goal in stoppage time was a big blow. Half time 0-1 The opening 25 minutes of the second half saw the Stags remain as the better side. Burke shot well wide from 30 yards after 52 minutes. Then Burke put in a great cross which Oates headed wide of the right post after 56 minutes. Great play between Oates and Gordon down the right hand side to win a corner after 64 minutes, but the corner from Stirk was wasted. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Oates after 64 minutes. Sinclair went up front. He was straight into the action having a shot deflected for a corner. It had been mostly Mansfield, and Preston hadn’t created any chances in the second half, but they were gifted a second goal after 71 minutes. Bishop, who hasn’t put a foot wrong until this point, miscued a goalkick straight to Scott Sinclair 40 yards from goal. Sinclair surged forward to the edge of the area and his shot was goalbound but Bishop redeemed himself making himself big and stretching out his right hand to make a wonderful save. The ball ballooned up in the air. Rawson had a chance to clear but instead tried to hold off Preston sub Emil Riis, and as Rawson slipped over, Riis was able to create an angle to shoot into the roof of the net giving Bishop no chance. A mistake by Rawson that was costly. Jason Law replaced Maris after 74 minutes. Stirk moved into the defensive midfield role. Law went on to the left of midfield. Preston were now able to play with freedom and could have added a third on 75 minutes when Greg Cunningham crossed and Brad Potts sent a brilliant volley against the left post. Danny Johnson replaced Ollie Clarke after 78 minutes. Johnson joined Bowery up front. Sinclair moved into midfield. Lapslie went into the right of midfield. Preston did make it 3-0 after 81 minutes. Ben Whiteman fed a magnificent ball forward into the area for Scott Sinclair who turned and fired past Bishop. A great goal. It was harsh on Mansfield. The Stags had a couple of chances to pull a goal back as Tyrese Sinclair won a free kick 27 yards out and sent his free kick straight at the keeper after 87 minutes. Then Kellan Gordon fired wide from 30 yards in stoppage time at the end of the game on 90+5 minutes. Despite the defeat, plenty of encouragement for Mansfield. Man of the match: Stephen McLaughlin |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
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Line Up:
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(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Bishop 6.5 Saved well from Scott Sinclair early on. Miscued a goalkick straight to Scott Sinclair who surged forward and Bishop redeemed himself making himself big and stretching out his right hand to make a wonderful save. Gordon 7 Some good defending. Mixed quality of crossing. Overall another decent game. Rawson 5.5 Costly mistake for the second goal. McLaughlin 7.5 Impressive as stand-in centre half. Sponsors’ man of the match, and mine too. Burke 5 Didn’t play well. Maris 7 Good game in midfield. O.Clarke 6.5 Gave the ball away in the lead-up to Preston’s first goal. Otherwise he was solid. Stirk 7 Good game on his first start for the Stags, especially in the first half. Lapslie 6 Didn’t hit his form from last season. Bowery 5 Disappointing and didn’t offer much. Has played well at centre half in pre-season, and that has perhaps hampered his preparation for playing up front where he has had little game time. Oates 7 Lively and gave the Preston defence plenty to think about. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Sinclair (for Oates, 64 mins) - Was straight into the action with a shot deflected for a corner. And won a late free kick which he fired straight at the keeper.
Law (for Maris, 74 mins) - Johnson (for O.Clarke, 78 mins) - Subs not used: Shelvey, J.Clarke, Perch, Hawkins. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-4-1-2): Iversen; Storey, Bauer, Hughes; Van den Berg, Whiteman, Johnson, Cunningham; Potts (Thomas 83); S.Sinclair (Rodwell-Grant 81), Maguire (Riis 67). Subs not used: Ripley, Rafferty, Earl, Harrop.
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Referee:
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Ross Joyce 7 Handled the game well.
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