Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Bradford City
|
||
|
Hawkins 37, 52.
|
O’Connor 19, Vernam 61, Cook 87.
|
|||
|
Attendance: 6,058 (1589 from Bradford)
|
||||
|
Date: 21 August 2021
|
||||
|
STAGS BEATEN BY BRADFORD IN THRILLING GAME
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten for the first time in the league this season, a 3-2 defeat at home to Bradford City. The sides started the day in second and third place in the league, and played out a high quality and thrilling topsy-turvy game which saw Bradford take the lead, Mansfield equalise and take the lead, before Bradford equalised and ultimately won it three minutes from time. In my opinion, even at this early stage of the season, this looked like a game between two good sides who could well both be in the top 7 at the end of the season. In another raucous atmosphere with fans from both sides in full voice, Rhys Oates made a great run from the edge of his own area all the way to the edge of the Bradford penalty area after 5 minutes, but it came to nothing. After 10 minutes, another wonderful run, this time from Stephen McLaughlin down the left wing getting past three Bradford players and whipping in a cross which keeper Richard O’Donnell couldn’t hold. As the ball spilled away from him, Oli Hawkins got to it first, knocked it past the keeper, and went down under the slightest of touches from the keeper. The referee said no penalty and it my opinion that was the correct decision as there wasn’t enough contact. Hawkins was not booked for diving. It wasn’t a penalty but it was as much a penalty as the rancid decision to gift Colchester a penalty in stoppage time on Tuesday and rob Mansfield of victory! Bradford took the lead after 19 minutes. Callum Cooke’s corner from the right found centre half Paudie O’Connor completely unmarked, running in to head home from 8 yards. Just dreadful marking. In real time, and having studied the video, I have no idea who should have been marking him. Oates and Maris were not marking anybody. It was the first time Mansfield had gone behind in the league this season. After 23 minutes, Charles Vernam cut inside from the left and had a shot deflected for a corner. That was a sign of things to come in the second half. After 25 minutes, Quinn crossed from the left and keeper O’Donnell made a mess of it again, dropping the ball, but Hawkins was not quite alert enough to react and turn the loose ball into the empty net. After 35 minutes, Bradford should have been reduced to ten men. Finn Cousin-Dawson and Maris went in for a 50:50 ball and Maris came out worse. Mansfield analyst Matt Ash showed me the video of the incident in slow-motion at half time and Cousin-Dawson was fractionally late on the ball and his studs crashed into Maris’s leg half way up, on his knee. With VAR, this would have been a stonewall red card. The referee didn’t even give a free kick. The Stags were level after 37 minutes. Danny Johnson set Ollie Clarke away down the left. He got to the byline and curled in a wonderful cross into the middle where Hawkins rose high above Niall Canavan to head into the right corner of the net. A towering header from Hawkins and a fabulous goal. Another wonderful move from the Stags after 40 minutes involving McLaughlin, Johnson and Quinn, and McLaughlin’s cross just evaded Hawkins in the middle. Nathan Bishop was called into action on 43 minutes as Callum Cooke’s low shot was straight at him but he did well not to spill it. A fair scoreline of 1-1 at the break. Some good moves from Mansfield down the left, and deservedly level from Ollie Clarke’s wonderful cross and Hawkins towering header, after dreadful marking allowed Bradford to go ahead with a free header from a corner. The Stags should have been ahead 20 seconds into the second half. Another great run from Rhys Oates, into the area, and his low cross-shot was ahead of the incoming Danny Johnson and wide of the left post. Maris had tried to play on after that challenge which should have seen a red card in the first half, but had to go off after 49 minutes, to be replaced by Ryan Stirk. He was a big loss to the Stags for the rest of the game. There was another warning shot for the Stags as Andy Cook and Callum Cooke set up Charles Vernam for a shot from inside the area on the left, but he fired high and wide. Far too much space for Vernam though. Mansfield took the lead after 52 minutes. Stephen Quinn fed a great ball forward for Oates to pick up on the byline on the left. Oates chipped a great ball back into the middle where Hawkins volleyed it left footed from near the penalty spot into the right corner of the net. A great assist from Oates and a great finish from Hawkins. But Bradford were level after 61 minutes. Ollie Clarke allowed Callum Cooke to get away from him 35 yards from goal. Hewitt, who should have been marking Charles Vernam, went towards Callum Cooke, that left Vernam in too much space on the left and Callum Cooke was able to find Vernam who had all the time in the world to sidefoot a great finish past Bishop into the net from 14 yards out on the left hand side. Poor defending from Hewitt but Ollie Clarke at fault in my opinion as well. Four minutes later, Vernam did well again on the left, and pulled the ball back to Andy Cook, who had a good chance but miscued his shot and Bishop was able to save easily. The Stags had a chance as Ollie Clarke’s shot was blocked after 70 minutes following a melee in the area. A minute later, a 30 yard shot from McLaughlin was blocked. Lapslie replaced Oates after 72 minutes and three minutes later he did well to break into the area on the left and set up Ollie Clarke for a goalbound shot which was blocked. The Stags were very close to regaining the lead after 86 minutes. McLaughlin lifted a high cross from the left to beyond the far post where Hewitt got up well to head goalwards and keeper O’Donnell made a terrific reaction save to push it away. Hewitt close to his second headed goal in two games. But within a minute, on 87 minutes, disaster struck at the other end for Mansfield. Vernam received the ball 25 yards out just in from the left touchline. He cut inside Hewitt too easily and curled a shot towards the far post from the edge of the area. Bishop saved a full stretch, but could only parry straight to Andy Cook, unmarked six yards out, and Cook gratefully turned it in to the net. Andy Cook had contributed very little all the game, but was in the right place to turn the ball into the net for what was to be the late winner and a very sweet moment for him. Several players could have done better on the goal. Hewitt could have stopped Vernam’s shot coming in. I also think Bishop could have done better by parrying the ball away rather than straight back into the path of Andy Cook. That may be slightly harsh as it was still a good save, but to be a top keeper he does need to parry it away from goal. Finally McLaughlin was not alert enough in the box and simply stood and watched Cook turn the ball into the net. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Ollie Clarke after 88 minutes. And within a couple of minutes, he found a yard of space on the edge of the box for a shot was fired well over the bar. Hawkins had a chance to equalise and complete his hat-trick after 90+3 minutes. Sinclair did well to cut inside from the right, and squared to Hawkins, who turned away from his marker expertly, but lifted his shot just over the bar from 16 yards. Then on 90+4 minutes, a chance for Lapslie as his low shot from the edge of the area was too soft and straight at the keeper. So a hugely disappointing defeat. Nigel Clough fumed after the game: “Two goals was enough in the previous two games which we won, but not today as we defended so ineptly, especially down the right hand side with Hewitt and Rawson. That's where all the problems came from. People just didn't do their jobs and I am angry.” He added: “I probably picked the wrong team today. I should have played Kellan Gordon (at right back) being at home. That was a mistake on my part. I think Elliott Hewitt played at Grimsby with the lad (Charles Vernam) that scored (the second) and made the third goal, and they are obviously very good friends as he's not tackled him all game!” Certainly not the first time Clough has called out his defenders after a disappointing defeat, such as last season at Crawley where he said: "We failed to defend a run-of-the-mill throw-in. They got between Gordon and Rawson and then it's beaten Marek at his near post. I think all three of them are culpable really." And at Harrogate last season where he said: “The goal we gave away is absolutely criminal and you’re not going to get anything from matches if you give goals away like that. Ten seconds after half-time, from the kick-off, we haven’t been disappointed that much in the last three months. The centre halves (Rawson and Sweeney) have both failed to do their jobs and clear the ball.” Meanwhile Clough is still attempting to bring in another defender before the transfer window shuts in ten days. It looks like it will be an important signing which he needs to get right. The Stags are certainly light in defence. On the plus side, the Stags played some good stuff going forward. It might have been a defeat but the Stags fans are seeing really good attacking flowing football, from the likes of McLaughlin, Quinn, Ollie Clarke and Oates. And Hawkins’ finishing today was excellent, such a shame that it didn’t earn at least a point. No midweek game this week, and the Stags visit Swindon next Saturday. Swindon sit level with Mansfield on 7 points from 4 games. Hopefully Maris will be back fit. The Stags missed him in the final 40 minutes. DETAILED REPORT The Stags made one change from the side that drew at Colchester. Hawkins returned to the starting XI after being under the weather on Tuesday. He replaced Lapslie, who wasn’t at his best on Tuesday. Oates moved back into attacking midfield position. Hewitt kept his place at right back after his goal on Tuesday. Bradford were buoyant after their 4-1 over Stevenage on Tuesday as Andy Cook, who was allowed to leave on loan in January and then permanently in the summer by Nigel Clough, scored a hat-trick. That took them level with the Stags in the table. Another former Stag, Lee Angol, who had scored twice for Bradford in their previous home game before the Stevenage game, was out with a hamstring injury. It was another good attendance and a crackling atmosphere. Bradford sold out their allocation. After 3 home league games, the Stags are averaging an attendance of 5,399, of which an average of 4,355 Stags fans. After 5 minutes, Rhys Oates made a great run from the edge of his own area all the way to the edge of the Bradford penalty area, but it came to nothing. After 10 minutes, another wonderful run, this time from Stephen McLaughlin down the left wing getting past three Bradford players and whipping in a cross which keeper Richard O’Donnell couldn’t hold. As the ball spilled away from him, Oli Hawkins got to it first, knocked it past the keeper, and went down under the slightest of touches from the keeper. The referee said no penalty and it my opinion that was the correct decision as there wasn’t enough contact. Hawkins was not booked for diving. It wasn’t a penalty but it was as much a penalty as the rancid decision to gift Colchester a penalty in stoppage time on Tuesday and rob Mansfield of victory! Bradford took the lead after 19 minutes. Callum Cooke’s corner from the right found centre half Paudie O’Connor completely unmarked, running in to head home from 8 yards. Just dreadful marking. In real time, and having studied the video, I have no idea who should have been marking him. Oates and Maris were not marking anybody. It was the first time Mansfield had gone behind in the league this season. After 23 minutes, Charles Vernam cut inside from the left and had a shot deflected for a corner. That was a sign of things to come in the second half. After 25 minutes, Quinn crossed from the left and keeper O’Donnell made a mess of it again, dropping the ball, but Hawkins was not quite alert enough to react and turn the loose ball into the empty net. A long throw from Hewitt after 30 minutes came out to Maris, who missed his kick first time around, but had time for a second go and his low shot was comfortably saved by the keeper albeit at full stretch. A word on the Hewitt long throw, it is not that long and barely reaches the near end of the six yard box, so it is not that dangerous a weapon. A good move from the Stags after 33 minutes ended with Maris’s shot from the edge of the box deflected for a corner. Strangely, Hewitt was staying back for corners, which given his heading prowess shown on Tuesday, was odd. After 35 minutes, Bradford should have been reduced to ten men. Finn Cousin-Dawson and Maris went in for a 50:50 ball and Maris came out worse. Mansfield analyst Matt Ash showed me the video of the incident in slow-motion at half time and Cousin-Dawson was fractionally late on the ball and his studs crashed into Maris’s leg half way up, on his knee. With VAR, this would have been a stonewall red card. The referee didn’t even give a free kick. The Stags were level after 37 minutes. Danny Johnson set Ollie Clarke away down the left. He got to the byline and curled in a wonderful cross into the middle where Hawkins rose high above Niall Canavan to head into the right corner of the net. A towering header from Hawkins and a fabulous goal. Another wonderful move from the Stags after 40 minutes involving McLaughlin, Johnson and Quinn, and McLaughlin’s cross just evaded Hawkins in the middle. Nathan Bishop was called into action on 43 minutes as Callum Cooke’s low shot was straight at him but he did well not to spill it. A fair scoreline of 1-1 at the break. Some good moves from Mansfield down the left, and deservedly level from Ollie Clarke’s wonderful cross and Hawkins towering header, after dreadful marking allowed Bradford to go ahead with a free header from a corner. Half time 1-1 The Stags should have been ahead 20 seconds into the second half. Another great run from Rhys Oates, into the area, and his low cross-shot was ahead of the incoming Danny Johnson and wide of the left post. Good defending from Ollie Clarke two minutes later as he headed the ball back to Bishop. On 49 minutes, Andy Cook chested down and Watt volleyed well over the bar from 22 yards. Maris had tried to play on after that challenge which should have seen a red card in the first half, but had to go off after 49 minutes, to be replaced by Ryan Stirk. He was a big loss to the Stags for the rest of the game. Stirk’s role was to sit in front of the back four and protect it as Maris normally does. Good defending from Hewitt after 50 minutes as he headed back to Bishop. There was another warning shot for the Stags on 51 minutes as Andy Cook and Callum Cooke set up Charles Vernam for a shot from inside the area on the left, but he fired high and wide. Far too much space for Vernam though. Mansfield took the lead after 52 minutes. Stephen Quinn fed a great ball forward for Oates to pick up on the byline on the left. Oates chipped a great ball back into the middle where Hawkins volleyed it left footed from near the penalty spot into the right corner of the net. A great assist from Oates and a great finish from Hawkins. The referee missed a foul on Quinn by Callum Cooke after 58 minutes. There was a bit of afters between the two and Cooke was booked though not Quinn. There was no free kick. Bradford were level after 61 minutes. Ollie Clarke allowed Callum Cooke to get away from him 35 yards from goal. Hewitt, who should have been marking Charles Vernam, went towards Callum Cooke, that left Vernam in too much space on the left and Callum Cooke was able to find Vernam who had all the time in the world to sidefoot a great finish past Bishop into the net from 14 yards out on the left hand side. Poor defending from Hewitt but Ollie Clarke at fault in my opinion as well. Four minutes later, Vernam did well again on the left, and pulled the ball back to Andy Cook, who had a good chance but miscued his shot and Bishop was able to save easily. After 66 minutes Rawson did well to head away with Cook lurking dangerously. The Stags had a chance as Ollie Clarke’s shot was blocked after 70 minutes following a melee in the area. A minute later, a 30 yard shot from McLaughlin was blocked. Lapslie replaced Oates after 72 minutes. He went into the attacking midfield position. Three minutes later Lapslie did well to break into the area on the left and set up Ollie Clarke for a goalbound shot which was blocked. After 78 minutes, Bishop was out of his area clearing the ball away. It looked like he had done well but he might have been embarrassed as Callum Cooke attempted a shot at goal from 40 yards. It was impossible to tell if it was on target with no one in the net, but Perch blocked it anyway. On 82 minutes, Stirk slipped over, Gillead embarked on a great run into the area, along the byline, and Perch did well to put behind for a corner. The Stags were very close to regaining the lead after 86 minutes. McLaughlin lifted a high cross from the left to beyond the far post where Hewitt got up well to head goalwards and keeper O’Donnell made a terrific reaction save to push it away. Hewitt close to his second headed goal in two games. But within a minute, on 87 minutes, disaster struck at the other end for Mansfield. Vernam received the ball 25 yards out just in from the left touchline. He cut inside Hewitt too easily and curled a shot towards the far post from the edge of the area. Bishop saved a full stretch, but could only parry straight to Andy Cook, unmarked six yards out, and Cook gratefully turned it in to the net. Andy Cook had contributed very little all the game, but was in the right place to turn the ball into the net for what was to be the late winner and a very sweet moment for him. Several players could have done better on the goal. Hewitt could have stopped Vernam’s shot coming in. I also think Bishop could have done better by parrying the ball away rather than straight back into the path of Andy Cook. That may be slightly harsh as it was still a good save, but to be a top keeper he does need to parry it away from goal. Finally McLaughlin was not alert enough in the box and simply stood and watched Cook turn the ball into the net. Cook ready to pounce on any push-out by Bishop in front of the goal and McLaughlin should have been more alert to that when it was in his area of the six-yard box. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Ollie Clarke after 88 minutes. And within a couple of minutes, he found a yard of space on the edge of the box for a shot was fired well over the bar. Hawkins had a chance to equalise and complete his hat-trick after 90+3 minutes. Sinclair did well to cut inside from the right, and squared to Hawkins, who turned away from his marker expertly, but lifted his shot just over the bar from 16 yards. Moments later at the other end, Crankshaw got past Perch in the area on the right and fired into the side netting. Then on 90+4 minutes, a chance for Lapslie as his low shot from the edge of the area was too soft and straight at the keeper. So a hugely disappointing defeat. Nigel Clough fumed after the game: “Two goals was enough in the previous two games which we won, but not today as we defended so ineptly, especially down the right hand side with Hewitt and Rawson. That's where all the problems came from. People just didn't do their jobs and I am angry.” He added: “I probably picked the wrong team today. I should have played Kellan Gordon (at right back) being at home. That was a mistake on my part. I think Elliott Hewitt played at Grimsby with the lad (Charles Vernam) that scored (the second) and made the third goal, and they are obviously very good friends as he's not tackled him all game!” Certainly not the first time Clough has called out his defenders after a disappointing defeat, such as last season at Crawley where he said: "We failed to defend a run-of-the-mill throw-in. They got between Gordon and Rawson and then it's beaten Marek at his near post. I think all three of them are culpable really." And at Harrogate last season where he said: “The goal we gave away is absolutely criminal and you’re not going to get anything from matches if you give goals away like that. Ten seconds after half-time, from the kick-off, we haven’t been disappointed that much in the last three months. The centre halves (Rawson and Sweeney) have both failed to do their jobs and clear the ball.” Meanwhile Clough is still attempting to bring in another defender before the transfer window shuts in ten days. It looks like it will be an important signing which he needs to get right. The Stags are certainly light in defence. On the plus side, the Stags played some good stuff going forward. It might have been a defeat but the Stags fans are seeing really good attacking flowing football, from the likes of McLaughlin, Quinn, Ollie Clarke and Oates. And Hawkins’ finishing today was excellent, such a shame that it didn’t earn at least a point. On the minus side, Hewitt was poor, as called out by Nigel Clough. Danny Johnson was largely ineffective up front. The Stags certainly played enough good football to deserve at least a point, but we brought the defeat upon ourselves with such bad defending. Man of the match: Oli Hawkins Here’s a running tally of various stats: Goals: Hawkins 3, O.Clarke, Johnson, Hewitt, Maris 1 Assists: O.Clarke, Hawkins, Johnson, McLaughlin, Oates, Quinn 1 (note: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist. In the case of a solo goal, such as Maris against Newport, nobody gets an assist.) Average home league attendance: 5399 (average away fans: 1044, average home fans 4355) |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(4-4-2, diamond in midfield)
Bishop 6 For the third goal, could have done better by parrying the ball away rather than straight back into the path of Andy Cook. That may be slightly harsh as it was still a good save, but to be a top keeper he does need to parry it away from goal. Otherwise a solid game. Hewitt 4 Poor defending for the second and third goals. Nigel Clough was very annoyed with him for not tackling Vernam all game. Could have actually scored the winner with a header just before Bradford’s third goal but was denied by a terrific reaction save. Rawson 6 Missed a couple of headers, but not culpable for any of the goals in my opinion. Was called out, like Hewitt, by Nigel Clough after the game though for “inept” defending. Perch 6 A couple of blocks. Generally did ok. Unclear if it was him who lost O’Connor for the first goal, but it could have been. McLaughlin 6.5 Some great attacking play. But should have been more alert for the third Bradford goal. Maris 7 Subbed early in the second half. Tried to play on after the challenge that should resulted in a Bradford red card. The loss of him was critical to the defeat. O.Clarke 7 Wonderful cross for the first Mansfield goal. Plenty of good attacking play. At fault for the second Bradford goal. Quinn 7 Lovely ball in the build-up to the second goal. Plenty of good play down the left. Oates 7 Great assist for the second goal. Some good runs. Hawkins 8.5 Two tremendous goals, a towering header and a left foot volley. Close to an equaliser in stoppage time. Johnson 6 Involved in a couple of good moves in the first half, but generally things are not going for him at the moment. After the game Nigel Clough said: “Danny is a little bit off form at the moment.” |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Stirk (for Maris, 49 mins) - The loss of Maris was critical. Stirk replaced him and I thought Stirk's role was to sit in front of the defence and protect it, as Maris did. I didn't think he did that particularly effectively, instead he played more forward.
Lapslie (for Oates, 72 mins) - Set up Clarke for a chance. Had one shot in stoppage time which he didn’t get enough power behind. Sinclair (for O.Clarke, 88 mins) - Set up a chance for Hawkins. Subs not used: Shelvey, Gordon, Burke, Bowery. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(4-2-3-1): O’Donnell; Cousin-Dawson, O’Connor, Canavan, Ridehalgh; Watt (Evans 67min), Songo’o; Gilliead, Cooke (Crankshaw 83min), Vernam; Cook 6. Subs not used: Scales, Lavery, Foulds, Kelleher, Hornby.
|
|
Referee:
|
Scott Oldham 5 Bradford should have been reduced to ten men after 35 minutes when Cousin-Dawson was fractionally late on the ball and his studs crashed into Maris’s leg half way up, on his knee. Maris had to go off injured later.
|
|
|