{ match reports }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 21/22 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Walsall  
3 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Miller 6, 48, Taylor 22.
 
 Johnson 84
Attendance: 5,203 (1,008 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 11 September 2021

STAGS BEATEN AT WALSALL IN DEFENSIVE HORROR SHOW

Martin Shaw at Banks’s Stadium (Bescot Stadium)

Mansfield Town produced a defensive horror show to be beaten 3-1 at Walsall this afternoon. Elliott Hewitt and Richard Nartey produced as bad a central defensive performance as a pairing that I can remember and were responsible for two of the goals conceded, both from long balls forward, and they were lucky it wasn’t more, while Stephen McLaughlin lost his man at a corner as the Stags conceded from a set piece yet again.

The horror show started after 6 minutes. Kieran Phillips sent a massive clearance high into the Stags half. Elliott Hewitt and home striker George Miller battled for the ball but Miller simply muscled Hewitt out of the way, attempted a shot from 22 yards and missed his kick. Richard Nartey had by now got back, but Miller fired a shot through his legs from 16 yards into the net, giving Nathan Bishop in the Stags goal no chance. Terribly weak defending from Hewitt. A great start for Miller, on his home debut, on loan from Barnsley.

Miller was unlucky not to score again after 15 minutes. Brendan Kiernan lifted a ball over the top, Miller got in between Nartey and Hewitt, and fired a superb effort against the underside of the bar from 22 yards.

It was 2-0 after 22 minutes. Jack Earing’s corner from the left was in to the middle to the edge of the six yard box. Central defender Ash Taylor (who only came into the side because Rollin Menayese, on loan from Mansfield, was not allowed to play against his parent club) got away from Stephen McLaughlin who was supposed to be marking him, and headed past Bishop from 6 yards.

Long balls over the top were clearly a tactic from Walsall because they knew the Stags were vulnerable. After 45+2 minutes, they tried another as former Stag Hayden White smashed a long ball forward, over Nartey, Kiernan ran in behind Nartey and from 8 yards, with just Bishop to beat, smashed a powerful shot towards the roof of the net, but Bishop made a terrific reaction save turning it over the bar.

An absolutely shocking first half defensively from Mansfield.

Nigel Clough took Hewitt off at half time as he had been terrible. He was replaced by Farrend Rawson. Nartey had been equally terrible but stayed on.

Unbelievably the horror show continued after 48 minutes. Jack Earing fired a long ball forward into the Stags half from inside his own area. Nartey could have played it back to Bishop, squared it to Rawson, or put it out for a throw-in. He did none of those, and instead was muscled off the ball by Miller who ran through and lifted the ball past Bishop into the net from 18 yards to make it 3-0. Such terribly weak defending. It was horrendous to watch.

The game was over.

In the first half, the Stags had at least created a few chances. Rhys Oates sent a left footed shot towards the near post which the keeper pushed wide after 7 minutes, Oli Hawkins headed straight at the keeper from Gordon’s cross after 12 minutes, Tyrese Sinclair fired wide from a free kick after 14 minutes, and Hawkins had a great header tipped over the bar from a good cross from Oates after 17 minutes.

But the second and third Walsall goals knocked the stuffing out of Mansfield, who didn’t have a shot between 17 minutes and 83 minutes. That chance on 83 minutes came when George Lapslie fired a powerful shot goalwards which was tipped wide. Within a minute, the Stags pulled a goal back, as Ryan Stirk crossed from the right, Rawson got his head on the ball in the middle, and it fell for substitute Danny Johnson who lashed the ball into the net from 8 yards.

It was far too little too late though.

Nigel Clough pulled no punches after the game, saying: “All over the pitch, I thought it was an inept performance from start to finish. But certainly defensively. When you concede two goals straight down the middle of the pitch, it’s very difficult.”

The Stags drop to 20th place with 7 games played. Four defeats on the trot, with ten goals conceded in those four games. And it is the defending that is a huge worry. No clean sheets at all this season. Hewitt and Nartey were abysmal here. Rawson has been poor in previous games, but looks a better bet and will probably start next week. It is not known when Perch will return (there may or may not be some news this week with Perch having seen a specialist). Will Forrester signed on loan from Stoke on deadline day and should be fit in a week or so, but will probably need more time to get match fit. Another option is Oli Hawkins. He was far and away Mansfield’s best player today, heading away four set pieces in the first half, and another in the second half, and he has played at centre half a fair bit before for previous clubs. Of course, Mansfield would then miss his presence up front, but perhaps sorting out the defence is the absolute priority in the short term.

A dreadful afternoon for the Stags and the worst performance since Nigel Clough took over as manager in my opinion. The Stags need to arrest the slide, starting against Rochdale at home next Saturday.

Full credit to the Stags fans at Walsall who continued to get behind their side throughout the game, despite the woeful performance. It was magnificent support, especially in the second half.

DETAILED REPORT

Mansfield made two enforced changes from the side that lost to Harrogate. Ollie Clarke and Stephen Quinn were suspended after being sent off. In came Tyrese Sinclair and Ryan Stirk. Oli Hawkins was made captain. It was a 4-3-3 formation with Oates and Sinclair either side of Hawkins up front.

Walsall also made two changes from their last game. Rollin Menayese, on loan from Mansfield, was not allowed to play against his parent club. He was replaced by Ash Taylor. Jos Labadie, signed in the summer from Newport, was suspended after being sent off last week. He was replaced by Tyrese Shade. Former Stag Hayden White was at right back.

After 2 minutes, a throw-in from Sinclair came back to him, but his low cross was across the face of goal.

The Stags were behind after 6 minutes. Kieran Phillips sent a massive clearance high into the Stags half. Elliott Hewitt and home striker George Miller battled for the ball but Miller simply muscled Hewitt out of the way, attempted a shot from 22 yards and missed his kick. Richard Nartey had by now got back, but Miller fired a shot through his legs from 16 yards into the net, giving Nathan Bishop in the Stags goal no chance. Terribly weak defending from Hewitt.

A minute later at the other end, Sinclair teed up Oates, who sent a left footed shot towards the near post which the keeper pushed wide.

Oli Hawkins headed straight at the keeper from Gordon’s high cross after 12 minutes.

Tyrese Sinclair fired wide from a free kick after 14 minutes, after Oates was fouled 26 yard out.

Miller was unlucky not to score again after 15 minutes. Brendan Kiernan lifted a ball over the top, Miller got in between Nartey and Hewitt, and fired a superb effort against the underside of the bar from 22 yards. From the rebound, Shade fired in another shot, Bishop could only parry and Kiernan nearly turned the loose ball into the net but a combination of Bishop, Hewitt and Nartey just about kept it out.

Hawkins had a great header tipped over the bar from a good cross from Oates after 17 minutes.

It was 2-0 after 22 minutes. Jack Earing’s corner from the left was in to the middle to the edge of the six yard box. Central defender Ash Taylor got away from Stephen McLaughlin who was supposed to be marking him, and headed past Bishop from 6 yards.

McLaughlin gave the ball away, then conceded a free kick after 34 minutes. He, and many of the Stags side, looked rattled.

Hewitt was booked for a foul on Kiernan after 44 minutes.

Long balls over the top were clearly a tactic from Walsall because they knew the Stags were vulnerable. After 45+2 minutes, they tried another as Hayden White smashed a long ball forward, over Nartey, Kiernan ran in behind Nartey and from 8 yards, with just Bishop to beat, smashed a powerful shot towards the roof of the net, but Bishop made a terrific reaction save turning it over the bar. From the resulting corner taken by Earing, Monthe headed over.

On 45+4 minutes, McLaughlin’s free kick from 30 yards out was met by Hawkins who headed wide.

An absolutely shocking first half defensively from Mansfield.

Half time 2-0

Nigel Clough took Hewitt off at half time as he had been terrible. He was replaced by Farrend Rawson. Nartey had been equally terrible but stayed on. In press conference a few days later, Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"I had a chat with Elliott Hewitt and said what was up with you in the first half? He said I don't know, I just had a bad 45 minutes. He said I'd have brought me off at half time. With hindsight, I made a mistake, I should have brought both centre halves off, brought Burkey on, and put Rawson and McLaughlin at centre half. It was an error that we made at half time.”

Unbelievably the horror show continued after 48 minutes. Jack Earing fired a long ball forward into the Stags half from inside his own area. Nartey could have played it back to Bishop, squared it to Rawson, or put it out for a throw-in. He did none of those, and instead was muscled off the ball by Miller who ran through and lifted the ball past Bishop into the net from 18 yards to make it 3-0. Such terribly weak defending. It was horrendous to watch.

The game was over.

Bowery replaces Maris after 62 minutes.

On 71 minutes, Earing nicked the ball off Stirk and fired over from 22 yards. Two minutes later, Earing shot wide via a deflection.

A clear push on Johnson as he ran through towards goal was not given after 79 minutes.

On 83 minutes, Lapslie fired a powerful shot goalwards which was tipped wide. A fine effort.

Within a minute (84 minutes), the Stags pulled a goal back, as Ryan Stirk crossed from the right, Rawson got his head on the ball in the middle, and it fell for substitute Danny Johnson who lashed the ball into the net from 8 yards.

Nartey let the ball bounce, and it looked like Miller would get away from him again after 87 minutes, but he got lucky.

On 90+2 minutes, McLaughlin put in a good cross, Rawson headed goalwards and the keeper saved on his line.

Stags fans kept on supporting their team until the end. But this was a shocking defensive performance.

Man of the match: Oli Hawkins


Here’s a running tally of various stats:

Goals: Hawkins 3, Johnson 2, O.Clarke, Hewitt, Lapslie, Maris, Oates 1

Assists: McLaughlin, Oates 2, O.Clarke, Hawkins, Johnson, Rawson, 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.)


Report by: Martin Shaw at Banks’s Stadium (Bescot Stadium)



Line Up:
(4-3-3)
Bishop 6 One terrific reaction save. Spilled one shot. No chance with the goals.
Gordon 5.5 One good cross for Hawkins.
Nartey 4 Along with Hewitt, produced as bad a central defensive performance as a pairing that I can remember and between them responsible for two of the goals conceded, both from long balls forward, and they were lucky it wasn’t more. Played the full 90 minutes, but Clough later admitted he should have subbed him at half time.
Hewitt 4 Along with Nartey, produced as bad a central defensive performance as a pairing that I can remember and between them responsible for two of the goals conceded, both from long balls forward, and they were lucky it wasn’t more. Subbed at half time and later admitted he would have subbed himself too.
McLaughlin 5 Lost his man at a corner as the Stags conceded from a set piece yet again. Later gave the ball away, then conceded a free kick as he, and many of the Stags side, looked rattled.
Lapslie 5 Did very little.
Maris 5 Didn’t control the game at all. Subbed after an hour.
Stirk 5 Didn’t impress. Lost the ball to Earing on one occasion who fired over the bar. Did put in the cross which led to the goal.
Oates 6 Was criticised by Clough afterwards (Clough saying he “made some poor decisions in and around their penalty area”) and taken off at half time, yet he played very well in the opening 20 minutes, at least compared to most others in the team.
Hawkins 8 Far and away Mansfield’s best player, heading away four set pieces in the first half, and another in the second half. Had a great header at the other end tipped over the bar.
Sinclair 5.5 Had a decent first 15 minutes, but really didn’t feature at all after that.
Sub Line Up:
Rawson (for Hewitt, 46 mins) 6 Didn’t make any mistakes, which compared to the other defenders was a major plus point.
Johnson (for Oates, 46 mins) 6.5 Took his goal well. Should have been given a free kick as he ran through towards goal.
Bowery (for Maris, 62 mins) -
Subs not used: Shelvey, Burke, Charsley, Law.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-2-3-1): Rushworth; White, Taylor, Monthe, Ward; Kinsella, Earing; Phillips (Perry, 90), Kiernan, Shade (Osadebe, 71); Miller. Subs not used: Rose, Leak, Mills, Willis, Bates
Referee:
David Rock 6 Did ok, though missed a clear push on Johnson as he ran through towards goal.


Season 21/22 Reports