Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Tranmere Rovers
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Harbottle 60
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Attendance: 7,128 (621 from Tranmere) (see note on attendance figure within report)
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Date: 6 August 2022
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STAGS BEAT TRANMERE IN FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Tranmere Rovers 1-0 at the One Call Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the first home league match of the season. The only goal of the game came after 60 minutes, when Riley Harbottle, on loan from Nottingham Forest for the season, and in just his second Football League game, headed home from a Hiram Boateng corner (*). The Stags deserved the win, creating more chances than the visitors, while keeper Christy Pym pulled off three good saves to earn the points. (* NEW UPDATE: there was some confusion over who scored. Both Harbottle and O’Toole claimed the goal. Harbottle was credited with it by the press and that was how it was reported nationally and locally. It was hard to tell from the press box and from the footage from the main camera. Other footage I’ve now seen shows that the ball went in off O’Toole’s face. Technically the goal should therefore be credited to O’Toole. However Nigel Clough said after the game on Saturday that they would be discussing it on Monday, as to who should be credited with the goal, and I gather they have decided not to request any change to the official credit which was given to Harbottle. For the purposes of my statistics, I will therefore also credit the goal to Harbottle) The first half saw one near miss for either side. For the Stags, following a corner, Boateng pulled the ball back across the face of goal and from three yards out, John-Joe O’Toole did well to turn the ball goalwards with his boot only for former Stags striker Kane Hemmings to head off the line for Tranmere. And at the other end, nearly a nightmare moment for Jordan Bowery, playing at right wing-back, as he tried to play a back-pass to Pym, it was intercepted by Hemmings, and in a 1-on-1, Pym did well to save the low shot from Hemmings with his legs. Very poor play from Bowery, got out of jail by his keeper. The Stags had 7 corners in the first half, and not one of them found a Stags head, so it was ironic that the Stags were to take the lead with a header direct from a corner on the hour mark. Then from another Boateng corner after 73 minutes, Harbottle again headed goalwards and this time the keeper saved on his line. Two minutes later, Stephen Quinn found Rhys Oates with his back to goal, he turned and fired in a rising shot that the keeper saved above his head. Three minutes after that, a good move down the right from the Stags as Bowery set Lucas Akins away, Akins did very well to pull back to Bowery who had surged into the box, took a fine first touch, but then sent his powerful shot wide from 9 yards. On 79 minutes, Pym was called into action for his second save of the game. The brilliant Josh Dacres-Cogley, at right wing-back for Tranmere, put in a hanging cross from the right, and left wing-back Ethan Bristow beat Bowery to a header, sending the ball towards the bottom left corner of the net, but Pym clawed it round the post. Bowery was visibly frustrated with himself for conceding the header. Chances were coming thick and fast now. On 83 minutes, a good turn by Akins and his shot towards the near post was saved by the keeper. Pym was called upon to make his third save of the game after 85 minutes. A long ball from Neill Byrne out to the right was brilliantly chested down and controlled by Dacres-Cogley, getting past McLaughlin into the area and to the byline, and he pulled the ball back perfectly into space for Paul Lewis who had a free shot from 10 yards, but Pym got down low to save and hold onto it at the second attempt. Good keeping from Pym. In truth Lewis probably should have buried the shot. On 87 minutes, Bowery found sub Ollie Clarke and his low shot from 25 yards was straight at the keeper. Then two minutes after that, great play from Clarke, surging forward into the area and he fired in a super shot that the keeper turned onto the post and behind. The hapless referee Seb Stockbridge, who made a string of poor decisions in the second half, gave a goal kick, On 90+5 minutes, Will Swan fed George Lapslie on the right, his cross found Akins with his back to goal. Akins controlled superbly and on the turn hooked a great shot towards the top left corner of the net, but the keeper made a magnificent save turning it round the post. I spoke to Akins briefly after the game, he told me he was disappointed that didn’t go in, but I pointed out that at that stage of the game winning a corner was important in winding the clock down, in the final minute of stoppage time. That was just about the last action, apart from Swan surging forward into the area and firing into the side netting but the offside flag was already up. So a really good win for Mansfield. The second half ignited in the final 15 minutes with chances for either side after there hadn’t been too many earlier in the game. Pym made those three good saves, but the Stags had more and better chances, indeed in total 9 shots on target to Tranmere’s 3. Plenty of good performances in the Stags side, and overall the passing and movement was very good to watch. Pym was good in goal, with three crucial saves. The back three of O’Toole, Hawkins and Harbottle all played well. Boateng was excellent in midfield, and deservedly picked up the sponsor’s man of the match. He looks such a good player on the ball. Oates cut a bit of a frustrated figure up front, he was very well marshalled by the Tranmere defence and things didn’t really run for him though he had one good turn and shot. Akins played pretty well and held the ball up well, also bringing a brilliant save out of the keeper late on. The substitutes made a good contribution. Ollie Clarke looked extremely lively late on, as did George Lapslie. The Tranmere side looks weaker to me than it was last season. They seem to have replaced experienced players, like Peter Clarke, with younger players. I predict that they won't be play-off contenders that they were last season. However, Josh Dacres-Cogley, at right wing-back was outstanding, and looks to be on a par with Kane Wilson, the Forest Green right wing-back last season, as one of the best players we’ve seen in the league. The Stags are back in action on Tuesday night as Derby County visit the One Call Stadium in the Carabao Cup. It’s a mouth watering tie, which I thought might have been chosen for TV coverage but wasn’t. Just to clarify that midweek league and Papa John’s Trophy games can be watched on iFollow with a match pass, but Carabao Cup games cannot, either in the UK or worldwide, due to broadcasting restrictions. So it will be commentary only on iFollow. UPDATE ON THE ATTENDANCE: I promised I would say a word on the attendance. The attendance was initially announced at the ground as 5,344 (621 from Tranmere); ie 4,723 home fans I was told at full time this was an error, which was realised shortly after the announcement. The attendance was then amended on social media later to: 7,128 (621 from Tranmere); ie 6,507 home fans Contrast this with the attendance for the previous home game, vs Northampton play-off semi final 1st leg: 7,469 (1221 from Northampton); ie 6,248 home fans Anyone who was at both games will know that plainly there were a lot more home fans in the ground for the Northampton game. However that is not reflected in the figures (6,507 home fans vs Tranmere, 6,248 home fans vs Northampton). The explanation from the club is as follows: “The club includes all pre-sales in its official attendance figure. This is also the practice for many clubs” So it is clear that a fairly large number of home fans with pre-sales (a season ticket for example) did not actually attend the Tranmere game, but are still counted in the attendance. It is not too surprising that a number of season ticket holders didn’t turn up given the huge number of season tickets sold this season (4,450), and that in August a fair proportion of fans will be away on holiday for example. The practice of including all season tickets regardless of whether they attended in the official attendance figure has been routine from Premier League (Arsenal for example), down to League One (Charlton for example), down to non-league for several years. As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them! DETAILED REPORT: Mansfield made one change from the side that lost at Salford. Hawkins returned from suspension, in place of Swan, who dropped to the bench. McLaughlin reverted to left wing-back. Bowery was at right wing-back. Akins was up front with Oates, in the now-usual 3-5-2 formation. Pym, Harbottle and Boateng were making their home debuts for the Stags, as was Swan when he came on from the bench. New signing Anthony Hartigan was on the bench. With Hawkins and Hartigan coming in to the 18, Cooper and Gale missed out from the squad. Nigel Clough told me that Cooper has a calf injury and will be out for 2-3 weeks. A word on the signing of Hartigan, a midfielder from AFC Wimbledon. Some fans have questioned why the signing of a midfielder and not a forward. Nigel Clough clarified in midweek when asked about signings: "Ideally we'd like another forward player. The owners put in a couple of substantial bids for strikers. We weren't successful." So having been unsuccessful bringing in a quality striker, but with a quality midfielder being available in Hartigan, the choice between signing a striker for the sake of it or bringing in a player in a different position, but who is a high quality and will add to the quality of the squad, I think became one that clearly came down on the side of signing Hartigan. Update, this is what Nigel Clough said on the team selection: "Macca was forced into playing centre half last week. But having Oli Hawkins back, he came straight back in, we pushed Macca out wide, Lucas went to his more favourable role up front, and it just meant Will Swan missing out." Asked if he sees Akins playing more up front than right wing back, Clough said "Yes. Jordan's doing an admirable job there at the moment, certainly working extremely hard defensively. He's made a few chances today. And we've got Kels as back-up. "I think with just having the three recognised strikers, with Oatesey, Will Swan and Lucas, it will be two from those three at the moment. On new recruit Anthony Hartigan, Clough said: "He's a central midfielder, holding midfield player. With Jason Law being out for 3 months, Kieran Wallace being out injured at the moment, then we needed reinforcements, and at 22 he's going to be a good long term player for us. "You can't have too many good players. We said if a good player comes up, we'll take him, with the versatility we have in the squad. It doesn't have to be a specific position, it has to be a good player and we think Anthony is." Tranmere were without the four players injured: Tom Davies (average defender), Kieron Morris (decent midfielder), Joel Mumbongo (new signing from Sweden), Jordan Turnbull (ex Salford last season, and Northampton the year before, dangerous at set pieces, scored against us at Easter but also conceded the penalty). As I said, they seem to have replaced experienced players, like Peter Clarke, with younger players. Kane Hemmings up front though is a big threat. It was a beautiful sunny day. The pitch was looking perfect. After 2 minutes, a corner from Maris was headed out to Boating who volleyed over the bar from 18 yards. Tranmere wanted a penalty after 3 minutes. Nevitt got the wrong side of Bowery in the box heading for the byline. Bowery unwisely put his hand on Nevitt’s shoulder and Nevitt went down. The contact was very slight, Nevitt made the most of it. Referee Stockbridge was well placed and decided there wasn’t enough contact to warrant him going down and waved play on. Two minutes later at the other end, a good move on the left from the Stags, the ball touched a Tranmere hand from the cross but it was accidental. Good play from Boateng after 12 minutes as he got past two Tranmere players into the area, and his low cross shot was saved by the keeper with Akins and Oates waiting for the keeper to spill it. McAleer sliced a poor shot well over from the bar from 18 yards after 15 minutes. After 17 minutes, a free kick from McLaughlin into the area, Hawkins guided his header goalwards hoping someone would get on the end of it, but the keeper was able to catch it. On 19 minutes, Hemmings sprung the offside trap on the left, and crossed into the middle, but Hawkins bravely headed away and was flattened in the process by Nevitt. Hawkins was ok to continue after attention from the physio Tim and Doctor Nam. Great play by McLaughlin after 28 minutes, with a super run down the left, he crossed across the edge of the six yard box and no-one was on the end of it. Nearly a nightmare moment for Jordan Bowery after 29 minutes, as he tried to play a back-pass to Pym, it was intercepted by Hemmings, and in a 1-on-1, Pym did well to save the low shot from Hemmings with his legs. Very poor play from Bowery, got out of jail by his keeper. After 33 minutes, good defending by Hawkins under pressure from Hemmings. On 41 minutes, following a corner, Boateng pulled the ball back across the face of goal and from three yards out, O’Toole did well to turn the ball goalwards with his boot only for Kane Hemmings to head off the line for Tranmere. Then on 45 minutes, Maris sent a shot from 30 yards a yard over the bar. Really good defending from O’Toole in his own area under pressure from Hemmings after 45+1 minutes. An even first half. One really good chance at either end, with Hemmings from the backpass and O’Toole’s effort cleared off the line. The Stags had 7 corners in the first half, and not one of them found a Stags head. Half time 0-0 After 46 minutes, Dacres-Cogley got to the byline and good defending from O’Toole to put it behind for a corner. Then two minutes later, Nevitt got the wrong side of Hawkins, but Hawkins recovered brilliantly. On 50 minutes, the Stags at last won a header from a corner, as Hawkins flicked on at the near post, but it was cleared. More good defending from O’Toole after 52 minutes under pressure from Hemmings. Hewitt was stripped ready to replace O’Toole after 55 minutes but O’Toole then changed his mind and insisted he was ok to carry on after a brief back problem. A bad backpass from Hawkins put Pym under pressure after 56 minutes and Pym did well to clear. Hawkins apologised. A foul by Oates after 67 minutes as he cut a frustrated figure. The Stags scored on the hour mark. After so many corners headed away, it was ironic that the Stags were to take the lead with a header direct from a corner. Good play down the right to win the corner, with Boateng’s ball down the line for Bowery’s whose cross towards Akins was turned behind for a corner. The corner from Boateng from the right was met by Harbottle (*), who headed home. There was some confusion over who scored though. After the game Nigel Clough said: “I’ve just spoken to him [Riley] and he’s said it’s definitely his. But then JJ said it’s him. If it comes down to a fight, I’d back JJ! They’re both adamant they scored, but we don’t really care - if it’s an own goal or anything, it’s one which wins is the game.” (* NEW UPDATE: there was some confusion over who scored. Both Harbottle and O’Toole claimed the goal. Harbottle was credited with it by the press and that was how it was reported nationally and locally. It was hard to tell from the press box and from the footage from the main camera. Other footage I’ve now seen shows that the ball went in off O’Toole’s face. Technically the goal should therefore be credited to O’Toole. However Nigel Clough said after the game on Saturday that they would be discussing it on Monday, as to who should be credited with the goal, and I gather they have decided not to request any change to the official credit which was given to Harbottle. For the purposes of my statistics, I will therefore also credit the goal to Harbottle) On 63 minutes, McLaughlin laid off to Maris who sent a left footed shot over the bar from 20 yards. Harbottle flattened after 64 minutes on the halfway line by a dangerous challenge. The referee played on, terrible decision. Within seconds Tranmere broke, and Hawkins took one for the team bringing down Hemming for a clear booking, no argument. Quinn protested to the referee that the foul on Harbottle wasn’t given and also picked up a booking. Ridiculous refereeing not giving the foul on Harbottle which preceded the further incidents. The officials then lost the plot. The ball went out for a throw in to Mansfield, the referee gave it correctly, the linesman, 20 yards further away, flagged the other way and the referee changed his mind. Later, a similar incident where the referee and linesman disagreed, again it went against Mansfield. A shot from Quinn was blocked after 73 minutes. Then from another Boateng corner moments later, Harbottle again headed goalwards and this time the keeper saved on his line. Two minutes later, Stephen Quinn found Rhys Oates with his back to goal, he turned and fired in a rising shot that the keeper saved above his head. Hewitt replaced Hawkins after 77 minutes. Nigel Clough said after the game: "Oli Hawkins' hamstring was tightening up, so we'll see how he his. Hopefuly not too serious. We won't risk him on Tuesday if there's any problem." On 78 minutes, a good move down the right from the Stags as Bowery set Lucas Akins away, Akins did very well to pull back to Bowery who had surged into the box, took a fine first touch, but then sent his powerful shot wide from 9 yards. On 79 minutes, Pym was called into action for his second save of the game. The brilliant Josh Dacres-Cogley, at right wing-back for Tranmere, put in a hanging cross from the right, and left wing-back Ethan Bristow beat Bowery to a header, sending the ball towards the bottom left corner of the net, but Pym clawed it round the post. Bowery was visibly frustrated with himself for conceding the header. Chances were coming thick and fast now. On 83 minutes, a good turn by Akins on the left and his shot towards the near post was saved by the keeper. A double change after 84 minutes. Clarke replaced Quinn, Lapslie came on for Boateng. A great reception for them. McLaughlin went over to Clarke to hand him the captain’s armband. Pym was called upon to make his third save of the game after 85 minutes. A long ball from Neill Byrne out to the right was brilliantly chested down and controlled by Dacres-Cogley, getting past McLaughlin into the area and to the byline, and he pulled the ball back perfectly into space for Paul Lewis who had a free shot from 10 yards, but Pym got down low to save and hold onto it at the second attempt. Good keeping from Pym. In truth Lewis probably should have buried the shot. On 87 minutes, Bowery found sub Ollie Clarke and his low shot from 25 yards was straight at the keeper. Then two minutes after that, great play from Clarke, surging forward into the area and he fired in a super shot that the keeper turned onto the post and behind. The hapless referee Seb Stockbridge, who made a string of poor decisions in the second half, gave a goal kick. 5 minutes were added on. After 90+1 minutes, Dacres-Cogley found Hemmings who turned and fired well wide. A double change after 90+1 minutes. Swan replaced Oates, Hartigan came on for his debut replacing Maris. On 90+5 minutes, Will Swan fed George Lapslie on the right, his cross found Akins with his back to goal. Akins controlled superbly and on the turn hooked a great shot towards the top left corner of the net, but the keeper made a magnificent save turning it round the post. I spoke to Akins briefly after the game, he told me he was disappointed that didn’t go in, but I pointed out that at that stage of the game winning a corner was important in winding the clock down, in the final minute of stoppage time. That was just about the last action, apart from Swan surging forward into the area and firing into the side netting but the offside flag was already up. So a really good win for Mansfield. The second half ignited in the final 15 minutes with chances for either side after there hadn’t been too many earlier in the game. Pym made those three good saves, but the Stags had more and better chances, indeed in total 9 shots on target to Tranmere’s 3. Man of the match: Hiram Boateng. Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Harbottle 1. Assists (league and cup): Boateng 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 at home last season, nobody gets an assist. In the case of the scorer scoring from the rebound after a shot is saved or blocked, the player who had the shot saved gets an assist. In the case of an own goal, the player who caused the own goal gets an assist, for example McLaughlin against Newport away last season where his shot was deflected in for an own goal.) |
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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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(3-5-2)
Pym 8 Pulled off three good saves to earn the points. O’Toole 8 Played well in defence. Got the vital touch to turn the ball into the net. Also had one cleared off the line. Hawkins 8 Defended really well. Harbottle 7 Defended well. Credited with the goal, his first in league football in his second Football League game. Bowery 5.5 Not his best game defensively. Got out of jail by Pym after his very poor backpass. Beaten to a header by Bristow which Pym saved well. Some good attacking moments including winning the corner for the goal. Boateng 8.5 Excellent in midfield, and deservedly picked up the sponsor’s man of the match. He looks such a good player on the ball. An assist for the goal. Maris 7 Decent game. A couple of shots over the bar. Quinn 7 Decent game on the left. Silly booking, booked for protesting. McLaughlin 7 Some fine attacking play. Tricky game defensively up against the impressive Dacres-Cogley. Akins 7 Played pretty well and held the ball up well, also bringing a brilliant save out of the keeper late on. Oates 6 Cut a bit of a frustrated figure up front, he was very well marshalled by the Tranmere defence and things didn’t really run for him though he had one good turn and shot. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Hewitt (for Hawkins, 77 mins) -
Clarke (for Quinn, 84 mins) - Looked extremely lively late on, including a super surging run and shot turned onto the post. Lapslie (for Boateng, 84 mins) - Looked lively late on. Swan (for Oates, 90+1 mins) - Hartigan (for Maris, 90+1 mins) - Debut Subs not used: Flinders, Gordon. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Doohan; Byrne, Jameson, Robinson; Dacres-Cogley, McAlear (Nolan 80), O'Connor, Lewis, Bristow; Nevitt, Hemmings. Subs not used: Hewelt (GK), Merrie, Hawkes, Hockenhull, Hughes, Taylor.
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Referee:
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Seb Stockbridge 5 Had a poor game with a string of poor decisions in the second half. However in the first half, he correctly waved away Tranmere appeals for a penalty.
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