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Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town  
2 - 3
 Barrow
McLaughlin 9, Quinn 25.
 
 Waters 45+1, Josh Gordon 49, Hawkins OG 77
Attendance: 6,081 (148 from Barrow) (note this it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)
 
Date: 7 January 2023

STAGS LOSE 3-2 TO BARROW AFTER LEADING 2-0

Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill

Mansfield Town threw away a two goal lead to lose 3-2 to Barrow at the One Call Stadium yesterday. For 45 minutes, the Stags were very good, racing into a 2-0 lead, and producing perhaps the best first half performance of the season. Indeed remarkably it was the first time the Stags had led at half time at home this season, and only the second time home or away (the other being at Gillingham). However Barrow pulled a goal back after 45+1 minutes, a goal which was to change the momentum of the game. In the second half the Stags were terrible, and Barrow turned it round to score twice more and complete a fantastic recovery. Barrow by contrast to Mansfield, were terrible in the first half, but much better in the second half, even though their victory was completed with only 6 shots in the entire game, to Mansfield’s 12.

The win for Barrow took them above Mansfield and into the play-off positions. Mansfield dropped down to 9th, one point behind 4th place, and 8 points behind 3rd place. Remarkably just 5 points separate 4th place from 15th place, in a very congested league table.

The league table also highlights quite clearly Mansfield’s shortcomings. The Stags have conceded 34 goals, plenty more than anyone else in the top 8. Also more than one or two clubs at the bottom of the league such as Gillingham (28) and Colchester (32). While at the other end, the Stags have scored 35 goals, the same as second placed Stevenage, and just one fewer than Leyton Orient who are top. Indeed only Orient (36), Northampton (40) and Carlisle (37) have scored more.

I wrote in my report of last week’s game at Walsall that the Stags need to strengthen in January in central defence, and add a high quality wing-back/full-back too. The concession of 3 goals to Barrow really highlighted that further.

Mansfield made 2 changes from the side that lost at Walsall:
Hewitt returned from illness, and Maris returned from not being fit enough to start at Walsall.
Out went Hartigan, who dislocated his shoulder and after seeing the specialist will now need an operation that will effectively keep him out for the rest of the season. Good luck to him with the operation.
And Lapslie dropped to the bench. After the game Clough said “He was offered a new deal a week or so before Christmas. His representative actually didn't even acknowledge the deal, an improved offer, for in excess of a week. Then he came back and said no interest at that level. He didn't suggest any further negotiations. So I would think we could be open to offers in January. He is available for us and that wasn't the reason he didn't start today. I didn't think he played very well at Walsall last week and I wanted the three up top today.”
Lapslie would of course be a very big loss if he was to leave in January or at the end of the season.

Hawkins was up front in a 4-3-3/4-4-2 formation:
Pym;
Gordon, Hewitt, Perch, McLaughlin;
Boateng, Maris (in front of the back 4), Quinn;
Oates, Hawkins, Swan.
Oates was some of the time on the right of a front 3, and sometimes on the right of midfield.

Clarke and Harbottle were still out with injury and will be back by the end of January according to Clough.
Akins and Wallace were also still out and should be back for next Saturday.

Jimmy Knowles came on to the bench, fresh from signing a contract until the end of the season. It was his first game for 11 months since getting injured for Greenock Morton on loan last season. He was on loan at Notts County the season before, and so when he came on here in the second half, it was his first Stags appearance for nearly 2.5 years (an EFL Trophy game against Manchester City U21 in September 2020).

Barrow arrived at Mansfield having not won since 19 November, and already having been beaten twice by Mansfield this season, in League and FA Cup. Despite that, Barrow started the game just two points behind Mansfield, having had that brilliant start to the season. For 45 minutes, Mansfield looked more than odds-on to make it a treble for the season.

It was a fairly bright afternoon in Mansfield after plenty of morning rain. The pitch looked in very good condition.

The Stags were on the front foot from the start. In the second minute Oates made a super run but ran it out for a goal kick. Then great play down the left involving McLaughlin, from inside his own half, to Quinn, to Hawkins, to McLaughlin again who moved forward to just about the edge of the area. He fired in a powerful shot which keeper Paul Farman couldn’t hold, it came to Swan who sent the rebound straight back at the keeper. In the 3rd minute, Kellan Gordon sent over a good cross from the right which was put behind for a corner. The corner from Maris was just over Hawkins at the far post. Then good play down the left between Quinn and McLaughlin, with Quinn tenacious in the tackle, but a ball forward from Maris had just too much on it for McLaughlin to get to the byline and whip in a cross.

A really positive start.

And after 9 minutes, Mansfield took the lead. Quinn, who was looking lively, curled a cross into the box. It was headed clear to Maris, who chested the ball down and lifted it back into the box but was fouled as he did so by Harrison Neal. The free kick was 24 yards out, just to the left of centre. McLaughlin took it, straight through the wall and into the right of the net, with keeper Farman getting a touch on it. Poor from the Barrow wall which parted, and the keeper should have done better. McLaughlin’s first goal of the season, and first since his goal in the play-off semi-final second leg at Northampton, which had come soon after his brace at Salford which included a free kick from outside the box. How we have missed an in-form McLaughlin this season.

Quinn tried to set McLaughlin away to the byline, but put too much on his pass. Then on 23 minutes, Boateng played a nice ball forward to Hawkins in the area on the right. Hawkins had Quinn and Swan to aim for as he pulled the ball across but couldn’t find either of them.

The Stags made it 2-0 after 25 minutes. George Ray dallied on the ball halfway inside his own half. Quinn put him under pressure and nicked the ball away from him, surged forward to the edge of the area and slid his shot under the keeper who had advanced to try to narrow the angle. Quinn’s first goal of the season also. It was great pressing from Quinn. Terrible defending of course from Ray.

Barrow’s only shot in the first 45 minutes came after 32 minutes. A corner came out to Richie Bennett, who miscued his kick, but still had time for another go and sent a shot over the bar from 12 yards. Poor defending from the Stags from the corner to leave Bennett unmarked.

Plenty of good football by the Stags in the Barrow half. Gordon got forward again and put in a dangerous cross that was cleared.

Barrow had put in a number of rough looking challenges. And the referee finally produced a yellow card after Robbie Gotts fouled Quinn on 35 minutes. Two minutes later, an appalling decision from the referee as he penalised Quinn for a foul on Tom White. Laughable refereeing as it was clearly not a foul.

The Stags were in total control and were close to making it 3-0 after 41 minutes. Gordon moved forward and laid the ball off to Oates on the right. Oates cut inside Patrick Brough and fired in a good shot from 20 yards which Farman got down to and pushed away at his near post.

But Barrow pulled a goal back completely out of the blue after 45+1 minutes. Perch headed away a long ball forward, to Maris. Maris tried to head the ball forward to Boateng halfway inside his own half, but only headed it straight to Tom White. White found Gotts who played out to Billy Waters in the area on the left. Waters tried to cross first time, it was blocked by Kellan Gordon, straight back to Waters, who smashed a cross-shot as hard as he could from a tight angle on the left. It flew straight past 5 Stags players including keeper Pym into the net just inside the far post. I think he just blasted it as hard as he could and somehow it went straight in. A mistake by Maris to give the ball away. After that I don’t think the defending was too bad and it was a bit of a freak that the shot from Waters somehow missed 5 Stags players between him and the goal from such a tight angle, albeit he struck the cross-shot very sweetly. I think Pym was unsighted by the 4 players between him and Waters.

So only 2-1 to Mansfield at half time, after such a good first half performance. The Stags had been on the front foot for 45 minutes and looking in complete control. But it was a great time for Barrow to score. Had it been 2-0 at half time, I think its unlikely Barrow would have come back into the game in the second half. Nevertheless, it was the first time the Stags had led at half time at home this season.

Quinn and McLaughlin were very good on the left, so were Gordon and Oates on the right. Maris was good until his error. Hewitt was the pick of the defence with a very good first half.

Half time 2-1

After 49 minutes, Barrow were level. The Stags conceded just before half time and just after half time at Walsall last week, and did it again here. Josh Gordon, on as a half time substitute, swept a good ball from the left out to another half time sub Ben Whitfield, on the right touchline. Whitfield lifted the ball forward over McLaughlin for Tyrell Warren to run on to in the area. Warren lifted the ball across the edge of the six yard box and Josh Gordon got away from Kellan Gordon to head into the net unmarked. A great goal, but the marking in the box was terrible.

After 55 minutes, a long throw from Kellan Gordon was flicked on by Hawkins to Quinn who chested it down and got to the byline on the right, and his low cross-shot was put behind for a corner by the keeper. Two minutes later, a ball forward to Swan who got into the area and his shot from an angle was blocked for a corner. The corner came out to Boateng who shot well wide.

On 63 minutes, Oates made a good run down the right, his cross beyond the far post was headed back by Swan, to Quinn, who crossed back into the middle but it was headed away.

Maris was booked for bringing down Josh Gordon in the centre circle after 64 minutes.

Pym took a goal kick quickly after 65 minutes and sent it straight to Josh Gordon just 25 yards from goal. Josh Gordon controlled it, got into the area and fired a low shot goalwards which Pym saved with his legs, sparing his own blushes. Terrible distribution from Pym.

Barrow were playing very much better now. Good defending from Hewitt after 67 minutes, and then a great tackle from Perch.

At the other end after 69 minutes, Swan fired well wide from 25 yards.

Whitfield curled a cross just over the bar after 71 minutes.

More good defending from Hewitt as he blocked a Elliott Newby cross after 73 minutes.

Mansfield made a double change after 75 minutes. Lapslie and Bowery replaced Quinn and Swan. Hawkins went back to centre half in a 3 man central defence. Bowery went up front with Oates.
Clough explained after the game: "we went back to a 3, to try to get Oatesey up the middle.”

And disaster struck after 77 minutes as Barrow went in front at 3-2. Newby’s cross from the left was cleared by Hawkins, as far as Waters. Waters fed Warren in yards of space in the area on the right. Warren’s ball to the near post was turned into his own net by Hawkins. I wouldn’t blame Hawkins, he had to try to clear it with Josh Gordon just behind him. But Warren was in far too much space.

Calamity.

After 81 minutes, McLaughlin played inside to Boateng whose cross-shot was deflected over the bar. The resulting corner from Maris came off Hawkins just wide of the post.

After 85 minutes, McLaughlin limped off and was replaced at left wing back by Law. McLaughlin had just taken a knock and wasn’t badly injured.

Then on 87 minutes, Knowles replaced Kellan Gordon. His first Stags appearance for nearly 2.5 years (see above). Knowles went up front. Hewitt went to right back as the Stags switched to 4 at the back to get another body forward. Hawkins went back up front. Bowery went to centre half, presumably for the extra pace back there rather than just having Hawkins and Perch.
Clough explained after the game: “you need Hawks back up there to try and get a flick or something. But the balls up to him weren't good enough, Jason Law had a couple where he didn't reach him.”

After 90 minutes, a cross from Boateng was too close to the keeper. Then on 90+2 minutes, Boateng’s shot from just outside the area was blocked.

No more chances for the Stags to rescue a point as Waters fired over the bar for Barrow after 90+6 minutes.

Barrow rightly celebrated their win at the end. But the Stags were shell-shocked. Some boos at full time. The Stags were very good for 45 minutes, but then let Barrow back into the game and credit to them for turning it around. The Stags simply need to defend better and cannot be conceding so many goals.

The January transfer window is crucial for Nigel Clough.

The next game is at home to Crewe next Saturday.

One aside:
Oli Hawkins told BBC Radio Nottingham during the week: "I do feel that I'm one of the best defenders in the league and I do still feel like I'm one of the main threats as a target man.”
After the game, it came up in the Barrow manager Pete Wild’s interview with BBC Radio Cumbria :
interviewer: "I gather there was an article of Hawkins describing himself as the best footballer in League Two in both penalty areas, which was a talking point amongst the players."
Pete Wild: "He is fantastic in both boxes. But he did an article this week and anything like that is fuel for the fire. I'm always looking in the media what the opposition are saying and can I use any of it to my advantage? And that one dropped in my lap this week which was dead pleasing."
Conclusion: Players have to be so careful what they say...

Man of the match: Stephen Quinn


Here’s a running tally of various stats this season:

Goals (league and cup): Swan 8, Lapslie 7, Hawkins 5, Akins 4, Maris 4, Oates 4, Harbottle 3, Bowery 2, Clarke 2, Gale 1, Gordon 1, McLaughlin 1, Quinn 1.

Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Maris 5, Gordon 4, Hewitt 4, McLaughlin 3, Akins 2, Boateng 2, Hartigan 2, Bowery 1, Clarke 1, Hawkins 1, Law 1, Oates 1, Quinn 1, Wallace 1
(notes on assists: in the case of a penalty, the player who earns the penalty gets an assist, such as Lapslie against AFC Wimbledon. 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, such as Lapslie against Stockport. 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. In the case of a cross that is headed away before the goal is scored, such as Clarke’s goal at Doncaster, nobody gets an assist.)

Yellow cards (league only, alphabetical order): Boateng 1, Clarke 5, Harbottle 3, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 4, Lapslie 3, Law 1, Maris 4, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Perch 3, Pym 1, Quinn 6, Swan 2, Wallace 1.
Red cards (league and cup): Boateng 1, Bowery 1, Perch 1.
(note: red cards count across competitions apart from Papa John’s Trophy; yellow cards are competition specific)
(note: 5 yellow cards before the end of the 19th league game will result in a one match ban; 10 yellow cards before the end of the 37th league game will result in a two match ban; 15 yellow cards before the end of the 46th league game will result in a three match ban)

Average home league attendance: 6523 (average away fans: 525, average home fans 5998) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)


Report by: Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill



Line Up:
(4-3-3)
Pym 6 Not at fault for the goals in my opinion. I think he was unsighted by the 4 players between him and Waters for the first goal. One bad mistake when he gifted the ball to Josh Gordon but redeemed himself with a save.
Gordon 6 Good first half getting forward with some good crosses. Poor defending for the second goal. As last week at Walsall, he was better going forward than defending.
Hewitt 7.5 The pick of the defence. Defended well.
Perch 6 Did ok.
McLaughlin 7 Very good on the left in the first half, including his first goal of the season from the free kick. Started to look back to his best linking with Quinn. Not so good in the second half.
Boateng 6 Did ok. Not getting involved enough in recent games.
Maris 6 Good first half until his error led to the first Barrow goal.
Quinn 8 Really good first half. Great pressing and tenacity led to his first goal of the season. Linked very well with McLaughlin. One of the better players in the second half.
Oates 7 Plenty of good runs on the right.
Hawkins 6 Unlucky with the own goal having just moved back into defence. Played up front in the first half but didn’t look at his best.
Swan 6 A couple of shots blocked or saved.
Sub Line Up:
Lapslie (for Quinn, 75 mins) -
Bowery (for Swan, 75 mins) -
Law (for McLaughlin, 85 mins) -
Knowles (for Gordon, 87 mins) -
Subs not used: Flinders, O'Toole, Taylor Anderson.
Opposition Line Up:
(3-5-2) Farman; Brown (Whitfield 46’), Ray, Canavan; Warren, Neal, White (Foley 71), Gotts (Newby 71’), Brough; Waters, Bennett (Josh Gordon 46’). Subs not used: Moloney, Stevens.
Referee:
Neil Hair 6 A couple of very bad decisions in the first half, which didn’t really affect the game though.


Season 22/23 Reports