Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Crewe Alexandra
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Maris 42. Maris sent off 81
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Mellor 55
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Attendance: 6,142 (318 from Crewe) (note this it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)
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Date: 14 January 2023
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STAGS DRAW 1-1 WITH CREWE TO DROP MORE POINTS
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town threw away a lead at home for the third game running and had to settle for a point against a well-below average Crewe Alexandra side at the One Call Stadium this afternoon. It was all change for the Stags with Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie having departed to Gillingham, but with new signing Callum Johnson starting at right back, and centre half Alfie Kilgour on the bench, having not played for a month and only once since October. The Stags were much the better side in the first half and should have been further ahead than 1-0 by the break. After 13 minutes, Boateng chipped a super ball forward into the path of Oates who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper from the edge of the area but onto the roof of the net. Frustration for Oates who would have expected to score even though it was by no means an easy chance. Two minutes later, a great cross from McLaughlin from the left and Bowery headed wide from 6 yards. Then after a great move on 23 minutes, Callum Johnson curled a lovely ball across the corridor of uncertainty in the six yard box and the stretching Oates was unable to turn it home. And after 27 minutes, Boateng curled a right footed shot inches over the bar from 23 yards. Almost nothing at the other end from Crewe apart from Pym saving a shot to his near post from Lachlan Brook after 37 minutes. Oates was gifted another chance after 41 minutes, as Connor Thomas played the ball straight to him on the edge of the area, but his low shot lacked power and the keeper made the save at full stretch when Oates should have buried it. But the Stags were finally in front after 42 minutes. Callum Johnson curled another great cross into the six yard box from the right and Maris got on the end of it to turn it into the net from 3 yards. An excellent assist from Callum Johnson on his debut, and Maris with the finish for his 5th goal of the season. Into the second half and a goal literally out of the blue for Crewe to equalise. Boateng, 4 yards outside his own area, squared the ball towards Maris but put too much on it and the loose ball fell for Kelvin Mellor 28 yards from goal, unmarked. Mellor took aim and fired into the net. The shot had so much swerve on it that without taking a deflection it beat Pym who was static and didn’t get within 3 yards of saving it, as it ended in the middle of the net (just to the right of centre of the net). First to say, it was poor from Boateng, who should not be giving the ball away so close to his own area with a square pass. Secondly, it was a great shot from Mellor who cut his boot across the ball to get excessive swerve on it. Thirdly there was a wind which may have slightly caught the ball. But finally, Pym was caught out, and with the shot from such a long way out, he should have done better in my opinion. The Stags were so close to regaining the lead after 60 minutes. Quinn’s corner from the right was played short to Maris just inside the area. A low cross from Maris was turned goalwards by Callum Johnson with a brilliant flick from 6 yards and the keeper made an incredible save as the ball looked to be heading for the roof of the net. After the game, Johnson said he thought it was going in as he turned it goalwards. As the ball was cleared, a shot from Boateng was blocked. The pinball in the area continued, the ball was partially cleared, Boateng controlled it again knocking it up, before sending an acrobatic effort just wide of the left post. Oates tried to turn it in at the left post with his arm, and was booked for doing so. The Stags went even closer after 72 minutes. A good run by Boateng down the right, he put in a great cross and Quinn headed goalwards from 6 yards. Somehow the keeper saved it on his line with his left leg. Another incredible save. And from the resulting corner, a shot from Maris was on target but deflected wide as Maris put his head in his hands. The Stags were on the front foot but reduced to ten men after 81 minutes with a dreadful decision from the referee. Connor Thomas played the ball into the path of Callum Ainley. Ainley knocked the ball past Maris who deliberately brought him down. Ainley had knocked the ball forward but quite clearly not towards the goal, while Hewitt was a covering defender and would have got back to block any potential shot from a tight angle. The referee however decided it was a clear goalscoring opportunity and showed Maris a straight red card. It was a terrible decision, and should have been a yellow card for the deliberate foul which was not serious foul play. The red card took the wind out of the Stags’ sails and gave impetus to Crewe. Crewe were so poor though that they failed to create any serious danger for the Stags, and it was the Stags who went closer to winning it as McLaughlin sent a shot wide from 30 yards and sub Alfie Kilgour fired wide in the final minute of stoppage time. The Stags had only themselves to blame for not winning this, with Crewe scoring that unusual goal, and Mansfield missing plenty of chances, while Crewe keeper David Richards made two outstanding saves to preserve a point for his side. So frustrating as Crewe really were poor and offered nothing. Positives for the Stags though with Callum Johnson looking really good at right back, and putting in two excellent crosses including one for the goal. He is an excellent signing in my opinion. Alfie Kilgour I think is another good signing and will give the Stags hopefully a more solid look in defence. He didn’t start today due to lack of match sharpness. Kieran Wallace had a fine game in front of the back four and it was a shame that he was harshly booked in the second half and subbed as a result. Ironically, Maris replaced him in that position and was shown the straight red just minutes later. With at least one more signing to come in the next few days, the Stags need to start picking up better results. A visit to Northampton next Saturday is a difficult game of course, but hopefully the Stags will be looking more solid. DETAILED REPORT : Transfer news: Hawkins and Lapslie have joined Gillingham. Nigel Clough said: “We had an offer for Oli and George from Gillingham, which the club felt was a good offer bearing in mind that they both had five months left on their contracts. “George Lapslie turned down two improved contract offers that we’ve made in the last two weeks, so we accepted the offer for him and he agreed down there.” On Friday, Clough said on Hawkins: "We're sad to see him go. The offer to him personally was something he couldn't turn down, a 2.5 year deal, and the personal reasons of him going back down south with his family and everything. "Gillingham and Colchester are the two clubs that have changed the landscape of the January transfer window in League Two. They are offering very very good money for League Two and it is very difficult when they put that in front of a player. "We're good payers here, and the owners back the club incredibly well, but this is gone on a different level. "Oli was happy here, until this came out of the blue. He was quite happy staying and we were going to talk about a new deal. But the levels that Gillingham are paying, we wouldn't be in that bracket." Meanwhile full back Callum Johnson has signed from Ross County, and centre half Alfie Kilgour from Bristol Rovers. Clough explained on Callum Johnson after the game: “Kellan Gordon puts good crosses in but we just wanted an improvement defensively and a better balance. I think Kel is more of a forward player and we needed better defensive qualities without sacrificing too much going forward - you saw today Callum can do both.” On Kilgour, Clough explained: "We're conscious we've played people slightly out of position. But he is an out and out centre half. We were bringing in Alfie Kilgour anyway, because we knew we needed a defender. But with Oli (Hawkins) going, we've brought two defenders in (Kilgour and Callum Johnson)." Clough added: "There are very few centre halves on the market at the moment. Since the game, midfielder Louis Reed has signed from Swindon. Clough explained: “After losing Anthony Hartigan for the rest of the season, Louis comes in as a direct replacement. He’s a good footballer who knows his position on the pitch. He was one of the best midfielders in League Two last season and has experience in the league above as well.” Meanwhile Danny Johnson’s loan at Walsall is up today (Sun 15 January). We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks. I doubt he will play for the Stags again but who knows. Team news: Mansfield made three changes from the side that lost to Barrow. In came Callum Johnson, Kieran Wallace, and Jordan Bowery. Out went Gordon and Swan (to the bench), and Hawkins. Alfie Kilgour was on the bench, having not played for a month and only once since October. Still out injured were Clarke and Harbottle (both hopefully back by the end of January), Hartigan (out for the season), and Akins. Clough told me after the game that Akins is only 50:50 for the Northampton game next Saturday, taking longer to recover than first thought. It was a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond in midfield: Pym; C.Johnson, Hewitt, Perch, McLaughlin; Wallace (in front of the back four), Boateng, Quinn, Maris (attacking midfielder); Oates, Bowery. Crewe, managed by Lee Bell who played for the Stags in our season where we were relegated to the Conference, included new signing Elliott Nevitt. Courtney Baker-Richardson, who scored against the Stags in the return fixture, is out injured. Keeper Arthur Okonkwo had been recalled by Arsenal and was replaced by David Richards, who was to have a fantastic game in his first league start of the season. Crewe started the game in 17th place, but had taken 4 points from their previous 2 games. The match went ahead after plenty of rain overnight and in the morning. But with the investment into the pitch in the last two summers, the pitch was in good condition considering the rain. It was a windy day. The wind seemed to be mostly towards the Bishop Street stand and slightly towards the Quarry Lane end. The Stags started the game on the front foot, like last week against Barrow. A good cross from McLaughlin in the opening stages was cleared for a corner. Then from a Quinn corner after 3 minutes, a cross-shot from Wallace was blocked. At the other end after 5 minutes, good defending from Callum Johnson after Agyei got to the byline and pulled the ball back. After 13 minutes, Boateng chipped a super ball forward into the path of Oates who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper from the edge of the area but onto the roof of the net. Frustration for Oates who would have expected to score even though it was by no means an easy chance. Two minutes later, a great cross from McLaughlin from the left and Bowery headed wide from 6 yards. The header deflected off a defender, missed by the officials who gave a goal kick. Three good pieces of play from Wallace in quick succession. He was having a good game. Then after a great move on 23 minutes, Callum Johnson curled a lovely ball across the corridor of uncertainty in the six yard box and the stretching Oates was unable to turn it home. And after 27 minutes, Boateng curled a right footed shot inches over the bar from 23 yards. After 31 minutes, a ball over the top for Elliott Nevitt whose shot was blocked at source by Hewitt. Maris got into the area after 33 minutes but he ran out of room and his shot was also blocked at source. Almost nothing at the other end from Crewe apart from Pym saving a shot to his near post from Lachlan Brook after 37 minutes. Oates was gifted another chance after 41 minutes, as Connor Thomas played the ball straight to him on the edge of the area, but his low shot lacked power and the keeper made the save at full stretch when Oates should have buried it. But the Stags were finally in front after 42 minutes. Callum Johnson curled another great cross into the six yard box from the right and Maris got on the end of it to turn it into the net from 3 yards. An excellent assist from Callum Johnson on his debut, and Maris with the finish for his 5th goal of the season. The Stags had been much the better side in the first half and should have been further ahead than 1-0 by the break. Half time 1-0 After 46 minutes, Pym punched away a Crewe corner. The Stags had Crewe under pressure as a corner from Maris from the left was glanced on by McLaughlin to the far post where it was headed away, and then Boateng’s cross from the right was just over the leap of Oates in the area. After 55 minutes, a goal literally out of the blue for Crewe to equalise. Just before the goal, Mansfield should have had a free kick as Agyei jumped in to Callum Johnson. Both players went down with head injuries. After some attention to both players, the referee wrongly gave a drop ball, and gave it to Crewe. The Stags did clear the ball once after that drop ball, though the ball was in the back of the Stags net within 20 seconds of the drop ball. Boateng, 4 yards outside his own area, squared the ball towards Maris but put too much on it and the loose ball fell for Kelvin Mellor 28 yards from goal, unmarked. Mellor took aim and fired into the net. The shot had so much swerve on it that without taking a deflection it beat Pym who was static and didn’t get within 3 yards of saving it, as it ended just about in the middle of the net (just to the right of centre of the net). First to say, it was poor from Boateng, who should not be giving the ball away so close to his own area with a square pass. Secondly, it was a great shot from Mellor who cut his boot across the ball to get excessive swerve on it. Thirdly there was a wind which may have slightly caught the ball. But finally, Pym was caught out, and with the shot from such a long way out, he should have done better in my opinion. After 59 minutes, a good cross from Oates was cleared for a corner. The Stags were so close to regaining the lead after 60 minutes. Quinn’s corner from the right was played short to Maris just inside the area. A low cross from Maris was turned goalwards by Callum Johnson with a brilliant flick from 6 yards and the keeper made an incredible save as the ball looked to be heading for the roof of the net. After the game, Johnson said he thought it was going in as he turned it goalwards. As the ball was cleared, a shot from Boateng was blocked. The pinball in the area continued, the ball was partially cleared, Boateng controlled it again knocking it up, before sending an acrobatic effort just wide of the left post. Oates tried to turn it in at the left post with his arm, and was booked for doing so. A minute later, a shot from Maris from 25 yards was blocked for a corner. Then a minute after that, a shot from McLaughlin from 28 yards was also blocked. Then after 67 minutes, Wallace played forward to Boateng, who turned and curled a shot wide. Wallace was harshly booked for a foul on the halfway line after 70 minutes. The Stags went even closer after 72 minutes. A good run by Boateng down the right, he put in a great cross and Quinn headed goalwards from 6 yards. Somehow the keeper saved it on his line with his left leg. Another incredible save. And from the resulting corner, a shot from Maris was on target but deflected wide as Maris put his head in his hands. Swan replaced Wallace after 76 minutes. Wallace had just been booked. Maris dropped back to in front of the back four where Wallace had been playing. After 79 minutes, McLaughlin blocked a Mellor shot from 25 yards at source. The Stags were on the front foot but reduced to ten men after 81 minutes with a dreadful decision from the referee. Connor Thomas played the ball into the path of Callum Ainley. Ainley knocked the ball past Maris who deliberately brought him down. Ainley had knocked the ball forward but quite clearly not towards the goal, while Hewitt was a covering defender and would have got back to block any potential shot from a tight angle. The referee however decided it was a clear goalscoring opportunity and showed Maris a straight red card. It was a terrible decision, and should have been a yellow card for the deliberate foul which was not serious foul play. Crewe manager Lee Bell said after the game: “I am not sure it was a sending off to be honest from where I was. Maybe it could have been an orange card!” The resulting free kick from 28 yards out, was partially cleared. Moments later an overhead kick from sub Bassala Sambou was wide. Law replaced Quinn after 83 minutes. After 84 minutes, Nevitt scuffed a low shot from the edge of the area straight at Pym. The red card took the wind out of the Stags’ sails and gave impetus to Crewe. Crewe were so poor though that they failed to create any serious danger for the Stags. The referee had lost the plot, and when Oates was clearly fouled after 84 minutes, he gave nothing. Alfie Kilgour was brought on for his debut, in place of Oates after 85 minutes. Oates had just turned his ankle, not thought to be a serious injury. Into stoppage time, and it was the Stags who went closer to winning it as McLaughlin sent a shot wide from 30 yards and sub Alfie Kilgour fired wide in the final minute of stoppage time. 17 shots from the Stags but only one goal. Mansfield remain in 9th place, 1 point behind 7th, 3 points behind 4th, and 7 points behind 3rd placed Northampton. The Stags travel to Northampton next Saturday. Clearly an important game. Mansfield have taken just 13 points from the last 13 games since the middle of October: 3 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats. A improvement in form is required. Man of the match: Callum Johnson Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Swan 8, Lapslie 7, Hawkins 5, Maris 5, Akins 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, C.Johnson 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, Oates 1, Perch 3, Pym 1, Quinn 6, Swan 2, Wallace 2. Red cards (league and cup): Boateng 1, Bowery 1, Maris 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: 6493 (average away fans: 509, average home fans 5984) (see Tranmere report for explanation of how attendance is calculated: it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets) |
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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)
Pym 5.5 Once again he had almost no shots to save. Was however beaten by a shot with excessive swerve on it. He was caught out, and with the shot from such a long way out, he should have done better in my opinion. C.Johnson 8 Looked really good at right back. Put in two excellent crosses including one for the goal. Also a brilliant flick goalwards denied by a wonderful save. Hewitt 6.5 Solid enough in central defence. Perch 6.5 Also solid enough in central defence. McLaughlin 6.5 Did ok. A couple of good crosses. Wallace 8 Had a very fine game in front of the back four and it was a shame that he was harshly booked in the second half and subbed as a result. Boateng 7 Some really good creative play and passes. But gave the ball away before the Crewe goal. Quinn 7 Denied a goal from a header by an incredible save. Maris 7 Poacher’s finish for his goal. Good game, and harshly sent off. Oates 6 Frustration as he missed a couple of good chances. Bowery 5.5 One header wide, but otherwise was anonymous and just didn’t get into the game. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Swan (for Wallace, 76 mins) -
Law (for Quinn, 83 mins) - Kilgour (for Oates, 85 mins) - Debut Subs not used: Flinders, Gordon, O'Toole, Knowles. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Richards; Mellor, O’Riordan, McDonald, Adebisi; Brook (Ainley 66), Thomas, Griffiths, Uwakwe (Sambou 66); Nevitt, Agyei. Subs not used: Booth, Evans, Holicek, Tabiner, Lunt.
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Referee:
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Carl Boyeson 5 Poor decision for the sending off.
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