Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Doncaster Rovers
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Anderson OG 1, Kilgour 26, Akins 60, Swan 86.
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Hurst 53
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Attendance: 8,116 (1628 from Doncaster) (note this it is essentially tickets sold, including season tickets)
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Date: 28 January 2023
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STAGS THUMP 4 GOALS PAST DONCASTER
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town beat Doncaster Rovers 4-1 at the One Call Stadium yesterday in a pulsating atmosphere in front of the biggest crowd of the season. The Stags have now put 10 goals past their local rivals in 3 games this season and last. The Stags gave a debut to Louis Reed, in front of the back three, Alfie Kilgour made his first start in the middle of a back three, and Scott Flinders made his Stags league debut in goal in place of the injured Christy Pym. Flinders had only played in the EFL Trophy previously. Mansfield were hoping for a fast start and couldn’t have got a better one, taking the lead after 24 seconds. Reed played out to Callum Johnson on the right, Johnson fed Hewitt behind him and Hewitt curled a super cross into the six yard box beyond the far post where Quinn met it on the volley with a cross-shot across goal and defender Tom Anderson turned it into his own net. From my angle and from the TV angle from the Bishop Street stand I don’t think Quinn’s cross-shot was going in, so it goes down as an own goal. Incidentally the fastest goals in Mansfield’s history are Dave Caldwell after 11 seconds in 1984 and Ross Dyer after 18 seconds in 2011 (see club records here). There was a blow for Mansfield when Stephen McLaughlin was forced off after 7 minutes with an ankle injury after an accidental clash of legs with Charlie Seaman that saw both players go down. After the game Clough said he was “not sure to what degree he has injured it, he’s got a protective boot on, precautionary at the moment.” Wallace replaced McLaughlin at left wing-back and was to fill in nicely. See below for Clough’s comments to me about Lewis Page. The Stags made it 2-0 after 26 minutes with a stunning goal from Kilgour on his full debut. Immediately prior to the goal, Wallace swept a good ball out to Quinn on the left, Quinn crossed inside to Akins who teed up Reed for a shot from the edge of the area. Reed’s shot was blocked, he immediately had a second shot blocked, it fell for Oates who turned and sent in another shot. The keeper went to save that at the feet of Kilgour, the ball ran free to Akins who seemed certain to score from 10 yards but his shot hit the keeper on the shoulder or the head and went behind for a corner. An incredible escape for Doncaster. Akins couldn’t believe it. The resulting corner was headed up by Kilgour, and cleared away by Doncaster, to Wallace who found Quinn on the left touchline. Quinn played forward to Oates. A great touch and turn by Oates. His cross found Callum Johnson, whose shot was blocked, the rebound hit Kilgour and then bounced up nicely for him to volley a shot goalwards from 16 yards, which soared into the left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. A rasping finish from Kilgour. Little was seen of Doncaster as an attacking threat in the first half but a great block by Reed denied them after 44 minutes. George Miller found Seaman in space in the area on the right. Seaman took a touch to cut inside Wallace and as he was about to shoot, Reed dived in to put in a superb block. On the stroke of 45 minutes, Hiram Boateng was forced off after twice getting kicked in his buttocks. Clough said after the game “we are hopeful he will be all right for next week”. Ollie Clarke returned from injury to replace him and was booked within 30 seconds of coming on for a foul. Clough told me after the game if Clarke had immediately apologised and offered to help the player up, he reckoned he would have got away without the yellow card so soon after coming on. A much worse foul came after 45+7 minutes as Tom Anderson, who had scored the own goal, went through Quinn with an almost scissor kick motion from the side. From the replay in slow motion, that should have been a red card. The referee pulled out the yellow card immediately, didn’t show it to the player, then put it back in his pocket, perhaps considering what to do, and then pulled out the yellow again to show it to Anderson. It was a very dangerous foul. Fortunately Quinn was ok. Doncaster started the second half more positively. Good defending by Kilgour right at the start of the half, then a good block by Perch after 52 minutes. But on 53 minutes, Doncaster pulled a goal back. Ro-Shaun Williams moved forward from the halfway line and slid a good ball forward into the area for Kyle Hurst. Hurst took a good touch to cut inside Kilgour, and rolled his shot under Flinders from 12 yards. A good finish from Hurst. With the Stags having given away two goal leads at home against Hartlepool and Barrow, as well as having led against Northampton and Crewe and only drawn, it was now nervy times. But a game-changing moment came on the hour with a superb opportunistic goal from Lucas Akins to shift the momentum back to the Stags. Flinders launched a massive kick downfield, it bounced once and then as it bounced a second time, Akins got the end of his boot on it to toe-poke a lob over the advancing keeper and into the net from the edge of the area. A perfect lob from Akins and superb skill. After 64 minutes, Flinders saved a free kick from 32 yards from Harrison Biggins, just inside his post, and made sure he held on to it. The Stags were within a whisker of a fourth goal after 69 minutes as Kilgour turned a Quinn corner goalwards from 2 yards, it was blocked on the line, and Oates stabbed the rebound just wide. Doncaster were so close to pulling a goal back after 80 minutes and denied by a brilliant save from Flinders. Biggins chipped a great ball forward from the halfway line for sub Caolan Lavery to run on to. Lavery looked like he was offside, but analyst Matt told me after the game that from his wide angle camera, he was played onside by Wallace. Lavery got into the area, and rather than shooting 1-on-1 against Flinders, he squared for George Miller. Miller turned the ball goalwards from 9 yards and Flinders got down to make a brilliant save. The ball came back to Miller who turned it wide. An incredible miss, but a wonderful save too. Bowery and Swan replaced Wallace and Oates after 83 minutes. A good ovation for both players coming off. Wallace had filled in well at left wing-back. Oates had worked very hard indeed. Mansfield made it 4-1 after 86 minutes, and a goal for Swan within 120 seconds after coming on. Akins brilliantly controlled a clearance from Reed on the halfway line. Akins turned and sent Swan away with a great ball. Swan ran forward into the area, cut inside Williams, and curled a delicious low shot just inside the right post. What a clinical piece of finishing from Swan. And great play from Akins to set him away. One final chance for a consolation goal for Doncaster after 90+4 minutes. Hurst sent Miller away into the area 1-on-1 with Flinders. Miller knocked the ball past Flinders and dived over the keeper trying to win a penalty. Poor from Miller, whose touch knocking it past Flinders was terrible and so he chose to try to win a penalty. Miller was rightly booked. Joy for the Stags. Only the second home win since the middle of October, a run that saw just 13 points from 13 games home and away until yesterday. It was the second time Mansfield have scored as many as 4 goals this season. The Stags are the third top scorers in League Two. It’s at the other end that the Stags have had more problems and only six teams have conceded more goals than Mansfield in League Two. However the new signings of Alfie Kilgour and Callum Johnson suggest that Mansfield could have a better second half of the season in this regard. The Stags are back into the play-off places, and remain 7 points behind 3rd placed Northampton. Plenty of really good performances throughout the side. Flinders was very good in goal, with that outstanding save at 3-1. Kilgour was very good indeed on his first start, defended well, no nonsense defending, and scored a screamer. Perch had a fine game alongside him with a couple of blocks. Wallace filled in well at left wing-back. Callum Johnson looked good at right wing-back. Louis Reed was very impressive in front of the back three on his debut, including that terrific block. Quinn was also very good, and involved in a lot from the left. Oates worked very hard indeed, including good play in the build-up to Kilgour’s goal. Akins was also very good indeed with that perfect lob for his goal that was so crucial in shifting the momentum back to the Stags, great set up play for Swan’s goal, and a fine all-round game. Nigel Clough gave an update to iFollow and BBC Radio Nottingham after the game on the injury to Pym and also on transfers with deadline day approaching on Tuesday. On Pym: “Christy just dislocated his finger doing run of the mill stuff in training. It's a bit sore but if it settles down hopefully he should be fit for next Saturday. If not he has a very capable deputy which gives you such peace of mind and comfort.” On transfers: “We have had a couple of enquiries for players, Kellan Gordon and John-Joe O'Toole, who are just outside the squad today, and we didn't want to risk them if anything does happen. If they can, they want to go out and play some games between now and the end of the season and if we can facilitate that, depending on injuries, we will. We are still chasing one ourselves to come in on loan or permanent. We won't bring anyone in for the sake of it. They have to be better or different to what we have. It has to be a sensible deal too.” Danny Johnson was back in the 18, back from loan at Walsall. Clough was asked why Swan came on as sub and Johnson didn’t: "Danny Johnson is just slightly behind Will Swan. Will deserved his chance a bit ahead of him. But it was good to have Danny back involved", Clough said. I previously thought that Mansfield should sell Johnson to the highest bidder. But given that it seems a reasonable asking price is not being met by any interested parties, I would keep him to the end of the season and hope he plays a part in getting Mansfield into the play-offs, at least, and hopefully going one better than last season. After those radio interviews, I asked Nigel Clough about the left back and goalkeeper positions. Stephen McLaughlin is the only natural left back/wing-back at the club. Nigel Clough told me he is intending to keep Lewis Page at the club for the rest of the season. Page is a natural left back. He has been injured since making his debut as a substitute at Harrogate in November on a one month contract. He’s remained with the club trying to overcome the injury and get fit, and Clough is hoping to give him a game on Tuesday in the Notts Senior Cup, though told me he needs to check the contract situation as to whether he can play. Goalkeeper Owen Mason was on the bench. Mason is a very promising keeper. He will be away with the Republic of Ireland U19 squad this week. Clough told me that Belper Town, where Mason had been on loan, actually sent him back from loan despite him putting in some fine performances, to Clough’s astonishment. Clough had been to watch him play against Stafford Rangers earlier this month and he played very well. Apparently Belper have a new manager and he wanted to bring in another keeper. So once Pym is fit, the Stags will be looking to send Mason out on another loan. I asked Clough if Flinders’ fine performance against Doncaster gives him a tricky decision to make when Pym is back fit. Clough said no, Pym is his number one keeper, and when he is back fit he will come back in to the side. As a personal preference, I’d prefer to see a player keep the shirt when he puts in a super performance. A word on the attendance of 8,116 which was the biggest crowd of the season at home. It was the biggest stated attendance at home in league or cup for 20 years since February 2003 when the Stags beat Notts County 3-2. However, remember that stated attendances now include all tickets sold. So season ticket holders who did not attend are still included. See my report of the Tranmere game for more on attendances this season. The next game is at Bradford City next Saturday. It should be another crackling atmosphere in front of a big crowd and a big following from Mansfield. DETAILED REPORT : Mansfield made four changes from the side that drew with Crewe two weeks ago. Out went: Pym (injured), Maris (suspended for 1 game), Wallace (unlucky to be dropped after a good performance against Crewe), Bowery. In came: Flinders (Stags league debut), Louis Reed (debut), Kilgour (first league start), Akins (back from injury). 3-5-2 formation: Flinders; Hewitt, Kilgour, Perch; Callum Johnson, Boateng, Reed (in front of back three), Quinn, McLaughlin; Oates, Akins. Keeper Owen Mason was on the bench for the first time (see more above). Harbottle and Clarke were back from injury on the bench. Danny Johnson was back from loan at Walsall on the bench. If he had come on, then having played for Walsall and Mansfield this season, he would not be able to play for a third club this season. He didn’t come on. Gordon and O’Toole didn’t make the 18. Law and Gale remained injured, 2-3 weeks away from fitness. Mansfield had not played for 2 weeks. Doncaster had not played for 3 weeks. Doncaster made one change from their last game, a 1-0 defeat at Orient 3 weeks ago, bringing in Ben Nelson in central defence, for Kyle Knoyle, sold to Bradford. It was a rare game for Doncaster at Mansfield, only the second league game since 2004, and third since 1997. Mansfield were hoping for a fast start and couldn’t have got a better one, taking the lead after 24 seconds. Reed played out to Callum Johnson on the right, Johnson fed Hewitt behind him and Hewitt curled a super cross into the six yard box beyond the far post where Quinn met it on the volley with a cross-shot across goal and defender Tom Anderson turned it into his own net. From my angle and from the TV angle from the Bishop Street stand and from the pitchside video, I don’t think Quinn’s cross-shot was going in, so it goes down as an own goal. Incidentally the fastest goals in Mansfield’s history are Dave Caldwell after 11 seconds in 1984 and Ross Dyer after 18 seconds in 2011 (see club records here). There was a blow for Mansfield when Stephen McLaughlin was forced off after 7 minutes with an ankle injury after an accidental clash of legs with Charlie Seaman that saw both players go down. After the game Clough said he was “not sure to what degree he has injured it, he’s got a protective boot on, precautionary at the moment.” Wallace replaced McLaughlin at left wing-back and was to fill in nicely. After 8 minutes, a good block by Kilgour for a corner. Flinders punched the corner away. After 13 minutes, a moment of controversy. Charlie Seaman looked to be in with a chance of a shot in the area, and he was tugged back by Wallace. Seaman got back up and still got in a shot which was well wide from 14 yards. In real time, and from the video, that could have been a penalty. The Stags made it 2-0 after 26 minutes with a stunning goal from Kilgour on his full debut. Immediately prior to the goal, Wallace swept a good ball out to Quinn on the left, Quinn crossed inside to Akins who teed up Reed for a shot from the edge of the area. Reed’s shot was blocked, he immediately had a second shot blocked, it fell for Oates who turned and sent in another shot. The keeper went to save that at the feet of Kilgour, the ball ran free to Akins who seemed certain to score from 10 yards but his shot hit the keeper on the shoulder or the head and went behind for a corner. An incredible escape for Doncaster. Akins couldn’t believe it. The resulting corner was headed up by Kilgour, and cleared away by Doncaster, to Wallace who found Quinn on the left touchline. Quinn played forward to Oates. A great touch and turn by Oates. His cross found Callum Johnson, whose shot was blocked, the rebound hit Kilgour and then bounced up nicely for him to volley a shot goalwards from 16 yards, which soared into the left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. A rasping finish from Kilgour. On 29 minutes, the ball came to Boateng in the area, but he couldn’t get a shot away. At the other end on 34 minutes, good defending from Kilgour tracking back. Then on 37 minutes, the ball was gifted to Akins, he played forward for Oates but it hit Oates on the back of the heel and the danger was gone. Little was seen of Doncaster as an attacking threat in the first half but a great block by Reed denied them after 44 minutes. George Miller found Seaman in space in the area on the right. Seaman took a touch to cut inside Wallace and as he was about to shoot, Reed dived in to put in a superb block. On the stroke of 45 minutes, Hiram Boateng was forced off after twice getting kicked in his buttocks. Clough said after the game “we are hopeful he will be all right for next week”. Ollie Clarke returned from injury to replace him and was booked within 30 seconds of coming on for a foul. Clough told me after the game if Clarke had immediately apologised and offered to help the player up, he reckoned he would have got away without the yellow card so soon after coming on. Clarke by the way had taken over the captain’s armband from Perch. A much worse foul came after 45+7 minutes as Tom Anderson, who had scored the own goal, went through Quinn with an almost scissor kick motion from the side. From the replay in slow motion, that should have been a red card. The referee pulled out the yellow card immediately, didn’t show it to the player, then put it back in his pocket, perhaps considering what to do, and then pulled out the yellow again to show it to Anderson. It was a very dangerous foul. Fortunately Quinn was ok. Two minutes earlier on 45+5, good refereeing as Seaman tried to gain a few yards taking a throw-in. The referee told him where to take it from. Seaman then took it from the wrong place, and the referee gave the throw-in to Mansfield. The Stags 2-0 ahead at the break and a deserved 2 goal cushion. Half time 2-0 Doncaster started the second half more positively. Good defending by Kilgour right at the start of the half, then a good block by Perch after 52 minutes. But on 53 minutes, Doncaster pulled a goal back. Ro-Shaun Williams moved forward from the halfway line and slid a good ball forward into the area for Kyle Hurst. Hurst took a good touch to cut inside Kilgour, and rolled his shot under Flinders from 12 yards. A good finish from Hurst. With the Stags having given away two goal leads at home against Hartlepool and Barrow, as well as having led against Northampton and Crewe and only drawn, it was now nervy times. Louis Reed was booked for a foul after 56 minutes, just a minute after a warning for protesting against a decision. The referee indicated that he had totted up the two incidents to make the yellow card. Then on 57 minutes, half time sub James Brown fired over the bar from 35 yards. Doncaster were having a good 15 minutes. But a game-changing moment came on the hour with a superb opportunistic goal from Lucas Akins to shift the momentum back to the Stags. Flinders launched a massive kick downfield, it bounced once and then as it bounced a second time, Akins got the end of his boot on it to toe-poke a lob over the advancing keeper and into the net from the edge of the area. A perfect lob from Akins and superb skill. After 64 minutes, Flinders saved a free kick from 32 yards from Harrison Biggins, just inside his post, and made sure he held on to it. The Stags were within a whisker of a fourth goal after 69 minutes as Kilgour turned a Quinn corner goalwards from 2 yards, it was blocked on the line, and Oates stabbed the rebound just wide. The corner had come when Clarke’s shot had been turned over his own bar by Anderson. A brilliant tackle by Wallace on half time sub Caolan Lavery after 77 minutes. Doncaster were so close to pulling a goal back after 80 minutes and denied by a brilliant save from Flinders. Biggins chipped a great ball forward from the halfway line for sub Caolan Lavery to run on to. Lavery looked like he was offside, but analyst Matt told me after the game that from his wide angle camera, he was played onside by Wallace. Lavery got into the area, and rather than shooting 1-on-1 against Flinders, he squared for George Miller. Miller turned the ball goalwards from 9 yards and Flinders got down to make a brilliant save. The ball came back to Miller who turned it wide. An incredible miss, but a wonderful save too. After 82 minutes, Maxwell’s shot from 20 yards was blocked at close range by Callum Johnson. Bowery and Swan replaced Wallace and Oates after 83 minutes. A good ovation for both players coming off. Wallace had filled in well at left wing-back. Oates had worked very hard indeed. Mansfield made it 4-1 after 86 minutes, and a goal for Swan within 120 seconds after coming on. Akins brilliantly controlled a clearance from Reed on the halfway line. Akins turned and sent Swan away with a great ball. Swan ran forward into the area, cut inside Williams, and curled a delicious low shot just inside the right post. What a clinical piece of finishing from Swan. And great play from Akins to set him away. The Doncaster fans piled out of the ground. On 90+1 minutes, a left footed shot from Ollie Clarke from the edge of the area was blocked by James Brown. One final chance for a consolation goal for Doncaster after 90+4 minutes. Hurst sent Miller away into the area 1-on-1 with Flinders. Miller knocked the ball past Flinders and dived over the keeper trying to win a penalty. Poor from Miller, whose touch knocking it past Flinders was terrible and so he chose to try to win a penalty. Miller was rightly booked. Joy for the Stags. Only the second home win since the middle of October, a run that saw just 13 points from 13 games home and away until yesterday. A thoroughly deserved victory. Perhaps the 3 goal margin was slightly flattering, a 2 goal margin would have been fair though. Man of the match: Alfie Kilgour/Lucas Akins Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Swan 9, Lapslie 7, Hawkins 5, Akins 5, Maris 5, Oates 4, Harbottle 3, Bowery 2, Clarke 2, Gale 1, Gordon 1, Kilgour 1, McLaughlin 1, Quinn 1. 1 OG Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Maris 5, Gordon 4, Hewitt 4, Akins 3, McLaughlin 3, Boateng 2, Hartigan 2, Quinn 2, Bowery 1, Clarke 1, C.Johnson 1, Flinders 1, Hawkins 1, Law 1, Oates 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 6, 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, Reed 1, 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: 6609 (average away fans: 589, average home fans 6020) (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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(3-5-2)
Flinders 8 Very good in goal, with an outstanding save at 3-1. An assist for Akins’ goal! Hewitt 7.5 Super cross leading the first goal. Kilgour 9 Very good indeed on his first start, defended well, no nonsense defending, and scored a screamer. Perch 7.5 Had a fine game in central defence with a couple of blocks. C.Johnson 7 Looked good at right wing-back. Boateng 7 Forced off after 45 minutes after twice getting kicked in his buttocks. Reed 8 Very impressive in front of the back three on his debut, including a terrific block. Quinn 8 very good, and involved in a lot from the left. His cross-shot led to the own goal. McLaughlin - Went off injured after 7 minutes. Oates 7.5 Worked very hard indeed, including good play in the build-up to Kilgour’s goal. Akins 9 Very good indeed with a perfect lob for his goal that was so crucial in shifting the momentum back to the Stags, great set up play for Swan’s goal, and a fine all-round game. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Wallace (for McLaughlin, 7 mins) 7.5 Filled in well at left wing-back.
Clarke (for Boateng, 45 mins) 7 Good second half, though booked within 30 seconds of coming on for a foul. Bowery (for Wallace, 83 mins) - Swan (for Oates, 83 mins) - Subs not used: Owen Mason, Harbottle, D. Johnson. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(3-5-2): Mitchell; Anderson, Williams (T Miller 87), Nelson; Seaman (Brown 46), Close (Lakin 76), Biggins, Maxwell; Molyneux (Lavery 46), Hurst, G Miller. Subs not used: Jones, Olowu, Barlow.
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Referee:
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Thomas Parsons 7 Generally handled the game well. Should have sent off Anderson for a very dangerous foul on Quinn.
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