{ match reports }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Bradford City  
1 - 1
 Mansfield Town
Cook 29.
 
 Kilgour 90+1
Attendance: 18,755 (1852 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 4 February 2023

STAGS RESCUE POINT AT BRADFORD IN STOPPAGE TIME

Martin Shaw at Valley Parade (University of Bradford stadium)

Mansfield Town deservedly rescued a point in dramatic fashion in stoppage time in front of a huge crowd of nearly 19,000 at Bradford City yesterday afternoon. It was the second biggest crowd of the season in League Two.

It was 8th versus 7th, with Bradford a point behind the Stags with a game in hand.

Bradford were the better side in the first half and deservedly led at the break. And it was Andy Cook, who loves scoring goals against his former clubs, with the goal after 29 minutes. From a corner from the left, Cook rose high above the Stags defence to power a header into the net from 7 yards. Earlier, Scott Flinders made a great save from Abo Eisa in a 1-on-1. The Stags’ best chance of the half was a good header from new signing David Keillor-Dunn, from a great cross from Hewitt, which was tipped over the bar.

Into the second half, and Flinders made two very good saves from Andy Cook. Firstly classic Andy Cook when from nowhere, or to be more precise .. wide out on the right on the corner of the penalty area, he sent a piledriver goalwards and Flinders pushed it away. Then he cut inside and his shot was deflected with Flinders reacting to make a wonderful save.

But after that, the Stags got on top. Swan had a couple of shots, then Akins flicked goalwards and the keeper saved by the far post.

And the Stags were within a whisker of equalising after 73 minutes. A beautiful flighted free kick into the box from Keillor-Dunn was glanced on by Perch and acrobatically cleared off the line by Tolaji Bola. A remarkable clearance. Danny Johnson came so close to getting a touch to turn it over the line. It was very close to being over the line anyway, but Nigel Clough told me that Hewitt, who was well-placed to judge, said it didn’t cross the line.

And five minutes after that, Kilgour powered a header against the bar from 10 yards from a Keillor-Dunn corner. Then Danny Johnson laid off to Keillor-Dunn who fired just wide after 83 minutes.

Finally, in the first minute of stoppage time, the Stags were deservedly level. Hewitt did very well to get into a position to cross from the right, he sent in a perfect cross for Kilgour, unmarked at the far post, to head into the net from 8 yards. Brilliant from Hewitt, who had a great game, and a great header from Kilgour, who had been unlucky with his earlier effort against the bar. His second goal in two starts for his new club. A wonderful moment in front of the fantastic 1,852 travelling Stags fans.

For the first time ever that I can remember, the Stags had been forced into three first half substitutions due to injury, with Reed, Oates and Callum Johnson all going off. This followed last week when the Stags had been forced into two first half substitutions due to injury. And all five injuries were contact injuries, that could not really be predicted.
With three first half substitutions, the Stags would not be able to make any changes during the second half (barring for concussion), so Nigel Clough made two further changes at half time, taking off Quinn (who would struggle to make 90 minutes) and Wallace (who was on a booking). So for the second half, the Stags had changed half of the outfield players. Quite extraordinary.

Credit to Nigel Clough for the substitutions, he got them right in my opinion, such that despite the adversity of so many injuries, the performance was not badly affected. Indeed, the Stags played better after the changes than before them.

Plenty of really good performances in the Stags side. Flinders made three very good saves. Hewitt was terrific including putting in some great crosses. Kilgour was very good again and deserved his goal. Keillor-Dunn was very impressive including some super set pieces. Maris played very well. And Danny Johnson and Swan were very lively up front in the second half.

DETAILED REPORT:

A summary of the Stags’ injuries from this week and last week:
Reed opened his ligaments out, and will go for a scan to assess how long he will be out.
Oates injured his shoulder (a different injury to last time which was his pectoral). Clough said it was “slipping in and out and he has it in a sling”. He will go for a scan to assess how long he will be out.
Callum Johnson has a slight groin strain and “won’t be out too long” according to Clough.
McLaughlin, injured last week: out for 3-4 weeks.
Boateng, injured last week, was warming up before the game, and should be fit for next week.

In transfer news: Keillor-Dunn signed on transfer deadline day. He is an excellent signing in my opinion. He has impressed in the last couple of seasons for Oldham against us. An attacking midfielder, he has scored 30 goals in the last 2.5 seasons.
Kellan Gordon was sold to Crawley on transfer deadline day. Gordon was better going forward than defending in my opinion. He would bomb down the wing and get in good crosses. But he sometimes struggled to defend, to stop crosses coming in, and too often lost his man.
And Danny Johnson remained at Mansfield. I said in my report last week: “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.”
Given the injuries, including to Oates, this is probably just as well.
Incidentally plenty of talk about Danny Johnson among Stags fans... I saw him applauding the fans before the game and after the game. I also saw him sharing a joke with Nigel Clough as the players first went out to the look at the pitch when they arrived. And then with Rhys Oates. And as I left the ground, I saw him outside (he was with Callum Johnson) and I said well played to him. He seemed to be pleased and thanked me. From the video, and I didn’t notice it at the time, after the Stags scored, he didn’t join in with the celebrations in front of the Stags fans, and seemed to be tying his boot laces.

Whilst on transfer news, I think it was a good transfer window for Mansfield. I would have liked to have seen one more signing: a left back/wing-back. Stephen McLaughlin is the only natural left back/wing-back at the club. Nigel Clough told me last week he is intending to keep Lewis Page at the club for the rest of the season. Page is a natural left back. However 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. It seems a bit of a gamble to me to be hoping that Page will get fit and stay fit.

The Stags made two enforced changes from the side that started against Doncaster. Wallace came in for the injured McLaughlin at left wing-back. Clarke came in for the injured Boateng in midfield on the right. Maris was back from suspension on the bench. New signing Keillor-Dunn was on the bench. Pym was still out with injury, and Flinders continued in goal.
The side started in a 3-5-2 formation:
Flinders;
Hewitt, Kilgour, Perch;
Callum Johnson, Clarke, Reed (in front of the back three), Quinn, Wallace;
Oates, Akins.

The second half side after those surely unprecedented 5 changes:
Flinders;
Hewitt, Kilgour, Perch;
Akins, Clarke, Maris (in front of the back three), Keillor-Dunn, Bowery;
Swan, D.Johnson.

Bradford brought back Andy Cook in place of another former Stag Vadaine Oliver. Cook broke his nose recently but would have been desperate to start against his former club. Including his goal here, he has 6 goals against former clubs this season.


After 6 minutes, Scott Flinders made a great save from Abo Eisa in a 1-on-1, after a good run forward from Alex Gilliead.

In the build-up to that chance, Louis Reed made a block tackle. In doing so, Reed opened his ligaments out, and had to go off. He was replaced by Maris, who was returning from suspension. Reed will go for a scan to assess how long he will be out. The second week running the Stags had to make a change due to injury in the opening 10 minutes of a game.

The first half-chance for the Stags came after 15 minutes. Oates was fouled 30 yards from goal. Quinn’s free kick was into Oates in the area, Oates tried to turn and shoot, but couldn’t control the ball.

After 18 minutes, Gilliead forced his way into the area on the right and put in a cross across the face of goal, which was put behind for a corner.

A second injury for the Stags as Oates had to go off after 21 minutes. The injury came as Oates was late getting to the ball and actually fouled his man. Oates went off holding his shoulder (a different injury to last time which was his pectoral). Clough said after the game his shoulder was “slipping in and out and he has it in a sling”. He will go for a scan to assess how long he will be out.
On came Davis Keillor-Dunn for his debut, up front alongside Akins.

After 23 minutes, good play from Keillor-Dunn in the area, he found Akins who couldn’t get a shot in.

At the other end a minute later, Jamie Walker got into the area on the left, his cross-shot was just wide and just evaded Eisa.

A cynical and deliberate foul by Cook on Perch after 26 minutes. No yellow card, which there should have been.

Bradford were the better side and deservedly took the lead after 29 minutes. And it was Andy Cook, who loves scoring goals against his former clubs, with the goal. From a corner from the left, Cook rose high above the Stags defence to power a header into the net from 7 yards. Hard to say who should have been marking Cook. It was Wallace who was out-jumped by Cook, but whether someone else should have been marking him, I’m not sure. Flinders got a hand on the header, but I wouldn’t blame him for the goal, and it would have been an unbelievable save to keep it out.
In the build-up to the corner, some Stags fans thought the ball went out for a throw-in. I've watched it back. The TV camera angle isn't perfect of course, but I would say it didn't go out of play.
Cook celebrated the goal by running past the Stags fans with his hands cupped on his ears.

Wallace was booked after 31 minutes for a foul.

And unbelievably, the Stags lost a third player to injury after 36 minutes. Callum Johnson it was who had to go off. After the game Clough said he has a slight groin strain and “won’t be out too long”. On came Bowery, who went in at right wing-back. We now knew the Stags would not be able to make any second half substitutions, but could make up to two at half time.

After 41 minutes, a good cross from Bowery and Keillor-Dunn knocked it wide.

At the other end after 43 minutes, Walker made a great run into the area, he found Cook, whose shot was deflected into the side netting.

The Stags’ best chance of the half came after 45 minutes with a good header from Keillor-Dunn, from a great cross from Hewitt, which was tipped over the bar.

Bradford deservedly ahead at the break. The Stags rocked by three injuries. The discussion at half time was whether Clough would make further changes at half time. I thought he would replace Quinn, who normally doesn’t play 90 minutes.

Half time 1-0

Clough made two more changes at the start of the second half, with Swan and Danny Johnson on for Quinn (who would struggle to make 90 minutes) and Wallace (who was on a booking). So for the second half, the Stags had changed half of the outfield players. Quite extraordinary.
Bowery switched from right wing-back to left wing-back. Akins moved to right wing-back. Keillor-Dunn dropped back into midfield.
The second half side after those surely unprecedented 5 changes:
Flinders;
Hewitt, Kilgour, Perch;
Akins, Clarke, Maris (in front of the back three), Keillor-Dunn, Bowery;
Swan, D.Johnson.

After 46 minutes, classic Andy Cook when from nowhere, or to be more precise .. wide out on the right on the corner of the penalty area, he sent a piledriver goalwards and Flinders pushed it away.

After 53 minutes, Bowery gave the ball away, and Walker sent in a low shot from 28 yards which was easily saved by Flinders.

Straight to the other end, good play by Bowery and a good move, to Clarke who sent in a low shot, which was blocked, taking the sting out of it and it went straight to the keeper.

After 55 minutes, Andy Cook cut inside and his shot was deflected with Flinders reacting to make a wonderful save. Brilliant from Flinders especially because of the deflection. Brilliant from Andy Cook as well in truth.

A minute later at the other end, Bowery played inside to Swan, who took a good first touch, and fired in a shot which was deflected straight to the keeper. Good defending by Keillor-Dunn tracking back moments later.

Perch was booked for a late tackle after 59 minutes.

Great play by Akins on the right after 63 minutes, he found Swan, who got the ball onto his left foot and sent in a low left footed shot

A minute later, Akins flicked goalwards from a Hewitt long throw-in and the keeper saved by the far post. A minute after that, Danny Johnson had a low shot blocked.

Cook was booked for a dangerous high boot on Akins after 71 minutes.

The Stags were within a whisker of equalising after 73 minutes. A beautiful flighted free kick into the box from Keillor-Dunn was glanced on by Perch and acrobatically cleared off the line by Tolaji Bola. A remarkable clearance. Danny Johnson came so close to getting a touch to turn it over the line. It was very close to being over the line anyway, but Nigel Clough told me that Hewitt, who was well-placed to judge, said it didn’t cross the line.

And five minutes after that, on 78 minutes, Kilgour powered a header against the bar from 10 yards from a Keillor-Dunn corner.

After 81 minutes, a break by Bradford sub Harry Chapman. Bowery got in a good tackle, but Bradford were still able to get in a low shot, from Gilliead, that Flinders saved.

Danny Johnson laid off to Keillor-Dunn who fired just wide after 83 minutes.

Bowery was booked after 84 minutes, taking one for the team with a foul on the halfway line. Bowery’s first booking of the season (he does have one red card).

After 87 minutes, Keillor-Dunn laid off to Maris who slightly miscued a shot from 20 yards wide of the left post.

Super defending from Hewitt after 88 minutes, easing Chapman away from goal in the area.

In the first minute of stoppage time, the Stags were deservedly level. Following a long throw-in by Hewitt which was cleared, the Stags recycled the ball. Hewitt did very well to get into a position to cross from the right, he sent in a perfect cross for Kilgour, unmarked at the far post, to head into the net from 8 yards. Kilgour was still forward from the long throw-in. Brilliant from Hewitt, who had a great game, and a great header from Kilgour, who had been unlucky with his earlier effort against the bar. Kilgour’s header was down into the ground bouncing up into the net. His second goal in two starts for his new club. Hewitt now has five assists this season (see my stats below).
A wonderful moment in front of the fantastic 1,852 travelling Stags fans.

As a sidenote, moments before the goal, a Bradford ball-boy was escorted away by a steward, after intervention from the referee who had lost patience. The ball-boy had several times deliberately wasted time by feigning to give the ball to a Stags player and then not doing so. The concentration of many of the home fans was on him being led away, to boos from the home fans, just as Hewitt was about to cross and Kilgour head home.
After the game, Bradford boss Mark Hughes was asked about it and said it did not distract his players.
I asked Nigel Clough about it after the game. He told me that Hughes and the Bradford bench were not at all happy with the antics of the ball-boy.

After 90+6 minutes, Keillor-Dunn danced into the Bradford area but couldn’t get a shot away.

A poor decision from the referee after 90+7 minutes giving a free kick against Kilgour for a challenge on Cook. The free kick was curled straight to Flinders.

That was just about the last action of the game. A draw was a fair result. The Stags had momentum at the end, and with another 10 minutes I think the Stags would have been the more likely winners. Nevertheless, Stags fans went home happy with a point after trailing for so long.

A word on the referee. He was the classic “homer”, over-influenced by the huge crowd, and giving almost every contentious decision in the home side’s favour. Just about the only thing he got right was asking for the ball-boy to be escorted away.

The next game is next Saturday at home to Gillingham. Gillingham were woeful in the game at Priestfield earlier in the season. They are a completely different side now with plenty of new signings, including Hawkins and Lapslie of course, and Tom Nichols, as well as a rejuvenated Alex MacDonald. They have won 3 of their last 4 games, with a draw at Swindon after leading 3-1 as the other result.

Man of the match: Elliott Hewitt


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, Kilgour 2, Gale 1, Gordon 1, McLaughlin 1, Quinn 1. 1 OG

Assists (league and cup): Lapslie 8, Hewitt 5, Maris 5, Gordon 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, Bowery 1, Clarke 6, Harbottle 3, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 4, Lapslie 3, Law 1, Maris 4, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Oates 1, Perch 4, Pym 1, Quinn 6, Reed 1, Swan 2, Wallace 3.
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)


Report by: Martin Shaw at Valley Parade (University of Bradford stadium)



Line Up:
(3-5-2)
Flinders 8.5 Made three very good saves. The save from Cook’s deflected shot was wonderful. He got a hand on Cook’s header for the goal, but I wouldn’t blame him for the goal, and it would have been an unbelievable save to keep it out.
Hewitt 9 Terrific. Put in some great crosses, including for the goal.
Kilgour 8.5 Very good again and deserved his goal.
Perch 7 Nearly had a goal when his glancing header was cleared off the line.
C.Johnson - Had to go off injured after 36 minutes. Had done ok before that.
Clarke 6.5 Did ok.
Reed - Had to go off injured after 10 minutes.
Quinn 6.5 Subbed at half time as there would be no further opportunity to take him off in the second half and he doesn’t normally play 90 minutes.
Wallace 5.5 Didn’t have the best first half. Was out-jumped by Cook for the goal. Subbed at half time having been booked.
Oates - Had to go off injured after 22 minutes. The injury came when he was late getting to the ball and actually fouled his man.
Akins 7 Did well at right wing-back in the second half, after being up front in the first half.
Sub Line Up:
Maris (for Reed, 10 mins) 8 Played very well in front of the back three.
Keillor-Dunn (for Oates, 22 mins) 8 Very impressive including some super set pieces, and a header tipped over the bar.
Bowery (for C.Johnson, 36 mins) 6.5 Filled in reasonably well at wing-back. Gave the ball away once leading to a chance.
Swan (for Quinn, 46 mins) 7 Very lively up front in the second half.
D.Johnson (for Wallace, 46 mins) 7 First game back from loan at Walsall. Very lively. His commitment on the pitch couldn’t be questioned.
Subs not used: Owen Mason, Harbottle.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2): Harry Lewis; Brad Halliday, Matty Platt, Romoney Crichlow; Tolaji Bola; Alex Gilliead, Jamie Walker (Harry Chapman 75’), Adam Clayton, Ryan East (Thierry Nevers 75’); Andy Cook (booked 70’), Abo Eis. Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Vadaine Oliver, Matt Derbyshire, Dara Costelloe, Sam Stubbs.
Referee:
Alan Young 4 He was the classic “homer”, over-influenced by the huge crowd, and giving almost every contentious decision in the home side’s favour. Just about the only thing he got right was asking for the ball-boy to be escorted away.


Season 22/23 Reports