Season 22/23 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Mansfield Town
|
|
Leyton Orient
|
||
|
Keillor-Dunn 10.
|
Kelman 17, Sotiriou 31. Ogie sent off 62
|
|||
|
Attendance: 7,072 (527 from Leyton Orient)
|
||||
|
Date: 25 April 2023
|
||||
|
STAGS BEATEN BY CHAMPIONS LEYTON ORIENT
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten 2-1 by League Two champions Leyton Orient at the One Call Stadium last night. It was a very damaging defeat as Mansfield missed the chance to move back into the play-off positions with their game in hand. And contributing to the defeat was yet another damaging injury as Elliott Hewitt, likely to make a clean sweep in the end of season player of the season awards, was forced off injured in the first half and ended the night on crutches and in a knee brace. Whilst the prognosis of Hewitt’s injury isn’t yet fully known, in all likelihood he’s going to be out for a few weeks and thus if Mansfield make the play-offs, unlikely to be available. The Mansfield players gave a guard of honour to the Leyton Orient players before the game, quite a nice classy gesture, and there was generous applause from the home fans too. Congratulations to Orient, they have deserved the title, having been top all season. Mansfield made one change from the side that started against Stevenage: Oates replaced the injured Gale. Oates had replaced Gale during the game on Saturday of course and played 70 minutes on his own return from injury. There was a welcome return from injury on the bench for Ollie Clarke, albeit not fully fit, like Maris, Reed and Swan, also on the bench and also not fully fit. The Stags continued with the 4-3-3 formation with Oates (right) and Keillor-Dunn (left) either side of Akins. Hewitt continued at left back with Callum Johnson at right back. Mansfield’s injury list has been long for months. But even as players return, others have been getting injured. And in the just the last 3 games for example, while other players were returning, Mansfield lost a player in each game to an impact injury: McLaughlin at Newport to a knee injury after he returned from an ankle injury, Gale against Stevenage with a head injury, and Hewitt here against Orient with a knee injury. Incredibly unlucky. And the injuries are and have had a big impact on the season. Leyton Orient lost goalkeeper Laurence Vigouroux in the warm-up to injury, replaced by Sam Sargeant. Omar Beckles was suspended. Idris El Mizouni was also absent. Those three players were all in the EFL League Two team of the season. Orient still had plenty of quality on show though including Paul Smyth who probably should also have been in the team of the season. Orient were on the attack in the opening minute as Kieran Sadlier’s shot from 30 yards was blocked by Kilgour, then Paul Smyth crossed from the right, it deflected off Hewitt and Pym was forced to punch it away on his line rather than take any chances. After 8 minutes, a good move from the Stags as Lucas Akins found Davis Keillor Dunn and his shot from 12 yards was blocked. Mansfield were given a good start and ahead after 10 minutes when Davis Keillor-Dunn turned in a low cross from 3 yards after great work from Hiram Boateng weaving his way along the byline on the right. Keillor-Dunn’s 6th goal for Mansfield since joining in January, and Boateng’s 5th assist (see my stats below). But Leyton Orient were level after 17 minutes. Kieran Wallace gave away an unnecessary corner, having a bad first touch near the halfway line, then challenging to win it back and smashing it nearly 50 yards to go for a corner. A short corner was finally crossed in low by Kieran Sadlier, Rhys Oates cleared partially but only to the edge of the “D” where Craig Clay struck a volley that hit the inside of the right post. As it rebounded out, Charlie Kelman was quickest to react and head the ball into the empty net. So much that was preventable about this goal: Wallace conceding the unnecessary corner, Oates not getting the clearance further away, and the defence asleep as Kelman was the first to react (notably Oates, Wallace and Callum Johnson). A good volley from Clay nonetheless. Some questions were asked as to whether the goal was offside, but Kelman was certainly onside as Clay struck his volley. Sadlier curled a shot just over the bar from 25 yards after 19 minutes Quinn put in a great cross towards Akins a minute later, but McCart headed away with Akins ready to head it in. The Stags were nearly back in front after 21 minutes as Callum Johnson’s header from 6 yards was brilliantly hooked off the line by Jordan Brown, after Keillor-Dunn’s short corner to Boateng along the byline, and Boateng chipped a cross into the middle. As the ball was cleared to the edge of the area, Wallace tried to shoot, but fouled his man, and was booked for it. Alfie Kilgour then made a stunning tackle on Kelman as Kelman broke into the box and was about to shoot after 22 minutes. Quinn had a shot blocked from 17 yards after 23 minutes. But disaster struck for Mansfield as Hewitt went down injured, a knee injury. He initially tried to carry on, but couldn’t and had to be replaced by Riley Harbottle after 28 minutes. Harbottle initially went in at right back, with Callum Johnson switching to left back. And within 3 minutes, on 31 minutes, Orient were in front. Kilgour’s clearance from halfway inside his own half was poor and intercepted. It was played forward to Kelman who turned and set Sadlier away down the left getting in behind Harbottle. Sadlier pushed forward and then pulled the ball back and across to Ruel Sotiriou 17 yards from goal and unmarked, and he sidefooted past Pym, with a little deflection off Perch wrong-footing Pym. A bit unlucky for Mansfield, but Mansfield can’t complain having had two goals deflected past the keeper in the last 5 games. There was a question of whether Sadlier was offside when he was set away by Kelman, but from the video, he appears to be played onside by Callum Johnson. Possibly the goal wouldn’t have happened if the defence hadn’t just been disrupted, with Harbottle caught cold. Sotiriou had another shot blocked from 16 yards. Then on 38 minutes, an Oates run and his shot from 22 yards was blocked by McCart. A really poor cross from Wallace after 39 minutes. After 40 minutes, Keillor-Dunn got down the left, cut inside and his shot was blocked. 7 minutes added on for injuries at the end of the first half, and in the final minute, a free kick for the Stags, 30 yards out, left of centre. Boateng dinked in the free kick and Kilgour was wide via a deflection. The Stags behind at the break, having gone ahead. The injury to Hewitt a major block and knocked the wind out of Mansfield’s sails with the score at 1-1. Half time 1-2 Wallace, having been booked, and not had a good first half, was replaced by Louis Reed, returning from injury, at the start of the second half. The return of Reed a plus point on a disastrous night. Keillor-Dunn cut in and had a shot blocked after 53 minutes. A minute later at the other end, Kilgour was booked for bringing down Sadlier. Kilgour’s first booking for Mansfield. Sadlier sent the free kick well wide from 24 yards. Mansfield re-organised the defence, with Callum Johnson returning to right back, Perch to left back, Harbottle and Kilgour centre half. Not ideal at all having Perch at left back, but really given the limited options available, nothing was a great option. Orient were reduced to ten men after 62 minutes. Boateng set Keillor-Dunn away into the Orient half with a great through ball. Keillor-Dunn was yards in front of the closest defender, but Shad Ogie caught him up and slid in with a challenge on the edge of the “D” sending Keillor-Dunn to the ground. The referee immediately produced a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity outside the box. In commentary, I thought it was a clear red card. However, on reviewing the video, Ogie actually got a toe-end on the ball and it was a good tackle. (*) Keillor-Dunn should have been able to get a shot away though. Nigel Clough said after the game: “I would rather he'd run through and scored than see the sending-off. Sprinting that far clear he should be getting a shot off.” Boateng took the resulting free kick and sent it straight into the wall. UPDATE: from the main camera video from the Bishop Street stand, it appeared that Ogie actually got a toe-end on the ball and it was a good tackle. However analyst Matt showed me his footage from the West Stand which showed conclusively that it was Keillor-Dunn who got his toe-end on the ball, NOT Ogie. So the referee got the decision correct. 28 minutes plus stoppage time against ten men, could the Stags capitalise? The answer was no, despite most of the possession. George Maris replaced Quinn after 70 minutes. After 72 minutes, Orient sub Aaron Drinan fired wide from 16 yards. A real opportunity for Oates after 73 minutes. Callum Johnson crossed in low from the right, Mansfield had five players just outside the six yard box against just three defenders. The ball reached Oates with his back to goal but Oates couldn’t control it and the chance was gone. Had Oates left it, Keillor-Dunn might have had a tap in. A bad miss, to not even get a shot in. Two minutes later, a shot from Maris from 24 yards was blocked after Orient gifted the ball to him. A minute later, Perch headed down a cross to Akins, back to goal 12 yards out. Akins turned and got in a low shot but it was straight at the keeper, who would have had no chance if it was a yard or two either side of him. Then on 78 minutes, Akins headed wide from a Keillor-Dunn corner. Ollie Clarke and Will Swan both returned from injury after 79 minutes, replacing Boateng and Akins. Unusual to see Akins subbed. Great to have them both back on the pitch. After 81 minutes, a fantastic cross from Clarke from near the corner flag, but no-one on the end of it to turn it in. After 89 minutes, Callum Johnson headed just wide from a Keillor-Dunn corner from the right. On the stroke of 90 minutes, Maris fed Oates on the right. Oates got forward into the area and did well to create space for a shot from 14 yards, low and hard from the right. Keeper Sargeant got down well to parry, the ball ran loose, Clarke attacked it but as he shot from 6 yards, Jamie McCart dived in with a brilliant block to send the ball flying over the bar. So close, but a great block. Moments later, at the other end, Reed got in a great tackle. After 90+6 minutes, a free kick on the edge of the “D”, 22 yards out, as Reed was brought down. A bit of quality was needed, but Keillor-Dunn sent the free kick high over the bar. The quality of set pieces from this sort of position hasn’t been good enough lately. Frustration at full time. The defeat ended Mansfield’s 9 match unbeaten run. A very damaging result as the Stags stay outside the play-off positions on goal difference. And any chance of automatic promotion has gone. Two games left, at home to Harrogate on Saturday, and then away to Colchester. Salford, above Mansfield on goal difference, are away to 5th placed Carlisle, and at home to rejuvenated Gillingham. On paper, more difficult fixtures. Bradford are also level on points, but have an extra game to play. Mansfield have never beaten Harrogate of course. Now is the time to put that right. Mansfield have been good this season at winning games they don’t normally win though, such as away at Swindon, away at Tranmere. Harrogate are on an improved run of form having been hovering above the relegation zone: 4 wins, 4 draws, 2 defeats in their last 10 games, including a win at Newport last night, and a draw at Orient after being 2-0 down. The win at Newport finally secured Harrogate’s fight against relegation. Boss Simon Weaver said after the game: "I'm absolutely delighted. It has been such a tough time throughout the season, 10 months of hard work and slog from everyone at the club. I’m ecstatic for the players because they have held their nerve and dug in, and I'm relieved as well, so there’s a mixture of emotions in there. Doing it like this is the best way to do it, on our terms, scoring three goals away from home at a place where we have lost on our two previous visits. It was great to do it in style tonight.” It might not be a bad time to play Harrogate with their aim achieved. Then again, I thought that against Orient last night. A word on the Stags fans who were great and continue to stay with the side. Indeed Orient boss Richie Wellens mentioned them after the game: “There was a bit of tension among their supporters, though I thought their crowd was really good and stuck with them. It was a really good atmosphere.” Man of the match: Hiram Boateng Here’s a running tally of various stats this season: Goals (league and cup): Akins 9, Swan 9, Lapslie 7, Keillor-Dunn 6, Clarke 5, Harbottle 5, Hawkins 5, Maris 5, Oates 5, Bowery 4, Kilgour 4, Boateng 3, Gale 3, Quinn 2, Gordon 1, D.Johnson 1, Hewitt 1, McLaughlin 1. 1 OG Assists (league and cup): Hewitt 8, Lapslie 8, Quinn 8, Akins 7, Boateng 5, Maris 5, Gordon 4, Keillor-Dunn 4, McLaughlin 3, Bowery 2, Clarke 2, C.Johnson 2, Hartigan 2, Oates 2, Flinders 1, Hawkins 1, Law 1, Perch 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 2, Clarke 8, Gale 2, Harbottle 6, Hartigan 1, Hawkins 4, Hewitt 3, Kilgour 1, Keillor-Dunn 2, D.Johnson 1, Lapslie 3, Law 3, Maris 5, McLaughlin 2, O’Toole 5, Oates 2, Perch 7, Pym 3, Quinn 9, Reed 1, Swan 2, Wallace 7. Red cards (league and cup): Boateng 1, Bowery 1, Maris 1, Perch, Quinn 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: 6678 (average away fans: 533, average home fans 6145) (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 Did ok. Not at fault for the goals in my opinion. C.Johnson 6 Could have done better with the Orient equaliser. Had one header cleared off the line and another just wide. Kilgour 6 One stunning tackle. Poor clearance in the build-up to Orient’s second goal. Perch 6 Not ideally suited to filling in at left back, after Hewitt was injured. Hewitt - Went off with a bad injury after 28 minutes, a massive blow. Boateng 7 A great assist for Keillor-Dunn’s goal. A great through-ball which led to the red card as well. Wallace 5 Could have done better with the Orient equaliser having already conceded the unnecessary corner. Having been booked, and not had a good first half, he was replaced at half time. Quinn 6 One good cross, and a shot blocked. Oates 5.5 Could have done better with the Orient equaliser. Not his night in front of goal. Akins 6 A couple of chances in the second half. Subbed, rather unusually for him. Keillor-Dunn 7 Scored his 6th goal for Mansfield since joining in January. Induced the red card but should have been able to get a shot away. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Harbottle (for Hewitt, 28 mins) 5.5 Got caught cold for Orient’s second goal, just after coming on.
Reed (for Wallace, 46 mins) - Good to see him back. One great tackle, and won a free kick in a great position. Maris (for Quinn, 70 mins) - Clarke (for Boateng, 79 mins) - Swan (for Akins, 79 mins) - Subs not used: Flinders, Law. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(4-4-2): Sargeant; Thompson, Ogie, McCart, Sweeney; Smyth (James 66), Clay, Brown, Sadlier (Drinan 69); Sotiriou (Moncur 69), Kelman (Duke-McKenna 85). Subs not used: Happe, Pratley.
|
|
Referee:
|
Robert Lewis 5 Got the sending off right (see UPDATE in the report above). His assistants got the possible offsides for both Orient goals right (they were onside). Otherwise had a poor game.
|
|
|