Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
|
|
|
||
|
Leyton Orient
|
|
Mansfield Town
|
||
|
Kelly 73.
|
M.Rose 68, Green 89. Green missed pen 22
|
|||
|
Attendance: 3996 (217 from Mansfield)
|
||||
|
Date: 27 August 2016
|
||||
|
GREEN NETS LATE WINNER AT LEYTON ORIENT
Martin Shaw at The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road Mansfield Town produced a stunning victory, winning 2-1 at Leyton Orient this afternoon with a goal from Matt Green after 89 minutes. Brisbane Road has never been a happy hunting ground for the Stags with only 3 wins in 24 attempts before today. The winner for Green was a personal triumph after his horror at missing a penalty in the first half. He told me afterwards that he needed that because there is no excuse for missing a penalty and he owed it to the team. The late win typified the spirit of this Mansfield side, keeping going right to the end, for a second late win away from home in 3 games, added to the extraordinary win over Yeovil with ten men for 93 minutes. Full credit to Adam Murray and his management team and the entire squad for a great unity. Green missed his penalty in the first half, blazing over the bar. One other great chance for each side in the first half as Ollie Palmer blasted over the bar, and Kevan Hurst brought a tremendous save from keeper Cisak with an excellent shot from outside the box. The Stags finally took the lead after 68 minutes when Mitch Rose fired home from a tight angle 3 yards out, after Green got a little flick onto a fine Hurst cross from the left. Mitch Rose and Green are fighting it out at the top of the Stags leading goalscorers list with 3 goals each. The lead only lasted 5 minutes though as Liam Kelly side-footed in a great shot from 20 yards. It looked like the Stags would have to settle for a point, which would have been a good result in itself, but the Stags kept going and Green fired home from 7 yards after Mitch Rose chested down a Mal Benning cross to him, to send the players, manager, and supporters into raptures. A fitting end to a week in which Mansfield turned down a bid from Bradford City for Green and then had to deal with some skulduggery from Orient over Green, but the Stags had the last laugh. Mansfield made two changes to the side that lost at Plymouth. Chris Clements has a hamstring injury picked up in the game at Plymouth. He’ll be out for a few weeks. Krystian Pearce returned from injury, and came into central defence for his first game of the season. Collins moved from central defence to play just in front of the back four. Chapman moved from that position to the Clements central midfield role. As expected, Darius Henderson came in for his first start, in place of Hemmings, and joined Green up front. It was the now familiar 4-1-3-2 formation. Scott Shearer returned from concussion to the bench. Pat Hoban also returned to the bench, albeit not ready yet for 90 minutes. In a correction to an earlier comment, Danny Rose’s 3rd game of his suspension will be in the league against Cambridge, and not in the EFL Trophy against Doncaster. A bit of a shame actually, but that’s the situation. According to Adam Murray it’s because the EFL Trophy games are considered a block of three. Or something like that anyway! Presumably he will get a game on Tuesday then. Leyton Orient included former Stags Nicky Hunt and Ollie Palmer. Palmer had much to say for himself in the press in the week and then more in today’s programme. I think it’s good that he set the record straight by noting in today’s programme “I did have some fantastic support from the Mansfield supporters while I was there.” It was a day of sunshine and showers in East London. On 4 minutes, an Orient corner came out to Semedo whose shot looked to be on target but hit his own player Dean Cox. At the other end a minute later, a free kick by Hurst from the left, Bennett headed on and keeper Cisak held under his own bar. On 10 minutes, a good cross from the right by the impressive Dean Cox, Ollie Palmer rose well but headed wide. Orient should have been in front on 14 minutes. Semedo’s ball in from the left, Palmer did very well to knock down to create space for himself but from a great position he sent a left footed shot over the bar. Straight to the other end, and Green screwed a weak effort wide from the edge of the box after Henderson did well to tee him up. On 16 minutes, Massey sent a curling shot wide from 20 yards. The Stags won a penalty on 22 minutes. Great work by Pearce on the corner of the area on the left and he was bundled over by Atangana. From my position it looked a clear penalty, however Stags fans nearer to it on the far side thought it was a dive. From the video footage it still looks a penalty to me. While Green was waiting to take the penalty, Nicky Hunt was doing his best to delay the kick and put Green off. Green blasted the penalty over the bar. Bad miss and no excuses. A minute later, the Stags were nearly in front again. Hurst fired in a great shot from the corner of the area on the left, and Cisak produced a brilliant save to tip it over. From the resulting corner, Pearce headed down and it was brilliantly cleared off the line by Parkes. So close for Pearce. Ollie Palmer was booked on 30 minutes for Orient. An Orient corner from the left, towards Palmer, Palmer went down claiming he was fouled by Henderson, and was booked for over the top protesting to the linesman. On 34 minutes, Palmer dived in the area and received a final warning from the referee. On 37 minutes, Semedo was wide from 25 yards after cutting inside. Then a minute later, Cornick got to the byline, too easily past Benning and Hurst, played the ball in and Dean Cox headed well over the bar. Benning’s corner failed to beat the first man straight after a free kick from him failed to beat the first man. On 45+1 minutes, a great corner from Hurst, Pearce nodded down and Howkins knocked over the bar with his right foot. An even first half, Stags frustrated to miss the penalty, and chances for either side. Half time 0-0 CJ Hamilton replaced Henderson on 49 minutes. Chants of “what a waste of money” from the home fans to their former player. He’d played well here. On 51 minutes, a Dean Cox corner from the right, and Tom Parkes headed wide. A good clearance by Benning on 53 minutes. On 54 minutes, Hamilton made a stunning run down the left, but with Green unmarked in the middle, he couldn’t get his cross past the first defender. On 59 minutes, a corner from the left by Hurst, Pearce headed downward and goalwards and keeper Cisak cleared off the line. Pearce’s third header in the Orient area and second cleared off the line. Ollie Palmer was replaced on 62 minutes. An Orient cross a minute later, Pearce tried to clear and was lucky as his header skewed backwards and just over his own bar. Then on 67 minutes, a Dean Cox corner from the left and Parkes headed just wide of the right post. Twice he’d gone close. The Stags finally took the lead after 68 minutes when Mitch Rose fired home from a tight angle 3 yards out, after Green got a little flick onto a fine Hurst right-footed cross from the left. Mitch Rose and Green are fighting it out at the top of the Stags leading goalscorers list with 3 goals each. On 71 minutes, a Cox corner from the right, Parkes again got a head on it and headed wide. The lead only lasted 5 minutes and Orient were level on 73 minutes. Liam Kelly side-footed in a great shot from 20 yards. Jensen had no chance in my opinion. If there was a criticism, Kelly should have been closed down before shooting. A double change for the Stags on 80 minutes. McGuire and Baxendale replaced Chapman and Hurst. Good applause for both players coming off. McGuire’s first appearance of the season. On 85 minutes, Liam Kelly fired over the bar from 35 yards. Then Cox’s cross from the left floated just wide of the right post. The Stags retook the lead on 89 minutes. Green fired home from 7 yards on the left after Mitch Rose chested down a Mal Benning cross. On 90 minutes, Massey crossed from the right, and McCallum was a hair’s breadth from getting his head on it at the far post. Another good run from Hamilton on 90+2 minutes, in to the area, but he took the wrong option and pulled back to Mitch Rose who couldn’t do anything with it, and eventually it came out to McGuire who sent a dipping volley over the bar. The Stags held on without alarm in 4 minutes of stoppage time for a superb win. Last week I said Mansfield’s chances of building a promotion bid this season rested squarely on keeping Green in my opinion, as the chances of finding a suitable replacement at this stage would be next to nil. Today, despite the penalty miss, showed why. On to Tuesday and the EFL Trophy (Checkatrade Trophy) game against Doncaster. I’ve heard plenty of fans suggest that if this competition is a success then we’ll see Premier League U23 sides in the Football League in the future. I don’t think that’s true. I heard the new chairman of the Football League interviewed recently. He was asked what would happen if two U23 teams reached the final at Wembley. He basically said it would knock the idea of the experiment on the head as no-one would have wanted that. And he said that the bigger Premier League teams not being involved was "disappointing". Listening between the lines, I took it that the experiment is effectively over before it's started. I don't believe at all that many of the top Premier League clubs want to have their U23's play in the Football League, as evidenced by the bigger clubs pulling out of this competition. And Richard Scudamore, the Premier League CEO, has repeatedly said recently that the Premier League does not want its teams having U23 teams playing in the Football League itself. The whole idea of the EFL Trophy this season is flawed in my opinion though. The Premier League and Championship U23 teams should never have been introduced and the prospect of playing extra games with the round-robin stage at the start of the tournament, is ludicrous when the Football League rather schizophrenically recently suggested that the size of the leagues needs to be reduced to 4 divisions of 20 clubs because the clubs are plying too many games. On a practical note, I think each team can make 5 or 6 changes from their previous league game (to be confirmed), or take a £5,000 fine. Adam Murray will surely make as many changes as he’s allowed giving precious game time to the likes of Taft, McGuire, Baxendale, Hoban, Danny Rose. FURTHER REFLECTIONS (MY WEEKLY BLOG FOR THE CHAD NEWSPAPER): Last week I said Mansfield’s chances of building a promotion bid this season rested squarely on keeping Matt Green in my opinion, as the chances of finding a suitable replacement for him at this stage of the transfer window would be next to nil. Saturday’s game at Leyton Orient amply demonstrated why. Despite missing a first half penalty, and despite cutting a pretty frustrated figure with an average performance by his own standards, Green showed his character and class to come up with an 89th minute winner. He told me afterwards that he needed that because there is no excuse for missing a penalty and he owed it to the team. The late winner typified the spirit of this Mansfield side, keeping going right to the end, for a second late winner away from home in 3 games, added to the extraordinary win over Yeovil at home with ten men for 93 minutes. Full credit to Adam Murray and his management team and the entire squad for a great unity. Leyton Orient’s Brisbane Road ground has never been a happy hunting ground for the Stags with only 3 wins in 24 attempts before Saturday. Green missed his penalty in the first half, blazing over the bar, after the returning Krystian Pearce has been fouled. The Stags finally took the lead after 68 minutes when Mitch Rose fired home from a tight angle 3 yards out, after Green got a little flick onto a fine Kevan Hurst cross from the left. Mitch Rose and Green are fighting it out at the top of the Stags leading goalscorers list with 3 goals each. As for the Stags player of the season so far though, Mitch Rose is out in front on his own. The Stags were pegged back within 5 minutes of taking the lead though as Liam Kelly side-footed in a great shot from 20 yards which gave Brian Jensen no chance. It looked like the Stags would have to settle for a point, which would have been a good result in itself, but the Stags kept going and Green fired home from 7 yards after Mitch Rose chested down a Mal Benning cross to him, to send the players, manager, and supporters into raptures. It was a fitting end to a week in which Mansfield turned down a bid from Bradford City for Green and then had to deal with some skulduggery from Orient over Green, but the Stags had the last laugh. It was great to see Krystian Pearce back from injury and he put in a fine performance, winning the penalty, having two headers cleared off the line, and defending well. Darius Henderson made his first start in a Stags shirt though Adam Murray told me afterwards that he can only play 45-60 minutes at the moment, having not had a proper pre-season. Henderson played well, holding the ball up and laying off, and generally looking strong. There was also good news on the injury front with Pat Hoban and Scott Shearer returning to the matchday squad. But Chris Clements will be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in the game at Plymouth. The transfer window closes on Wednesday night. I presume that Adam Murray has reached his player budget with his current squad, but if I was him I would be looking to supplement the squad with a young full back from a Premier League or Championship club where the Stags would have to pay little of the player’s wages, as the Stags squad is still light in that area, and if Rhys Bennett or Mal Benning picked up an injury before January, the Stags would have to use Lee Collins, George Taft, or even Mitch Rose, slightly out of position with no short term loans being available this season. Man of the match: Mitch Rose |
||||
|
Report by: Martin Shaw at The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road
|
||||
|
Line Up:
|
(4-1-3-2)
Jensen 6.5 Some poor kicking, but some good handling. No chance with the goal in my opinion. Bennett 7 Defended well and got forward well. Howkins 8 Solid in the air. Pearce 8 Did very well returning so soon after his injury. Had a couple of headers cleared off the line, and won the penalty. Benning 7 Beaten by the right winger a couple of times. Otherwise a good game. Good cross for Green’s goal. Collins 7 Good in front of the back four with plenty of hard work. Did a lot of the dirty work. M.Rose 8.5 Deserved his goal which was well taken. Chested down for Green’s winner. Chapman 8 Very good. Disciplined in the central midfield role. Hurst 7 Good cross for M.Rose’s goal. Some good set pieces. One or two crosses didn’t beat the first man. Henderson 7 Can only play 45-60 minutes at the moment, but played well, holding the ball up and laying off. Strong. Green 7 Missed the penalty and cut a frustrated figure, but showed his class and character with the last minute winner. |
|
Sub Line Up:
|
Hamilton (for Henderson, 49 mins) 7 Tremendous pace down the left. One stupendous run but spoiled it when he didn’t find the unmarked Green in the middle and hit the first defender with his cross.
McGuire (for Chapman, 80 mins) - Baxendale (for Hurst, 80 mins) - Subs not used: Shearer, Taft, Hemmings, Hoban. |
|
Opposition Line Up:
|
(4-4-1-1): Cisak; Hunt, Erichot, Parkes, Semedo; Kelly, Atangana, Cornick (Bowery 62), Cox; Massey; Palmer (McCallum 62). Subs not used: Sargeant, Kennedy, Weir, Pollock, Koroma.
|
|
Referee:
|
Kevin Johnson 7 Good game. Rightly booked Ollie Palmer and then gave him a final warning. Handled the game well.
|
|
|