Season 16/17 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Blackpool
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D.Rose 90+2
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Attendance: 2801 (225 from Blackpool)
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Date: 22 November 2016
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STAGS BEAT BLACKPOOL WITH INJURY TIME WINNER
Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill An injury time winner from Danny Rose was enough for Mansfield Town to pick up maximum points at home for the second time in 3 days as Blackpool were beaten 1-0 and the Steve Evans rollercoaster continued on the up. The goal came as Chris Clements knocked a high ball forward towards Pat Hoban, defender Tom Aldred headed it into his own area, fellow centre half Clark Robertson attempted to head the ball away, but could only head the ball down to Matt Green. Green steadied himself before firing goalwards from 15 yards. Keeper Sam Slocombe pushed his shot away but Danny Rose was fastest to get to the loose ball, turning it goalwards from a tight angle. Slocombe initially just about kept the ball out of the net but his trailing leg knocked the ball into the net, to lift the roof off the One Call Stadium. Credited as Danny Rose’s goal, though the dubious goals committee might have something to say if they study it in slow motion. Danny Rose’s first goal since the opening day of the season and what a time to get it. The first half had been an even affair, and entertaining, with both teams playing some good football. The second half was much quieter. Scott Shearer made two good saves, firstly from Brad Potts with a low shot, and then brilliantly tipping wide a header from Robertson. At the other end Chris Clements brought a terrific save from Slocombe with a fabulous left footed shot from 25 yards which Slocombe saved to his right. Blackpool were a good side, one of the best we’ve seen this season, having come into the game on a great run, and it was to Mansfield’s credit that they held them at bay and in the end sneaked the injury time winner. Some good performances throughout the Mansfield side, Pearce and Bennett at centre half really caught the eye, McGuire was very good in front of them, and Shearer made those two very good saves, to keep Mansfield on terms before the injury time excitement. As recently as 2011, Blackpool were playing in the Barclays Premier League while Mansfield were languishing in the Blue Square Premier League. However the two teams are now both in League Two, and this was the first meeting since 2003. The Stags were unchanged from the side that beat Crawley. One change on the bench, with Henderson ill, young Zayn Hakeem replaced him in the 18. Howkins, Taft, Collins and Hurst were injured, with Iacovitti suspended. The Stags set up with a diamond formation in midfield, McGuire in front of the back four, behind Clements and Gobern, and with Hemmings behind Green and Hoban. It was the second time Mansfield have named an unchanged side this season, the previous occasion being at Crewe. Blackpool came into the game in very good form with 4 wins and 2 draws from their last 6 games in all competitions. Blackpool included former Stag Colin Daniel who played in midfield, initially on the left, then switching to the right. The game survived an early morning pitch inspection after torrential rain on Monday. Well done to groundsman Mez Merriman and his team. No home game postponed due to the pitch for more than two years now. After just a minute, Gobern struck a sweet shot from fully 35 yards just wide of the right post. Great technique and not far away. A chance for Blackpool on 3 minutes. Cullen pulled back and the Stags defence was asleep as Potts found himself unmarked 12 yards out. Luckily for the Stags, Potts slipped over. Straight to the other end and Hoban put in a great left footed cross from the left, Hemmings got up well and headed just wide of the left post. On 9 minutes, Benning got into the area on the left along the byline but his low cross was through a crowd of players. Then a great tackle by Bennett against Jamille Matt, halfway inside his own half. Straight to the other end, Hoban got down the left, cut inside, and fired in a great shot which the keeper pushed away. Then on 10 minutes, Potts got to the edge of the area, and Benning blocked his shot. On 17 minutes, good defending by Pearce just outside his own area. On 19 minutes, Clements gave the ball away with a misplaced square pass, Potts broke forward, but good defending by Bennett to spare Clements’ blushes. The referee gave a lecture to Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer. He was later to lecture Evans too. This really was a battle of two high profile managers. Great tracking back by McGuire on 21 minutes, and then he got a piece of luck that his play deserved as his clearance hit Cullen and went out for a goal kick. On 23 minutes, Hemmings did well on the left, with help from Benning, to get a cross in, the keeper flapped at it and lost it but Hoban was harshly penalised for a foul. A really good spell of short passing from the Stags on 26 minutes. The Stags were playing well. On 30 minutes, Potts shot from the left, straight at Shearer. Mitch Rose put in a good block on 38 minutes. On 41 minutes, Hemmings’ free kick from the right, Hoban couldn’t direct his header goalwards, Pearce kept the ball in play on the right, and crossed back in, half-hearted appeals for a penalty as it struck a Blackpool player, then hit Bennett and went wide. A very even first half. Both teams looked good, and a good test for the Stags against an in-form team. Plenty of good passing from Mansfield, and the midfield was very fluid. Despite the diamond formation Mansfield had plenty of width with no fewer than 6 different players putting crosses in. Despite not many chances being created it was entertaining stuff. But still no first half goal for Mansfield at home this season, at the 13th attempt in league and cup. Half time 0-0 The first half was entertaining, but the second half started off anything but. I didn’t make any notes until 53 minutes when Green was nearly through on goal but not quite. On 54 minutes Clements was booked for a late tackle when he seemed to win the ball. A free kick for Blackpool 25 yards out to the left of centre. It was squared to Potts who fired in a powerful low shot which Shearer got down to save well and hold on to. Steve Evans was lectured by the referee on 58 minutes. On 61 minutes, a Blackpool free kick into the Stags box, the ball fell for Robertson who headed towards the bottom right corner of the net and Shearer made a brilliant save to tip it wide. Green was booked on 66 minutes, the referee pointing to an accumulation of fouls. It looked inconsistent refereeing as others especially Blackpool’s Aldred had got away with more. Danny Rose replaced Hemmings on 69 minutes. Hemmings had played well, but it was a show of attacking intent from Evans and it was to pay huge dividends. Danny Rose slotted in just behind Green and Hoban. Hoban had however rather disappeared in the second half after a good first half. On 70 minutes, a long throw from Mitch Rose came out to Chris Clements who brought a terrific save from Slocombe with a fabulous left footed shot from 25 yards which Slocombe saved to his right. Two good tackles from the Stags on 72 minutes, by Gobern and then Mitch Rose, and two minutes later a great tackle by Pearce. On 79 minutes, another long throw from Mitch Rose came out to Benning who sent a shot from 30 yards high and wide. A free kick for the Stags on 81 minutes, just to the right of the area. Gobern took it but it was cleared for a corner. On 85 minutes a fantastic blocking tackle from McGuire on the edge of his own area as Potts was about to shoot. On 87 minutes, Gobern shot from 20 yards, low but with not enough power and straight at the keeper. Into 4 minutes of stoppage time, and on 90+2 came the game’s decisive moment. Clements knocked a high ball forward towards Hoban, defender Aldred headed it into his own area, fellow centre half Robertson attempted to head the ball away, but could only head the ball down to Green. Green steadied himself before firing goalwards from 15 yards. Keeper Slocombe pushed his shot away but Danny Rose was fastest to get to the loose ball, turning it goalwards from a tight angle. Slocombe initially just about kept the ball out of the net but his trailing leg knocked the ball into the net, to lift the roof off the One Call Stadium. Credited as Danny Rose’s goal, though the dubious goals committee might have something to say if they study it in slow motion (hopefully they won’t). Danny Rose was booked for celebration and from studying the video that appears ridiculous. It capped a poor game for the referee. So a tremendous finale and always special to win a game late on like that. I think a draw would probably have been a fair result but that doesn’t matter now. And against a good strong team in Blackpool it’s a terrific result. The Stags are heading in the right direction, just one point off 6th place, and to keep going into injury time shows good fitness which the new fitness coach Lee Taylor will be pleased with. On to the double header at Carlisle now. Firstly the big one, in the league on Saturday, and then the EFL Trophy 10 days later when it will be interesting to see how Steve Evans approaches the game. Man of the match: Krystian Pearce |
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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 formation in midfield)
Shearer 8 Two very good saves early in the second half. M.Rose 7 Again filled in pretty well at right back. One good block. Bennett 8 Very good at centre half, with several good tackles and blocks. Pearce 8 Several very good pieces of defending when under pressure. Benning 7 Some good attacking down the left, and a good block at the back. McGuire 8 Very good in front of the back four, one fantastic blocking tackle late on. Clements 7 One fabulous shot which brought a terrific save. Bennett spared his blushes in the first half after his loose ball set up a Blackpool attack. Gobern 7 Got stuck in with one or two good tackles. Struck a sweet shot from fully 35 yards just wide of the post. Hemmings 7 Good game. Header just wide and a couple of good crosses. Green 7 His shot was saved at full length but led to the goal. Hoban 7 Very good first half. Great left footed cross early on, and fine shot cutting inside. Rather disappeared in the second half. |
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Sub Line Up:
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D.Rose (for Hemmings, 69 mins) - His first goal since the opening day of the season and what a time to get it. Did well to turn it goalwards from a right angle.
Subs not used: Jensen, J.Thomas, Hamilton, Baxendale, Law, Hakeem. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-4-2): Slocombe; Mellor, Aldred, Robertson, Taylor; Potts, Pugh, Payne, Daniel; Cullen (Philliskirk 75), Matt (Gnanduillet 67). Subs not used: Boney, McAlister, Nolan, Yeates, Osayi-Samuel.
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Referee:
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Darren Handley 5 Poor and inconsistent. Let some fouls go and not others. Booked some players who didn’t deserve it and didn’t book others who did.
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