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Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
The Emirates FA Cup - Round One replay
Charlton Athletic  
5 - 0
 Mansfield Town
Taylor 11, 53, 85, Marshall 82, Ajose 90+1.
 
 
Attendance: 1910 (291 from Mansfield)
 
Date: 20 November 2018

STAGS KNOCKED OUT OF FA CUP BY CHARLTON

Martin Shaw at The Valley

Mansfield Town were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup by League One Charlton Athletic at The Valley last night in a strange game. The final score was 5-0 to Charlton. Yet for three quarters of this game, it was Mansfield playing all the good football going forward and creating the goalscoring chances, while Charlton scored with the only two attempts they created. Indeed it was a lesson in clinical finishing from Charlton. Charlton took the lead after 11 minutes when former AFC Wimbledon striker Lyle Taylor was razor sharp in knocking the ball into the net from close range, getting in front of Ryan Sweeney, from a cross from Nicky Ajose. Charlton made it 2-0 after 53 minutes, with literally their second chance, as Taylor side-footed in from 13 yards from another pull-back by Ajose. The Stags had been the better side going forward in the first half and should have at least been level, if not in front. Danny Rose had a shot tipped wide by the keeper, CJ Hamilton took too long to shoot when through on goal and was tackled when he did shoot with the ball trickling just wide of the post, Hamilton then hit the post after a magnificent run down the right from Hayden White and low cross to the far post where Hamilton knocked it against the post, and finally Rose cut inside and fired in a shot that was heading for the top corner of the net but was deflected wide. Both sides had a goal disallowed in that first half, and both looked tight with Taylor knocking into the net for Charlton and Hamilton smacking into the corner of the net for Mansfield. After going 2-0 down, it was still the Stags creating the chances, with sub Jordan Graham heading wide from a great cross from Mal Benning and Krystian Pearce firing just over the bar.

Then a moment of genuine farce on 82 minutes led to the scoreline taking an unhealthy look. The referee awarded the Stags a free kick inside the Charlton half. The Stags sent defenders forward. The referee changed his mind and gave the free kick the other way, and didn’t give Mansfield time to regroup. Charlton took the kick quickly, broke to the far end, Toby Stevenson crossed in and sub Mark Marshall scored from close range. Half the Stags team protested to the referee long and hard, with Hayden White booked for doing so. It was an absolute howler from the referee as acknowledged by both managers after the game. Incompetence and stupidity that was really off the scale. There was no problem that he changed his mind with the direction of the free kick, but he had to make sure both teams had time to react to that change of decision. The Stags lost a bit of composure and shape after that and conceded two further goals, the fourth goal a magnificent chip from Lyle Taylor, and the fifth a mistake by Bobby Olejnik when he came out to clear, Ajose got there first and knocked into the net. Once Olejnik came out of his area, he had to get the ball. So in the end something of a lesson in clinical finishing from Charlton, while the Stags continue to create and miss hatfuls of chances. If Mansfield had Lyle Taylor in the squad, you really would fancy them for automatic promotion this season. Obviously Lyle Taylor is not available, but the Stags need to be looking around to try to add a clinical finisher to the forward line in January, if one can possibly be found, which won't be easy to do of course.

After the game, Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said again Mansfield are a good side, as he did after the first game, and said that this wasn't a 5-0 game. He added that Flitcroft should be proud of his team, and Charlton were lucky to get a clean sheet.

The result was the seventh time Mansfield have lost an FA Cup game by 5 goals, and equalled the worst margin of defeat (stats from Paul Taylor).

Mansfield made 4 changes from the first game and from the win over Port Vale. Neal Bishop was out through illness. Craig Davies also missed out having limped off on Saturday. Tyler Walker and Hayden White moved the bench, both rested. In came Elsnik, Rose, Butcher and Atkinson, in a 3-4-3 formation, with Butcher and Hamilton either side of Rose up front, and with Atkinson and Benning as wing-backs. Charlton also made 4 changes from the first game. Former AFC Wimbledon striker Lyle Taylor replaced Grant, Fosu replaced Jamie Ward, Billy Clarke came in for Marshall, and German Patrick Bauer returned from a long injury lay off in place of Maloney. Nicky Ajose was up front with Taylor.

Mansfield move on to a big game on Saturday at Lincoln, second versus fifth. In terms of player availability: Bishop had been ill for a couple of days prior to the game, and did not travel. Flitcroft was hoping he will be ok for Saturday. Craig Davies has had an injection in his ankle and will also hopefully ok for Saturday. Jacob Mellis, who limped off at Charlton, was taken off as a precaution after overstretching. Hopefully he’ll be ok for Saturday too, though it was too soon to judge straight after the game at Charlton.


It was a foul day in south-east London. It had rained all day, but the pitch stood up to it superbly.

There was a ghostly atmosphere at The Valley, with the second lowest crowd ever to watch the Stags in an FA Cup game (less than 2,000) at a Football League ground. The lowest was 1,470 in a second replay at Villa Park (neutral venue) against Wrexham in 1975. We have played several FA Cup games in recent years in front of smaller crowds at non-league grounds (one at Forest Green, which was then non-league, and is now Football League).

Inside the opening 2 minutes, Fosu crossed from the left. Lyle Taylor was offside and he knocked it wide.

On 6 minutes, Butcher won the ball, and knocked a pass forward but it was just overhit for Hamilton.

The first good chance of the game came on 9 minutes. Rose did well to win the ball and played a 1-1 with Hamilton. Rose then curled a shot towards the right corner of the net that was tipped wide by the keeper. At the other end, Fosu crossed straight to Olejnik.

Charlton took the lead after 11 minutes when Lyle Taylor was razor sharp in knocking the ball into the net from close range, getting in front of Ryan Sweeney, from a cross from Nicky Ajose.

The Stags should have been level on 16 minutes. Mellis played the ball forward to Hamilton who charged into the area but took too long to shoot when through on goal and was tackled when he did shoot with the ball trickling just wide of the post.

A mistake by Sweeney on 17 minutes, but he was rescued by Pearce.

Mellis went down with what initially looked like a hamstring injury on 20 minutes. He limped off and was soon replaced by White on 22 minutes. After the game, manager Flitcroft said it was just a precautionary measure after over-stretching. White went to right wing-back, Atkinson moved into midfield.

Good play by Hamilton to win a corner.

On 25 minutes, the Stags had a shout for a penalty. The ball looped into the air of Benning. Hamilton and Sarr challenged for the ball. Hamilton went down in a heap, and it looked like he got a little push from behind. The referee played on, and in my opinion it would have been a soft penalty if given.

A good move from the Stags on 27 minutes, good play from Rose with a great ball to Hamilton, and Hamilton played towards Butcher but it ran through to the keeper.

The Stags were playing very well going forward.

A great sliding challenge from Preston on 32 minutes.

The Stags missed a great chance on 36 minutes. A magnificent run down the right from Hayden White and his low cross was missed by Rose but came to the far post where Hamilton knocked it against the post. Hamilton should have scored.

A great tackle by Sweeney on Fosu on 38 minutes.

Sweeney headed wide at the other end on 39 minutes from Benning’s corner from the left.

On 45+3 minutes, Rose cut inside and fired in a shot that was heading for the top corner of the net but was deflected wide.

Both sides had a goal disallowed in that first half, and both looked tight with Taylor knocking into the net for Charlton and Hamilton smacking into the corner of the net for Mansfield on 38 minutes.

A frustrating scoreline of 1-0 at the break. The Stags had created great chances, but Charlton were ahead with clinical finishing from Taylor.

Half time 1-0

The Stags had several corners early in the second half, taken by Elsnik and Benning, and most were disappointing.

Charlton made it 2-0 after 53 minutes, with literally their second chance, as Taylor side-footed in from 13 yards from another pull-back by Ajose.

The first yellow card of the evening came on 55 minutes as Taylor butchered down Rose. Benning curled in the resulting free kick from 32 yards and Preston headed over the bar.

Atkinson was booked on 57 minutes for dragging down Fosu, after he had given the ball away. From the resulting free kick, Bauer headed over the bar. That was Charlton’s third chance of the match.

Walker replaced Rose, and Graham replaced Hamilton, on 61 minutes. It was still a 3-4-3 formation, with Walker and Graham either side of Butcher.

Graham, only on for 2 minutes, headed wide at the near post from a great cross from Benning on 63 minutes.

Two minutes after that, Butcher fired well over the bar from 26 yards.

On 68 minutes, White made a great run into the box, his cross was laid back by Graham to Butcher, whose shot was deflected over the bar. From the resulting corner from the left by Benning, Pearce attacked it and volleyed at the neat post but it was blocked at source by the keeper.

On 69 minutes, White weaved his way into the box, bamboozling Toby Stevenson, who pushed him over from behind. The referee was unimpressed and played on.

A rare chance for Charlton at the other end on 70 minutes. Olejnik parried Billy Clarke’s shot was grabbed it at the second attempt.

Benning was booked on 71 minutes, taking one for the team as Charlton broke. By the way, bookings in cup competitions no longer count towards league suspensions, and are counted separately by competition.

On 73 minutes, a snap shot from Ajose was not far wide.

Pearce pushed forward and fired just over the bar from 30 yards on 75 minutes. Rare to see Pearce shooting from distance.

Then a moment of genuine farce on 82 minutes led to the scoreline taking an unhealthy look. The referee awarded the Stags a free kick inside the Charlton half. The Stags sent defenders forward. The referee changed his mind and gave the free kick the other way, and didn’t give Mansfield time to regroup. Charlton took the kick quickly, broke to the far end, Toby Stevenson crossed in and sub Mark Marshall scored from close range. Half the Stags team protested to the referee long and hard, with Hayden White booked for doing so. It was an absolute howler from the referee as acknowledged by both managers after the game. Incompetence and stupidity that was really off the scale. There was no problem that he changed his mind with the direction of the free kick, but he had to make sure both teams had time to react to that change of decision.

Pearce was booked on 84 minutes for a foul on Fosu.

The Stags had lost a bit of composure and shape and conceded two further goals.

Charlton’s 4th goal on 85 minutes was a magnificent chip from Lyle Taylor, with Olejnik just off his line. No blame to Olejnik in my opinion.

On 87 minutes, a good move from the Stags involving Graham and Elsnik, who set up Butcher for a shot which he curled towards the top corner, and the keeper tipped over superbly.

It was 5-0 on 90+1 minutes. A mistake by Bobby Olejnik as he came out to clear, Ajose got there first and knocked into the net. Once Olejnik came out of his area, he had to get the ball.

A good reception from the 291 Stags fans at full time, chanting “Yellows, yellows”, despite the harsh scoreline. Lyle Taylor was the difference between the sides.

Man of the match: Hayden White


Report by: Martin Shaw at The Valley



Line Up:
(3-4-3)
Olejnik 5 Mistake for the 5th goal as he came out to clear, Ajose got there first and knocked into the net. Once Olejnik came out of his area, he had to get the ball. A very rare mistake it has to be said. Not to blame for any of the other goals in my opinion.
Preston 6 One good challenge.
Pearce 6 A couple of efforts on goal.
Sweeney 5 Allowed Lyle Taylor to get in front of him for the first goal.
Atkinson 6 Started at wing-back then moved into midfield. Did ok.
Mellis - Went off after 20 minutes with what initially looked like a hamstring injury. After the game, manager Flitcroft said it was just a precautionary measure after over-stretching. Had started the game well setting up a good chance for Hamilton.
Elsnik 6 Some disappointing corners. Involved in a good move to set up a chance for Butcher.
Benning 7 Great cross for Graham’s chance. Set up chances from set pieces for Sweeney, Preston and Pearce.
Butcher 6.5 Good shot tipped over. Had a reasonable game.
Rose 6 Had a shot tipped wide by the keeper, and had a shot that was heading for the top corner of the net but was deflected wide. Needs a goal.
Hamilton 6 Took too long to shoot when through on goal and was tackled when he did shoot with the ball trickling just wide of the post. Then hit the post from close range when he should have scored. Found the net with a good finish when he was adjudged offside.
Sub Line Up:
White (for Mellis, 22 mins) 7.5 Three really good runs into the box, setting up two chances, and possibly could have had a penalty.
Walker (for Rose, 61 mins) -
Graham (for Hamilton, 61 mins) -
Subs not used: Logan, Gibbens, Blake, Law.
Opposition Line Up:
(4-4-2) Phillips; Dijksteel, Baeur (Sarpeng-Wiredu, 62), Sarr, Stevenson; Pratley (Marshall, 66), Lapslie, Clarke (Morgan, 74), Fosu; Taylor, Ajose. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Grant, Hackett-Fairchild.
Referee:
Kevin Johnson 4 One of the worst pieces of refereeing in living memory in the lead up to Charlton’s third goal. Just shambolic.


Season 18/19 Reports