Season 18/19 Stagsnet Match Report
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Port Vale
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Mansfield Town
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Miller 50, 52.
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Ajose 61. Ajose missed pen 18
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Attendance: 5231 (1430 from Mansfield)
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Date: 9 March 2019
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STAGS DESERVEDLY BEATEN AT PORT VALE
Martin Shaw at Vale Park Mansfield Town turned in a sloppy performance at Vale Park this afternoon to fall to a damaging 2-1 defeat. It’s become clear that it will probably be three of the top four sides to go up automatically, and while Mansfield lost here, Lincoln, Bury and MK Dons all won this weekend to see the Stags drop down to fourth, one point behind MK Dons, while 6 and 8 points behind Bury and Lincoln respectively (with a game in hand on Bury). Port Vale had lost 6 successive home games, one short of a club record, not won at home since October, and scored just one goal in their last 8 games, but put up a spirited performance here and deservedly claimed all three points. Striker Tom Pope was out injured for Vale and that let former Stag Ricky Miller into the side. I worried when I saw the teams announced an hour before kick off and Miller duly punished Mansfield with two goals and nearly claimed a hat-trick. But the Stags brought this defeat upon themselves in truth, giving the ball away far too frequently throughout the game, starting as early as the first five seconds of the game, and committing the cardinal sin of missing a penalty at 0-0 in the first half. The Stags started the game slowly but should have been ahead on 18 minutes. Mal Benning laid a brilliant ball forward which CJ Hamilton ran on to in the box, Hamilton took a touch past defender Leon Legge who tripped Hamilton for a blatant penalty. With Tyler Walker suspended, Nicky Ajose stepped up and sent his penalty towards the right corner of the net but it was at the perfect height for a keeper, and Scott Brown tipped it wide for a corner. The wrong height from Ajose and such a costly miss. Five minutes into the second half, Vale were in front. Ricky Miller found himself ten yards clear of the Stags defence in a 1-on-1 with Jordan Smith, he expertly took it round the keeper and fired into the empty net. Miller got free of the Stags defence after Mal Benning gave the ball away in the Vale half, and then because Ryan Sweeney was down, feeling the effects of an earlier knock on the head. After the game Stags boss David Flitcroft was furious with Sweeney saying that it was unprofessional that Sweeney had not let the management know how he was feeling. You could feel a release of tension among the home players and fans, having gone so long without a win, and within two minutes, Ricky Miller scored again, and again Mansfield had themselves to blame. Kyle Hannant crossed from the left, and Ben Turner, who had now replaced Sweeney, smashed a clearance straight at Krystian Pearce, and the ball fell to Ricky Miller to stroke into the net from 6 yards. Calamitous defending. The Stags got a lifeline on 61 minutes when sub Otis Khan delivered a beautiful cross from the right onto the head of Ajose who had found a yard of space in the six-yard box to head home. The calamitous defending from Mansfield wasn’t over though as Will Atkinson attempted a ludicrous backpass from 40 yards which was intercepted by Miller. Miller was again through 1-on-1 with Jordan Smith, but Smith saved, and Krystian Pearce blocked a follow-up shot from Tom Conlon on the line. Then Ben Turner headed against the back of Benning to present another chance to Miller, and then a minute after that Benning gave the ball away to Miller, whose shot was blocked. The Stags were unable to fashion an equaliser, the closest chance falling to Ben Turner who headed wide Jorge Grant’s free kick. A big win for Vale, celebrated massively at the final whistle, as they had every right to do. But for the Stags, too many unforced errors in a poor performance and a big response is needed on Tuesday at Crawley. The Stags have lost three on the trot away from home with poor performances at Newport, Notts County and Port Vale, and cannot afford another at Crawley. And all this after going unbeaten in the first 12 away games of the season (and a club record 15 unbeaten away games if you include the end of last season). Mansfield missed Tyler Walker hugely today. He will return from suspension at Crawley. It could have been very different had he played today as he has not looked like missing the penalties he’s taken this season. Whether Matt Preston will be fit to return from injury is unclear, manager Flitcroft said it will be assessed on Sunday. Ryan Sweeney must be a doubt as well, having come off with that knock on the head. Mansfield will come up against Ollie Palmer on Tuesday and they will have to deal with him better than they dealt with Ricky Miller today. The Stags made one change from the side that beat Cheltenham. Will Atkinson replaced Gethin Jones at right wing-back. Atkinson had replaced Jones at half time last week, and had a good half including scoring of course. The Stags started with a 3-4-2-1 formation with Pearce, Sweeney and Benning in central defence; Hamilton at left wing back, and Mellis and Grant behind Ajose. The Stags switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation during the first half, with Benning at left back, and Grant, Mellis and Hamilton behind Ajose. Matt Preston was still out with that knee problem. Tyler Walker sat out the second game of his two game ban. Port Vale made one change to the side that drew at Notts County, in a game they should have won. Tom Pope missed out through injury and in came Ricky Miller. Former Stags loanee Kyle Howkins was on the bench but did not come on. Vale fans staged a peaceful protest against owner Norman Smurthwaite, holding up red cards before the game and at half time, and urging fans not to use the food kiosks. It was a windy day, but the wind didn’t seem to have a big impact on the game. The Stags started badly and the usually reliable Neal Bishop gave the ball away inside the opening five seconds. Worrall picked up the loose ball and fired wide. On 2 minutes, Miller got away down the left, crossed to the far post, it was headed down by Worrall, and Conlon’s shot was blocked by Benning. A minute later, a shot in from Hannant, it was going wide though Benning headed behind for a corner. Port Vale were closing the Stags down well and were right on top. On 10 minutes, Joyce chipped the ball forward, Sweeney in trying to head the ball away, headed backwards, the ball skimming off his head, Worrall slid in to fire goalwards but the advancing Jordan Smith did well to save from close range. The ball looped up in the air just outside the area, and Smith did well to head further away from goal. The Stags were giving the ball away too often, but on 11 minutes, Bishop put in a good tackle. Good movement from the Stags on 14 minutes, Tomlinson played forward to Ajose, but Ajose was a fraction offside. Oyeleke miscued a shot wide on 16 minutes for Port Vale. The Stags should have been ahead on 18 minutes. Mal Benning laid a brilliant ball forward which CJ Hamilton ran on to in the box, Hamilton took a touch past defender Leon Legge who tripped Hamilton for a blatant penalty. With Tyler Walker suspended, Nicky Ajose stepped up and sent his penalty towards the right corner of the net but it was at the perfect height for a keeper, and Scott Brown tipped it wide for a corner. The wrong height from Ajose and such a costly miss. At the other end on 23 minutes, Miller went down in the box after Sweeney miscued a clearance, the ball fell to Worrall, who shot over the bar from 12 yards. On 27 minutes, Conlon shot well over the bar from 30 yards. Then on 31 minutes, a free kick from Conlon from the edge of the area, was straight at Smith. Great defending from Benning on 35 minutes as he took the ball off Worrall’s toe as he was about to shoot, after Mellis had given the ball away. The Stags had by now switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Benning at left back, and Grant, Mellis and Hamilton behind Ajose. On 38 minutes, a double chance for the Stags. A good ball forward to Hamilton by Grant, Hamilton got into the area on the left, and pulled the ball back but it was cleared for a corner. From Grant’s corner from the left, Mellis had a chance to shoot, laid off to Pearce, who had two chances but his first shot was blocked then he couldn’t find space to shoot again. A succession of corners for Mansfield. On 40 minutes, Grant’s corner was knocked just past his own post by a defender (Leon Legge). Pearce claimed he had been dragged down in that incident, but from the video it does not look like a penalty. Then another corner from Grant, was flicked against Pearce and rebounded to the keeper. On 45+1 minutes, a good move from the Stags, to Tomlinson who fired wide from 28 yards, not making a good connection on the ball. 0-0 at the break. The penalty was the main talking point, crucially missed by the Stags. But the Stags had been giving the ball away too often. The Stags had a succession of corners near the end of the half, but didn’t make enough of them. Half time 0-0 On 49 minutes, a good move from the Stags, and Tomlinson’s shot was deflected over the bar. Five minutes into the second half, Vale were in front. Ricky Miller found himself ten yards clear of the Stags defence in a 1-on-1 with Jordan Smith, he expertly took it round the keeper and fired into the empty net. Miller got free of the Stags defence after Mal Benning gave the ball away in the Vale half, and then because Ryan Sweeney was down, feeling the effects of an earlier knock on the head. After the game Stags boss David Flitcroft was furious with Sweeney saying that it was unprofessional that Sweeney had not let the management know how he was feeling. Turner immediately replaced Sweeney. You could feel a release of tension among the home players and fans, having gone so long without a win, and within two minutes, Ricky Miller scored again, and again Mansfield had themselves to blame. Kyle Hannant crossed from the left, and Ben Turner, just on the pitch for a minute, smashed a clearance straight at Krystian Pearce, and the ball fell to Ricky Miller to stroke into the net from 6 yards. Calamitous defending. Otis Khan replaced Tomlinson on 56 minutes. On 57 minutes, Oyeleke back-heeled to Worrall who shot well wide. A minute later, a ball forward to Hannant for a great chance which he fired wide. If it had been Miller, you fancy he’d have completed his hat-trick. Two minutes later, Miller’s run forward ended with a shot straight at Smith. The Stags got a lifeline on 61 minutes when sub Otis Khan delivered a beautiful cross from the right onto the head of Ajose who had found a yard of space in the six-yard box to head home. On 63 minutes, Bishop played forward for Grant on the left, he got into the area, but his low shot was saved on the line. At the other end on 65 minutes, following a corner for Vale, Worrall’s shot was blocked by Turner. Alex MacDonald replaced Mellis on 66 minutes. The calamitous defending from Mansfield wasn’t over though as Will Atkinson attempted a ludicrous backpass from 40 yards which was intercepted by Miller on 68 minutes. Miller was again through 1-on-1 with Jordan Smith, but Smith saved, and Krystian Pearce blocked a follow-up shot from Tom Conlon on the line. Then on 75 minutes, Ben Turner headed against the back of Benning to present another chance to Miller, and then a minute after that Benning gave the ball away to Miller, whose shot was blocked from the edge of the area. Great defending from MacDonald on 84 minutes tracking back to dispossess Worrall. The Stags’ closest chance to equalising fell to Ben Turner at the far post who headed wide Jorge Grant’s free kick from 27 yards on 85 minutes. With the Stags committing men forward and taking risks at the back, Jordan Smith nearly lost the ball to Whitfield in his own area on 88 minutes but just got away with it. Into 5 minutes of stoppage time, and a corner for the Stags in the last minute of those. Keeper Smith went up for it but the Stags couldn’t fashion another chance, although Smith went down in the area as Conlon went to ground to tackle him. It was naive from Conlon, and Smith went down over Conlon’s leg but I think the referee was right not to give a penalty. Such a disappointing result and the Stags really shot themselves in the foot. On to Crawley and the Stags need to bounce back. Man of the match: Otis Khan |
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Report by: Martin Shaw at Vale Park
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Line Up:
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(3-4-2-1)
Smith 6 Did well to save the second 1-on-1 with Miller, after Miller went around him for the first. Did ok. Pearce 6 One good block on the line. Sweeney 5 The first goal came as was down, feeling the effects of an earlier knock on the head. Boss Flitcroft was furious with Sweeney saying that it was unprofessional that he had not let the management know how he was feeling. Benning 6 Brilliant ball forward for Hamilton to run on to in the box to win the penalty. Gave the ball away in the build-up to the first goal. Also gave the ball away to present another chance to Miller. One good block early on, and brilliant defending to take the ball off Worrall’s toe as he was about to shoot. Atkinson 5 Terrible backpass which presented Miller another 1-on-1 with keeper Smith. Bishop 5.5 Gave the ball away inside the opening 5 seconds presenting Worrall with a chance to run forward and shoot wide. Tomlinson 5 Disappointing game, replaced by Khan. Hamilton 6 Great play to earn the penalty, which could have changed the game if converted. Mellis 4 Anonymous, and replaced by MacDonald. Grant 4 A couple of reasonable corners, and a free kick which presented a late chance for Turner, but otherwise a very poor game. Ajose 6 Scored the goal, in the right place to find a yard of space for a close range header. But missed the crucial penalty in the first half, hitting it at a good height for the keeper to save. |
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Sub Line Up:
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Turner (for Sweeney, 51 mins) 4 Involved in two pieces of calamitous defending, for the second goal, and then presenting another chance for Miller.
Khan (for Tomlinson, 56 mins) 7 Beautiful cross for the goal. Looked the liveliest of the midfielders. MacDonald (for Mellis, 66) - One piece of great defending, tracking back. Subs not used: Logan, Jones, Alistair Smith, Hakeem. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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(4-3-3): Scott Brown; Mitch Clark, Leon Legge, Nathan Smith, Adam Crookes; Manny Oyeleke (Antony Kay, 82), Luke Joyce, Tom Conlon; David Worrall, Ricky Miller (Ben Whitfield, 81), Luke Hannant (Cristian Montano, 87). Subs not used: Sam Hornby, James Gibbons, Mark Harris, Kyle Howkins.
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Referee:
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Darren Bond 7 Had a good game. Got the penalty call right and was largely unnoticed.
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