Season 19/20 Stagsnet Match Report
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Mansfield Town
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Hull City
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Bishop 44, Hamilton 54.
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Bowen 27, Dicko 46.
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Attendance: 1799 (283 from Hull)
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Date: 20 July 2019
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Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill
Mansfield Town’s second and final pre-season game against Championship opposition produced an encouraging 2-2 draw, with several Stags players catching the eye, but two defensive mistakes gifted Hull City a draw. It was very much Hull City’s first team, so the Stags can be pleased overall. A mistake by Ryan Sweeney after 27 minutes allowed Hull an easy goal to take the lead with Grosicki crossing low for Bowen to score. The Stags were level after 44 minutes. CJ Hamilton was brought down from behind by the last defender when through on goal and in a league game it should have been a red card, but the referee correctly decided there was no point in sending a player off when it is not serious foul play in a pre-season game. The impressive Otis Khan drove the resulting free kick from 25 yards against the bar (the second time he’s hit the woodwork from a free kick in two games), and the ball came out to Neal Bishop just inside the area who showed great technique to fire the rebound into the net like a missile. But just 12 seconds into the second half, another calamitous defensive error, this time from Matt Preston as he tried to play the ball back to Conrad Logan, and was dispossessed by Nouha Dicko, who rounded Logan to score. So Mansfield’s normally reliable back three of Pearce, Sweeney and Preston have now each given away a calamitous goal in the last two matches. The Stags levelled again after 54 minutes, as Khan played forward to Hamilton who surged into the area and fired a right footed shot across the keeper into the left corner of the net. It was the sort of goal we became accustomed to seeing from the outstanding Hamilton last season. The Stags could have won it when Andy Cook’s shot was saved by the keeper’s legs after 61 minutes. Early in the game, after 7 minutes, Cook also went close when his side-footed shot was blocked. At the other end, Hull had been unlucky after 14 minutes when Grosicki floated a shot against the inside of the right post. Conrad Logan made a magnificent save after 30 minutes, saving with elastic arms to take the ball off Grosicki. Logan made another magnificent save after 81 minutes when he tipped a header from de Wijs over the bar. The offside flag was actually up on that occasion but that shouldn’t detract from the quality of the save. Logan is continuing in pre-season as he ended last season, in superb form. At the back, Hayden White and Mal Benning impressed at full back, Sweeney and Preston both made bad mistakes but otherwise did ok. Young Alistair Smith again impressed in midfield. Cook won plenty of headers and is a physical presence, and twice came close to scoring. Young James Clarke came on as substitute at right back, and again did not look out of place. He looks to me to be doing enough to be considered part of the first team squad. Otis Khan provided “assists” for both goals and I expect him to be an important player this season. This was today’s team: (4-4-1-1): Conrad Logan; Hayden White, Matt Preston, Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning; Omari Sterling-James, Neal Bishop, Alistair Smith, CJ Hamilton; Otis Khan; Andy Cook (new signing from Walsall). Subs: James Clarke (young right back signed from Burnley) (for White, 46 mins) Krystian Pearce (for Preston, 63 mins) Alex MacDonald (for Bishop, 63 mins) Lewis Gibbens (for Sweeney, 80 mins) Subs not used: Aidan Stone (new young keeper, to be understudy to Logan, until Olejnik fit) Nicky Maynard (new signing from Bury), Danny Rose. Not involved today: Bobby Olejnik (injured, hopefully back October), Willem Tomlinson (sustained minor knee ligament damage against Blackburn and will be out for four weeks), Jacob Mellis (ill), Jordan Graham (injured), Craig Davies (injured), Dion Donohue (new signing from Portsmouth, not quite fit, but not far away), Jamie Chisholm (from last season’s youth team), Noah Stokes (picked up a bad knee injury at Bradford PA), Jason Law (was ill prior to Alfreton game), Tyrese Sinclair (from last season’s youth team), Tom Fielding, Jimmy Knowles (from last season’s youth team, just signed pro deal). No trialists were involved today. No confirmation of what this means though it may mean they have left. Confirmation on Monday or Tuesday. Hull had former Stags Ryan Tafazolli on the bench. He has just signed for Hull from Peterborough. There had been heavy rain in the couple of hours before kick off, but it was dry and partially sunny through the game itself. The first chance of the game came after 2 minutes when former Gillingham striker received a ball forward from de Wijs and from a tight angle on the left he shot wide of the near post. A great move from the Stags after 7 minutes involving Cook, Hamilton and Khan, and Sterling-James’s cross was pushed out by the keeper to Cook whose side-footed shot was blocked by former Nottingham Forest defender Eric Lichaj. After 12 minutes, Grosicki got away down the left and his low ball in found Bowen who knocked high over the bar. At the other end a minute later, Khan’s corner from the left was cleared as far as Benning, who miscued a right footed volley well wide. Hull were unlucky after 14 minutes when Grosicki floated a shot against the inside of the right post from the left. A minute later, a great tackle by Sweeney on Bowen as he moved forward. Eaves got above Sweeney to head over from a corner after 23 minutes. Shortly afterwards, a good tackle by White. A nicely worked move by the Stags after 26 minutes, Hamilton pulled back to Alistair Smith who curled a chip well over the bar. A mistake by Sweeney after 27 minutes allowed Hull an easy goal to take the lead. Sweeney failed to clear a ball forward allowing Grosicki to cross low for Bowen to score from 7 yards. Logan made a magnificent save after 30 minutes, saving with elastic arms to take the ball off Grosicki’s feet as he ran through on goal. Neat play on the left between Benning and Hamilton on 32 minutes, to find Khan, whose great cross was tipped behind by the keeper. Great play by Sterling-James two minutes later to win the ball and come away with it in his own half and then win a free kick. Then a great tackle by Sweeney after 37 minutes. Another good move from the Stags after 39 minutes involving Khan, Hamilton and Benning, and Khan’s cross-shot was saved by the keeper with his legs. A free kick for the Stags after 41 minutes from the halfway line. White took it towards Cook who headed high and wide. Hull wanted a penalty when Bowen went down in the area under a challenge from Sweeney but the referee wasn’t interested. The Stags were level after 44 minutes. Hamilton was brought down from behind by the last defender Jordy de Wijs when through on goal and in a league game it should have been a red card, but the referee correctly decided there was no point in sending a player off when it is not serious foul play in a pre-season game. Khan drove the resulting free kick from 25 yards against the bar (the second time he’s hit the woodwork from a free kick in two games), and the ball came out to Bishop just inside the area who showed great technique to fire the rebound into the net like a missile. The goal was a bit of justice for the foul by the last man, and also gave some reward to Khan for his free kick. Half time 1-1 James Clarke replaced White at the start of the second half. White continues to be eased back. But just 12 seconds into the second half, another calamitous defensive error, this time from Preston as he tried to play the ball back to Logan, and was dispossessed by Nouha Dicko, who rounded Logan to score. Dicko had only come on as sub at half time. So Mansfield’s normally reliable back three of Pearce, Sweeney and Preston have now each given away a calamitous goal in the last two matches. The Stags levelled again after 54 minutes, as Khan played forward to Hamilton who surged into the area and fired a right footed shot across and under the keeper into the left corner of the net. It was the sort of goal we became accustomed to seeing from the outstanding Hamilton last season. Bowen shot straight at Logan after 56 minutes. At the other end 2 minutes later, Cook headed to Khan who sent a snapshot well wide. The Stags could have taken the lead when Cook’s shot was saved by the keeper’s legs after 61 minutes after a great move from the Stags, as Benning crossed and Sterling-James headed down to Cook. Cook’s shot had goal written all over it. Pearce replaced Preston and MacDonald replaced Bishop after 63 minutes. After 65 minutes, Dicko turned well on the edge of the box, but under pressure from Pearce, could only send a tame shot straight at Logan. Another chance for Cook after 68 minutes, as Benning’s ball from the left found him in a good position and time seemed to stand still as he miscued a shot wide. On 75 minutes, Hamilton teed up Sterling-James, who fired wide from 25 yards. Good defending by Benning two minutes later as he headed a dangerous cross behind for a corner. After 79 minutes, Khan did really well to get past two defenders to the edge of the area, and his shot was saved low down by the keeper, to his left. Gibbens replaced Sweeney after 80 minutes. Logan made another magnificent save after 81 minutes when he tipped a header from de Wijs over the bar. The offside flag was actually up on that occasion but that shouldn’t detract from the quality of the save. Logan is continuing in pre-season as he ended last season, in superb form. Great defending from James Clarke, against Bowen, after 85 minutes. Cook nodded down well to Hamilton after 87 minutes, and Hamilton tried to get away from his defender but the ball was cleared. Former Stag Ryan Tafazolli came on as sub after 89 minutes to good applause from the home fans. He has just signed for Hull from Peterborough. On 90+3 minutes, Otis Khan blotted his copybook of a fine performance with a calamitous error, as he gave the ball away with a backwards pass, Dicko pushed forward, with men over but he failed to find a team-mate and the golden chance was gone. Seconds later the referee blew the final whistle. |
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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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(4-4-1-1):
Conrad Logan; Hayden White, Matt Preston, Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning; Omari Sterling-James, Neal Bishop, Alistair Smith, CJ Hamilton; Otis Khan; Andy Cook (new signing from Walsall). |
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Sub Line Up:
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James Clarke (young right back signed from Burnley) (for White, 46 mins)
Krystian Pearce (for Preston, 63 mins) Alex MacDonald (for Bishop, 63 mins) Lewis Gibbens (for Sweeney, 80 mins) Subs not used: Aidan Stone (new young keeper, to be understudy to Logan, until Olejnik fit) Nicky Maynard (new signing from Bury), Danny Rose. |
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Opposition Line Up:
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Long; Lichaj (McKenzie 61), Burke (Tafazolli 89), de Wijs, Kingsley; Bowen, Stewart, Henriksen (Bowler 74), Irvine, Grosicki (Toral 61); Eaves (Dicko 46). Subs Not Used: Ingram, Milinkovic, Fleming, Greaves, Sheaf, Lewis-Potter.
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Referee:
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Michael Salisbury A quick return to Mansfield for the man who refereed the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Newport.
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