Archived News from January 2021
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5 WINS ON THE TROT AS STAGS WIN AT SOUTHEND
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Southend United 0 - 1 Mansfield Town Dieng sent off 84. Reid 64 Attendance: behind closed doors Date: 23 January 2021 Martin Shaw at Roots Hall Mansfield Town won 1-0 at Southend United to make it an incredible 5 wins on the trot in the league, after winning just 2 of the opening 19 league games. It is the first time the Stags have won 5 league games in a row in the Football League since 1991, though of course we did win 12 in a row in the Conference in 2013. It was a deserved win for the Stags against the side who, although bottom, had only lost 2 of their last 9 games, and had won 4 of their last 5 home games. The only goal of the game came after 64 minutes. Farrend Rawson made a great tackle on Ashley Nathaniel-George just outside his own area and set new signing Stephen Quinn away on a run into the Southend half. Quinn found Jordan Bowery on the left touchline. Bowery cut inside Greg Halford and Timothy Dieng before firing goalwards low from an angle on the left. Keeper Mark Oxley got down to save at full stretch to his left but could only push it into the path of Jamie Reid who was in the right place to knock the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. It was Reid’s 4th goal of the season. If it hadn’t fallen for Reid, it might have fallen for George Lapslie or Harry Charsley who were also well-positioned for any rebound, and much more alert to the situation than the Southend defence. A good team goal, with great play from Rawson to set the move off, a good run from Quinn and great play on the left from Bowery, who made several excellent runs down the left in the second half. The first half had been fairly even with Kyle Taylor and Alan McCormack shooting wide for Southend in the opening 10 minutes before Aiden Stone saved low down from Simeon Akinola’s shot after a cross from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild after 15 minutes. But the Stags had the best two chances of the half as George Lapslie headed back to Reid whose shot from 8 yards seemed a certain goal with the keeper beaten but Dieng blocked it on the line, after 22 minutes. Then 2 minutes later, great play from the Stags just outside the Southend box as Lapslie found Bowery who found Reid, and Reid laid a superb ball forward into the path of Lapslie to put him through 1-on-1 with the keeper. But as Lapslie tried to take it round keeper Oxley, Oxley was out quickly and tackled Lapslie with his legs. It was great goalkeeping as Lapslie looked favourite to take it around the keeper or be brought down for a penalty. Southend had a chance to take the lead after 53 minutes as Akinola crossed from the left and Dieng made a late run into the box, getting away from Quinn who was tracking him, but Dieng, now unmarked, headed tamely wide. Poor play from Quinn to allow Dieng into the box for a free header. After the Stags took the lead, Southend wanted a penalty on 72 minutes as Dieng ran straight into Sweeney in the box. From the video, Dieng simply ran into Sweeney and it was not a foul. After 82 minutes, Charsley shot over the bar from 23 yards after good play from Bowery on the left. Southend were reduced to 10 men after 84 minutes. Dieng, who had already been booked, was adjudged to have stood on Charsley as Charsley lay on the ground after the whistle had already gone for a foul. From the video, it’s difficult to tell if he did catch him. Southend had one chance to equalise and that came after 89 minutes as Hackett-Fairchild crossed from the right and Akinola rose at the far post above Gordon to head down but it was an easy save for Stone. Although Akinola got the header in, Gordon did just enough to make it difficult for Akinola. The Stags had no further alarms in 4 minutes of stoppage time and were able to celebrate that 5th win on the trot. Plenty of good performances in the Stags side with Rawson winning so many headers as well as that great tackle that started the move that led to the only goal, Sweeney played very well alongside him, the midfield did really well and controlled the game, and Bowery had a very good second half with several terrific runs down the left, including for the goal. A good performance all round that limited the home side to very little. Mansfield are now 11 points above the relegation zone and 5 points behind the play-off places. A play-off push is certainly a genuine possibility. The next game is on Tuesday night as Bolton visit the One Call Stadium (7pm kick-off). Join us from 6.50pm on iFollow Stags. The Stags, without a game for 10 days, made one change from the side that won at Oldham. New signing Stephen Quinn, an experienced midfielder, signed on loan from Burton until the end of the season, came into the side. Andy Cook dropped to the bench. Ollie Clarke remained out through injury. James Perch returned from illness to the bench. Jason Law was named on the bench, in preference to Aaron O’Driscoll who warmed up with the side before the game, but didn’t make the 18. Mal Benning was also on the bench, and having made his 200th league appearance for Mansfield in the last game, today came on for his 300th appearance in all competitions and for all clubs. Congratulations Mal! Stephen McLaughlin was preferred to Benning today at left back, playing against his former club. Southend made two changes from the side that lost at home to Cambridge on Tuesday. Before that Southend had won four on the trot at home. I watched that game on Tuesday on iFollow. Southend bombarded Cambridge from set pieces in the first half, with long throws from Greg Halford, corners and free kicks. They scored from a corner, and were 1-0 up at half time but should have been 3-0 up. In the second half, Cambridge stopped them getting set pieces in the final third and turned the game around the win 2-1. The Stags would surely have been expecting a bombardment of long throws from Halford, but after one early on, he didn’t take any more and it later became clear that he had a shoulder injury that eventually forced him off. Perhaps a small bit of luck for the Stags, who of course had a barrage of long throws at Cheltenham recently and eventually succumbed to one in extra time. Halford, who played at centre-half on Tuesday, played the first half at centre-forward here, then moved to right back, before going off. Southend were without James Olayinka, who scored that great goal in the 1-1 draw at the One Call Stadium. Olayinka is injured and has returned to his parent club Arsenal. It was a nice day in Southend, with some sunshine, .. well apart from ten minutes of hail that very briefly turned the pitch white towards the end of the first half! FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE -------------------- High five! Mansfield Town’s winning streak continues at Southend United chad.co.uk, Saturday 23rd January 2021 Jamie Reid’s fourth goal of the season stretched Mansfield Town’s impressive winning streak to five games. The 26-year-old’s second goal in as many games secured the Stags’ first win at Roots Hall since 2004. Reid bagged the only goal of the game as the visitors sunk ten-man Southend United. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/high-five-mansfield-towns-winning-streak-continues-southend-united-3110673 Tim Dieng was sent off for the hosts as any glimmer of a late revival evaporated. And with just one loss in their last 10 games and being unbeaten in seven, Nigel Clough’s side have opened up a healthy 11-point gap over the relegation places. The revival under experienced Clough has been startling and the Stags now sit just five points off the play-off places after looking like relegation candidates earlier in the season. Clough named a solitary change from the team which beat Oldham Athletic last time out. Veteran Stephen Quinn, on-loan from League One Burton Albion, came straight into the starting line-up as Andy Cook dropped to the bench. And debutant Quinn looked dangerous as he looked to make an immediate impact in a Stags’ shirt. Both sides had early chances to take the lead. Harry Charsley saw his effort blocked after Quinn found him inside the box. Down the other end, Kyle Taylor blasted over the visitor’s bar. Alan McCormack fired wide as the hosts threatened. Stags’ stopper Aidan Stone produced a good low save to keep out Simeon Akinola’s deflected effort. Clough’s charges were denied by some last-ditch defending as Jamie Reid’s effort was cleared off the line after George Lapslie’s knockdown. The first chance after the break fell to Reid as he fired wide before Dieng headed wide at the other end. But Reid made no mistake as he put the Stags ahead in the 64th minute. The Northern Irishman was in the right place at the right time to poke home the equaliser after Jordan Bowery forced Mark Oxley into action. Mark Moseley’s hosts saw shouts for a penalty waved away after Dieng went down inside the box. Charsley could have wrapped the game up with eight minutes left but his curling 25-yard effort flew over the bar. Dieng was sent off late on for a second yellow after an off-the-ball incident. Southend: Oxley, Bwomono (Clifford, 45), Hobson, Hart, White, McCormack (Nathaniel-George, 59), Dieng, Taylor, Akinola, Hackett-Fairchild, Halford (Acquah, 73). Unused subs: Seaden, Taylor, Howard, Stewart. Mansfield: Stone, Sweeney, Rawson, Gordon, McLaughlin (Benning, 90+2), Maris, Quinn (Cook, 77), Lapslie, Charsley, Bowery, Reid. Unused subs: Stech, O'Keeffe, Perch, Law, Maynard. Referee: Ben Speedie (Merseyside). -------------------- Match report: Southend United 0, Mansfield Town 1 Southend Echo, By Chris Phillips, Saturday 23rd January 2021 SOUTHEND United remain at the foot of the League Two table after suffering a 1-0 defeat against in-form Mansfield Town at Roots Hall. The Shrimpers rarely threatened against the Stags and their misery was compounded late on by a red card to Timothee Dieng which came after Elvis Bwomono and Alan McCormack had already gone off injured. https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/19034353.match-report-southend-united-0-mansfield-town-1/ The setback was Southend’s second at home in the space of five days but Mark Molesley’s side did push forward early on with Kyle Taylor sending a long range effort wide of the right post before McCormack fired past the opposite upright after a corner from Taylor had been half cleared. Moments later, Simeon Akinola’s low effort from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s left wing cross was saved by Mansfield goalkeeper Aidan Stone before the visitors hit back with Jamie Reid seeing his effort blocked on the line by Dieng. The Stags soon threatened again with Blues goalkeeper Mark Oxley coming off his line to deny George Lapslie and that kept the game goalless until the end of the first half. The Shrimpers were forced into a change at the break with Tom Clifford replacing the injured Bwomono in a swap which saw Greg Halford switching to right-back. The new look Blues carved open the first chance of the second period with Dieng heading Akinola’s left wing cross wide of the right post. The Shrimpers were forced into a second change in the 59th minute with Ashley Nathaniel-George taking the place of the injured McCormack. But, five minutes later, the Stags went in front when Jordan Bowery worked his way past Halford before cutting inside and unleashing a low effort Oxley could only parry into the path of Jamie Reid who tapped home from close range. A third change for Blues soon followed with Emile Acquah replacing Halford but the hosts still looked unlikely to score. And the Shrimpers suffered another blow six minutes from time when Dieng was shown a second yellow card for an off the ball incident. Despite their numerical disavantage, Blues did muster one slight chance late on but Akinola's deflected close range, from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild's cross, was easily saved by Stone. ---------------------- MATCH REPORT: SOUTHEND 0-1 MANSFIELD southendunited.co.uk Blues fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Mansfield Town at Roots Hall as Jamie Reid’s solitary goal was enough to seal a win for the visitors with Southend ending the game with 10 men. After a goalless first-half where Mansfield had a Reid effort cleared off the line by Timothee Dieng, those two would be involved in the second-half’s two biggest talking points as Reid tapped the Stags in front after Mark Oxley parried Jordan Bowery’s shot into the path of Reid. https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2021/january/match-report-southend-vs-mansfield/ Dieng would then receive a red card, after being booked earlier in the half for a late challenge, the Southend midfielder was given a second yellow for an altercation with Harry Charsley as Blues suffered a second straight defeat at home. Following the midweek defeat to Cambridge, this afternoon was another opportunity for Blues to climb out of the relegation zone if they could pick up a win against a Mansfield side that had found form in recent weeks, unbeaten in their last five including four successive wins. Mark Molesley made two changes from Tuesday with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Kyle Taylor coming into the starting line-up, and the latter had the game’s first effort on goal as he picked the ball up in midfield before curling his shot harmlessly wide of Aidan Stone’s goal. Southend had another half-chance come and go when Alan McCormack dragged a shot wide from a corner before Blues’ best chance of the half came when Hackett-Fairchild broke down the left, playing the ball across goal for Simeon Akinola whose low shot was saved by Stone. Blues though began to live dangerously at the back as the half wore on and were it not for Timothee Dieng the Stags would have gone in front as Jamie Reid struck after a goalmouth scramble only to see Dieng clear off the goal line. Mansfield kept pushing and created another great chance as Reid and George Lapslie linked up well allowing the Charlton loanee to go clean through, but Mark Oxley read the danger superbly, coming quickly off his line to clear with a sliding challenge. Early in the second-half, Southend went close to breaking the deadlock when Akinola found some space on the left to dig out a good cross into the box. The ball in found the head of Dieng but the Frenchman couldn’t direct his header on target. The visitors would go on to punish Blues for that missed chance as they scored after the hour mark when Reid put Mansfield in front. Neat work from Jordan Bowery on the left allowed him to get his shot away only for Oxley to parry it to the grateful Reid who scored from close range. Southend needed a response and felt they had a big claim for a penalty when Dieng appeared to be poleaxed in the box by Stags captain Ryan Sweeney, but referee Speedie wasn’t interested in Blues’ forlorn appeals. And Southend’s task of grabbing a vital equaliser was dealt a huge blow when Molesley’s side were reduced to 10 men. Dieng, who’d been booked early after the restart, had a coming together with Harry Charsley which was enough for the ref to show him a second yellow card. Blues though still had one last chance in them to grab an unlikely point when Akinola was picked out at the far post by a cross from Hackett-Fairchild, but the striker’s header lacked the power needed to beat Stone as Southend fell to a second straight defeat. Blues XI: Oxley, Bwomono (Clifford 46’), McCormack (Nathaniel-George 59’), Hobson (Acquah 73’), Dieng, Akinola, Hackett-Fairchild, Halford, K Taylor, Hart, White (C). Subs Not Used: Seaden, Howard, R Taylor, Stewart Mansfield Town XI: Stone, Sweeney (C), Rawson, Charsley, Bowery, Maris, Gordon, Quinn (Cook 77’), Reid, McLaughlin (Benning 90+2'), Lapslie. Subs Not Used: Stech, O’Keeffe, Perch, Maynard, Law Referee: Benjamin Speedie Assistants: Andy Bennett & Joseph Stokes Fourth Official: Louis Marks Scorers: Southend United: None Mansfield Town: Jamie Reid 64’ Yellow Cards: Southend United: Timothee Dieng 54’, Sam Hart 78’ Mansfield Town: Stephen Quinn 71’ Red Cards: Southend United: Timothee Dieng 84’ Mansfield Town: None ------------------- |
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