Archived News from August 2021
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STAGS BEATEN BY PRESTON IN LEAGUE CUP
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Carabao Cup (English Football League Cup) - Round 1
Mansfield Town 0 - 3 Preston North End Sinclair 45+1, 81, Riis 71 mins Attendance: 2,526 (486 from Preston) Date: 10 August 2021 STAGS BEATEN BY PRESTON IN LEAGUE CUP AFTER IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE FOR 70 MINUTES Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town were beaten 3-0 at home by Championship side Preston North End in the first round of the Carabao Cup last night. Mansfield played really well for 70 minutes and showed more promise for the season ahead. Indeed the Stags more than held their own during that 70 minutes. But a couple of defensive mistakes allowed Preston to score a fine goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half, and then add a second goal gifted to them after 71 minutes. For the final 20 minutes, Preston’s Championship quality finally showed through and they hit the post before adding a superb third goal after 81 minutes. A year ago, the Stags were hammered 4-0 by Preston at the same stage of the competition. There were no positives from that performance last season as the gulf in class was all too obvious. This time it was completely different and Stags fans in attendance were happy with what they saw for much of the game, and gave their side a good ovation at the final whistle. Nigel Clough made four changes from the side that beat Bristol Rovers, resting his two most experienced players Quinn and Perch, and resting his first choice strikeforce of Hawkins and Johnson. Ryan Stirk replaced Quinn in midfield, Ryan Burke went in at left back, the versatile McLaughlin switched to centre half. Jordan Bowery came in up front, Oates move up front alongside him from midfield, and George Lapslie started in an attacking midfield role. The first half saw a really good performance from Mansfield. Indeed the Stags were the better side in my opinion. Inside the opening seconds, Stirk did well to get down the left, but his cross evaded everyone. After 3 minutes, brilliant play from Oates on the left to get past two defenders into the area along the byline and his cross-shot was saved low down by the keeper. Bowery had a shot blocked for a corner after a good ball forward from Maris. Oates shot wide of the right post after good control on the edge of the area. Then Oates again got away from his defender onto his left foot and shot across the keeper and wide of the right post on 37 minutes. A minute later, a great cross in from Burke from the left and Lapslie volleyed a side-footed shot over the bar. And a minute before the break, a snap-shot was Stirk was saved by the keeper. At the other end, a chance for Preston after 13 minutes, as former Stags loanee Ben Whiteman slid a good ball forward for Sean Maguire to turn the ball into the area and Scott Sinclair got in between Rawson and McLaughlin to put himself 1-on-1 with Nathan Bishop, but Bishop made himself big and saved well. Brad Potts shot well over the bar after half an hour, but those were Preston’s only two chances in the opening 45 minutes. But after 45+1 minutes, Ollie Clarke gave the ball away 15 yards inside the Preston half, Sean Maguire pushed forward into the Stags half and laid a great ball forward for Scott Sinclair who got into the area and chipped an exquisite shot over Bishop into the net. Great quality in the goal. A real blow for the Stags conceding the goal in stoppage at the end of a half in which they had more than held their own, and created considerably more chances than the visitors. The opening 25 minutes of the second half saw the Stags remain as the better side. Burke shot well wide after 52 minutes. Then Burke put in a great cross which Oates headed wide of the right post. Great play between Oates and Gordon down the right hand side to win a corner after 64 minutes, but the corner was wasted. Tyrese Sinclair replaced Oates after 64 minutes and he was straight into the action having a shot deflected for a corner. It had been mostly Mansfield, and Preston hadn’t created any chances in the second half, but they were gifted a second goal after 71 minutes. Bishop, who hasn’t put a foot wrong until this point, miscued a goalkick straight to Scott Sinclair 40 yards from goal. Sinclair surged forward to the edge of the area and his shot was goalbound but Bishop redeemed himself making himself big and stretching out his right hand to make a wonderful save. The ball ballooned up in the air. Rawson had a chance to clear but instead tried to hold off Preston sub Emil Riis, and as Rawson slipped over, Riis was able to create an angle to shoot into the roof of the net giving Bishop no chance. A mistake by Rawson that was costly. Preston were now able to play with freedom and could have added a third on 75 minutes when Greg Cunningham crossed and Brad Potts sent a brilliant volley against the left post. Preston did make it 3-0 after 81 minutes. Ben Whiteman fed a magnificent ball forward into the area for Scott Sinclair who turned and fired past Bishop. A great goal. It was harsh on Mansfield. The Stags had a couple of chances to pull a goal back as Tyrese Sinclair won a free kick 27 yards out and sent his free kick straight at the keeper, and then Kellan Gordon fired wide from 30 yards in stoppage time at the end of the game. Despite the defeat, plenty of encouragement for Mansfield, in stark contrast to the same stage last season. More positives than negatives in my opinion. Back to the league on Saturday and Mansfield welcome Newport to the One Call Stadium, in a game switched from Rodney Parade to give more time for the summer pitch renovation at Newport. Newport have started the season with a couple of 1-0 away wins and it promises to be a tight and tough game. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ---------------------------- Preston North End knock plucky Mansfield Town out of Carabao Cup for second year in a row chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tuesday 10th August 2021 Championship standard finishing did for plucky Mansfield Town as Preston North End won 3-0 at the One Call Stadium tonight to send Stags crashing out the Carabao Cup in the first round for a second season in succession. The home side created the better first half chances and could count themselves unfortunate to be behind to a top drawer finish by Scott Sinclair just before the break. But Preston were improved after the break and two goals in 11 minutes by Sinclair and sub Emil Riis ended any remaining home hopes. Mansfield made four changes with debuts for Ryan Burke, who replaced James Perch at the back and fellow Birmingham loanee Ryan Stirk, replacing Stephen Quinn. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end-knock-plucky-mansfield-town-out-of-caraboa-cup-for-second-year-in-a-row-3341495 Forward duo Danny Johnson and Oliver Hawkins, who both netted in the win over Bristol Rovers on Saturday, both dropped to the bench to be replaced by fit-again George Lapslie and Jordan Bowery. Rhys Oates joined Bowery up front and Stephen McLaughlin moved across to centre half with Stirk at left back. Preston made seven changes from the side beaten at home by Hull City at the weekend, but still named a very strong line-up. Patrick Bauer was making his first competitive start since December 2020 while forwards Sean Maguire and Sinclair returned after recent Covid isolation periods had ended. North End goalkeeper Declan Rudd suffered concussion on Saturday and was replaced by Daniel Iversen. Stags went straight onto the offensive and Stirk curled a dangerous ball across the Preston box in the opening 15 seconds with no one able to connect. On three minutes Oates cut in from the left and took on two defenders before drilling a low shot at Iversen from a tight angle. Maris then sent Bowery into space and Bauer did well to block his finish for a corner. Preston's first threat came on 13 minutes as quick passes from Whiteman and Maguire gave Sinclair sight of goal down the centre, Bishop down to safely grab his low finish. Oates then went close for the home with a low snapshot wide after superbly controlling a ball in from Stirk. Potts was well over from distance on the half-hour as Stags continued to have the edge. On 37 minutes Oates collected a long free kick on the edge of the box and made space before pulling a finish just wide of the far post. Lapslie guided a Burke cross first time wide, then when Burke had a shot blocked, Stirk was quickly onto the loose ball to force Iversen to save a low finish. But as the game entered the first added minute, Preston took the lead against the run of play. Maguire sent Sinclair into the box with a fine pass and as Bishop advanced, the Preston man coolly lifted a finish over him into the empty net. Stags again pressed after the break and Oates glanced a header wide from a Burke cross on 56 minutes. Sinclair joined the action in place of Oates on 64 minutes and from his corner soon after Rawson had a shot on the turn blocked. But Preston were 2-0 up on 71 minutes. A poor kick out by Bishop gifted the ball to Sinclair. He redeemed himself by blocking the finish, but the ball ran loose and Riis managed to win it on the by-line in a tussle with Rawson before squeezing home across Bishop from a tight angle. Two minutes later Potts crashed a volley against a post from Cunningham's left wing cross. Bauer saw the night's only booking for fouling Lapslie on 78 minutes. Victory was fully sealed on 81 minutes when a superb pass from ex-Stag Whiteman gave Sinclair time and space in the box to drill home a low finish. Stags sub Sinclair got a 25 yard free kick on target but Iverson was there to deny a consolation. But the game gave valuable match time to some key fringe players and Nigel Clough will draw many positives from the cup exit. STAGS: Bishop, Gordon, Rawson, McLaughlin, Burke, Maris (Law 74), O. Clarke (Johnson 78), Stirk, Lapslie, Bowery, Oates (Sinclair 64). SUBS NOT USED: Shelvey, Hawkins, Perch, J. Clarke. PRESTON: Iverson, Van den Berg, Cunningham, Whiteman, Bauer, Johnson, Storey, Hughes, Maguire (Riis 66), Sinclair (Rodwell-Grant 82), Potts (Thomas 83). SUBS NOT USED: Ripley, Rafferty, Earl, Harrop. REFEREE: Ross Joyce. ATTENDANCE: 2,526 (486 away). ------------------------ Mansfield Town 0 Preston North End 3 match report: Scott Sinclair nets twice in Carabao Cup victory at Field Mill Lancashire Evening Post, By Dave Seddon, Tuesday 10th August 2021 Scott Sinclair struck twice and Emil Riis found the net as Preston North End knocked Mansfield Town out of the Carabao Cup at Field Mill. Sinclair, returning to the side after being in isolation, broke the deadlock in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, latching on to a pass from Sean Maguire. Substitute Riis doubled the advantage in the 71st minute, soon after being introduced off the bench. It was his second goal in successive games after finding the net against Hull. Sinclair sealed victory nine minutes from time with a calm finish from Ben Whiteman's pass. https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/mansfield-town-0-preston-north-end-3-match-report-scott-sinclair-nets-twice-in-carabao-cup-victory-at-field-mill-3341498 North End didn't have it all their own way, their League Two hosts lively in the first half and causing more than a few problems. That said, there was little to really trouble PNE goalkeeper Daniel Iversen - the saves he made no more than routine. In the main the visitors controlled the second half, the two goals they scored in that closing spell coming in front of 486 travelling Preston fans who gave their side a warm round of applause at the final whistle. Frankie McAvoy had made seven changes to the side beaten on the opening day by Hull City. Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes, Greg Cunningham and Whiteman were the four to stay in. Iversen, who had replaced the concussed Declan Rudd on Saturday, started in goal, while there was a first competitive game for Patrick Bauer since Achilles tendon surgery in December. North End lined-up in a 3-5-2, Sepp vam den Berg playing at right wing-back and Cunningham on the left. Sinclair and Maguire formed the forward line, supported by Brad Potts from the No.10 position. It was Mansfield who made the brighter start in terms of chances, Rhys Oates tricking his way into the box early on but he put his low shot too close to Iversen who got down to it comfortable. When Jordan Bowery chased a through ball into the PNE box, Bauer did well to slide across and take the striker's shot behind for a corner, North End's first chance of real note came in the 17th minute, the build-up impressive as Whiteman's pass found Maguire who threaded the ball through the home defence to release Sinclair. He took a touch before getting a shot away, Stages keeper Nathan Bishop spreading himself well to save. A low first-time shot from Ryan Stirk on the edge of the box went through a crowd of players, Iversen dropping on to it to save after seeing it late. The deadlock was broken in first-half stoppage time as PNE counter-attacked to good effect. Maguire carried he ball through the middle and slipped a pass outside of him to play Sinclair into the right hand side of the box. Sinclair showed a cool head to control and lift a right-foot finish over Bishop into the roof of the net. The home side had the first chance of the second half, Ryan Burke's cross from the left met by Oates who glanced a header across goal and wide of the far post. In the 63rd minute, Oates' low cross from the right-wing to the near post was cleared by Storey out of the six-yard box as Ollie Clarke closed in. Maguire was replaced by Riis in a straight swap after 67 minutes, the Dane taking only four minutes to get on the scoresheet and extend PNE's lead. It came via something of a gift from keeper Bishop, his wayward goalkick falling into the path of Sinclair who got clear of the home defence and got into the box. Sinclair's shot was parried by Bishop, the ball looping into the air to the left of goal. Riis challenged for it in the air and when it dropped, he showed composure to step inside past a challenge and fire a shot into the net. Potts saw a scissor-kick volley from Cunningham's cross come back off the post before North End's third goal arrived in the 81st minute. The ball was worked well to Whiteman 20 yards out, the former Stags loanee playing a fine low ball into the box to find Sinclair who turned into space and picked his spot with a calm low finish. Joe Rodwell-Grant was introduced soon after for two-goal Sinclair, with Jamie Thomas then replacing Potts. Mansfield: Bishop, Gordon, Rawson, McLaughlin, Burke, Maris (Law 74), O Clarke (Johnson 78), Stirk, Lapslie, Bowery, Oates (Sinclair 64). Subs (not used): Shelvey, Hawkins, Perch, J Clarke. PNE: Iversen, Storey, Bauer, Hughes, Van den Berg, Whiteman, Johnson, Potts (Thomas 83), Cunningham, Sinclair (Rodwell-Grant 81), Maguire (Riis 67). Subs (not used): Ripley, Rafferty, Earl, Harrop. Referee: Ross Joyce (Cleveland) Attendance: 2,526 (486 PNE) ---------------------- |
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