Archived News from November 2021
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WONDERFUL STAGS WIN AT SUNDERLAND AGAIN
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The Emirates FA Cup - Round One
Sunderland 0 - 1 Mansfield Town Oates 6 Attendance: 8,620 (1335 from Mansfield) Date: 6 November 2021 Martin Shaw at the Stadium of Light Mansfield Town produced a wonderful performance to deservedly win 1-0 at Sunderland this afternoon in the First Round of the FA Cup, for the second season running. It was stunning stuff from the Stags who out-played the Carabao Cup quarter-finalists and 5th placed side in League One to earn a place in Monday night’s Round Two draw. The only goal of the game, after just 6 minutes, was a bit of a gift as keeper Lee Burge’s clearance was charged down by Harry Charsley on the edge of the area and fell for Rhys Oates who was able to take aim and place his shot from 18 yards into the net off the inside of the left post. A good finish from Oates. But although it was a gift, it came from Mansfield trying to close down Sunderland’s back line as they played it around at the back. And it came right in front of the visiting 1300 Stags fans, what a moment for them after the side played here last season behind closed doors. The Stags had numerous chances to extend their lead in the first half. After 27 minutes, George Lapslie set Charsley away into the area and his low shot with just the keeper to beat was inches wide of the left post. Then on 43 minutes, Oates got to the byline on the left and his low cross came to Lapslie whose goalbound shot was deflected just over the bar. The Stags came even closer from the resulting corner, taken by Stephen Quinn from the left, as Oli Hawkins rose highest to head against the bar. The home side had just one opportunity of their own, on 42 minutes, as Leon Dajaku got to the byline on the right, chipped in a cross and Nathan Broadhead’s header was superbly saved by Nathan Bishop. Sunderland, who made fewer changes to their side than many local pundits expected, keeping half of their side from their previous match, made further changes at half time bringing on four more first team regulars. Yet it was Mansfield who kept creating the better chances. On 50 minutes, George Maris’s free kick from the right reached McLaughlin on the left and his first time shot flew just wide. Then on 58 minutes, Charsley got into the area on the right and his cross found Quinn who fired over the bar. At the other end after 51 minutes, Lynden Gooch played inside to Dan Neil who sliced a shot just wide of the right post on the half volley from 20 yards. The game could have been out of sight but into the final 10 minutes and finally Sunderland put the Stags under some pressure and created a couple of chances. After 82 minutes, Elliott Hewitt did well to block a shot from Corry Evans on the line after a cross from the right by Carl Winchester was turned goalwards by Evans at the far post from 10 yards. And there was one final near-miss for Sunderland after 90+1 minutes as Dan Neil smacked a shot against the crossbar from 12 yards. It was a stroke of luck for the Stags, but one they more than deserved, having hit the bar themselves in the first half and created more clearcut chances than the home side. Indeed after the game, Sunderland boss Lee Johnson conceded: “overall you have to say that Mansfield deserved it.” Great celebrations at the final whistle as the Stags players were able to celebrate with the magnificent travelling fans who provided tremendous vocal support for their side throughout the game, and dragged the players through that last 10 minutes when Sunderland finally put the Stags under some pressure. Every Stags player played very well. Oates was magnificent up front on his own, causing the home side plenty of problems. The 5 man midfield of Charsley, Maris, Ollie Clarke, Lapslie and Quinn never stopped running and never surrendered control of the middle of the park. Hawkins was magnificent at centre half, with John-Joe O’Toole very impressive alongside him on his first start for the Stags and his first start for anyone for 6 months. Hewitt and McLaughlin were terrific at full back, and Bishop, with surprisingly little to do, made one tremendous save. After 12 League games without a win, 14 in League and Cup, the Stags have roared back with that 2-0 win over Tranmere last week in an excellent performance, and an ever better performance today. The Stags are looking like the side I expected them to be this season. Now we need to keep this level of performance up and climb away from the relegation zone in League Two. Before that though, there is an EFL Trophy game against Newcastle U21 on Tuesday night at the One Call Stadium. It will be an opportunity for Will Forrester to show what he can do at centre half, also the likes of James Clarke, Ryan Burke, Keaton Ward, Jason Law, Tyrese Sinclair, Jordan Bowery, and George Shelvey will want to prove he is better than he has shown in the previous two matches in this competition. If you’re not going to the game (kick off 7.45), you can buy a match pass to watch the game with us on iFollow Stags. By the way, you can also buy a match pass to watch the next league game on iFollow, away to Stevenage on Saturday, as it falls on an international weekend. DETAILED REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------ SAT 06 NOV 2021, THE FA CUP Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield Town Oates (5'minutes) Match report supplied by PA Media. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59180216 Rhys Oates returned to the north east to knock Sunderland out of the FA Cup with an early winner in Mansfield's narrow victory. Nigel Clough's side, struggling in Sky Bet League Two, claimed an away win for the first time this season at the Black Cats' expense. Oates, who left Hartlepool in the summer, made the most of an error from Sunderland goalkeeper Lee Burge to score the opener in the fifth minute. It meant Sunderland - who have lost their last three matches in the league - were dumped out by Mansfield for the second year in a row at the same stage. By the time Nathan Broadhead had forced Mansfield goalkeeper Nathan Bishop into his first meaningful save with a header a few minutes before the break, the Stags were already in front. Burge's early clearance should have been routine but it hit a visiting player and Oates controlled the loose ball before dispatching the finish in off the left-hand post. Mansfield's Ollie Hawkins also headed against the crossbar with half-time approaching, with Sunderland fortunate not to be two goals behind. After the restart, Sunderland - after five substitutions - continued in a similar manner. The nearest they came to levelling was when Carl Winchester headed against the top of the crossbar and Dan Neil's half-volley shook the woodwork in stoppage-time but Mansfield held on to reach the second round. Match Stats Home Team Sunderland Away Team Mansfield Possession Home 62% Away 38% Shots Home 9 Away 7 Shots on Target Home 4 Away 1 Corners Home 4 Away 3 Fouls Home 10 Away 13 ----------------------- Mansfield Town knock Sunderland out of FA Cup for second successive year chad.co.uk, by Agency, Saturday 6th November 2021 Mansfield made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they beat Sunderland 1-0 to reach the second round of the FA Cup. The Stags had avoided a first round exit in the coveted cup competition for three years in a row. Rhys Oates’ early effort proved decisive as the League One Black Cats suffered a third defeat on the spin in all competitions. The Stags made the perfect start to proceedings as they took the lead inside five minutes. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-knock-sunderland-out-of-fa-cup-for-second-successive-year-3448034 Oates did well to close down Sunderland stopper Lee Burge before firing home off the inside of the post for his second goal in as many games. The Black Cats came roaring back into the game and could have levelled after 15 minutes. Leon Dajaku headed over the bar and should have done better as the hosts threatened. The Stags squandered a glorious opportunity of their own as Harry Charsley missed the target after being picked out by George Lapslie’s pin-point pass. And another opportunity fell to Charsley mere minutes later as he fired over Burge’s bar. Stags’ stopper Nathan Bishop produced a super save to ensure the visitors led at the break as he kept out Nathan Broadhead’s point-blank header. And Nigel Clough’s charges were frustrated by the furniture seconds later when Oli Hawkins was denied by the bar in a frantic end to the opening period. Raging Sunderland boss Lee Johnson made a quadruple substitution in a desperate bid to turn things around at half-time. Daniel Neill had the first sight of goal after the break as he blasted wide of the mark after being picked out by substitute Lynden Gooch. Defender Elliott Hewitt produced a great block as the visitors held on for dear life at the death. Clough’s side breathed a huge sigh of relief as Neil’s effort crashed against the bar in stoppage time. Sunderland: Burge, Alves (Winchester, 45), Wright, Flanagan (Doyle, 45), Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Dajaku (Pritchard, 45), Embleton, O'Brien (Gooch, 45), Broadhead. Unused subs: Hoffmann, Harris, Taylor, Younger. Mansfield: Bishop, Hewitt, O'Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin, Charsley (Forrester 90+4), O.Clarke, Maris, Quinn, Lapslie (Sinclair, 84), Oates (Bowery, 63). Unused subs: Ward, Law, Clarke, Burke, Shelvey, Johnson. Referee: James Oldham Attendance: Not announced ------------------ Sunderland AFC 0-1 Mansfield Town https://safc.com/news/team-news/2021/november/mansfield-town/report-vs-mansfield Mansfield Town secured a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon to knock Sunderland out of the Emirates FA Cup. The Stags opened the scoring on Wearside with seven minutes on the clock, as Rhys Oates seized on a loose pass and made the Black Cats pay. Making his first start since the Lads’ 5-0 win over Cheltenham Town, Nathan Broadhead came closest to a reply during the opening period when his effort was well-saved. George Lapslie and Ollie Hawkins threatened before the break and Dan Neil sent a rasping effort just wide following an interval that included four Sunderland changes. Corry Evans also saw a goalbound effort cleared to safety late on and Neil struck the woodwork, as Mansfield sealed their place in round two of the competition. Sunderland made six changes from the side that lined up at Hillsborough Stadium, as Lee Burge, Frederik Alves, Bailey Wright, Elliot Embleton Leon Dajaku and came into the starting XI. Nigel Clough also freshened things up and it was his side that edged in front early on at the Stadium of Light. A wayward clearance from Burge was fired straight into Oates’ path and the forward did the rest, slotting a calm finish against the inside of the post and into the net. Sunderland responded by fashioning their first opportunity of the encounter, but Dajaku headed high and wide after Wright’s pass beat the Mansfield press and allowed Dennis Cirkin and Embleton to combined. The visitors almost doubled their lead on 27 minutes through Harry Charsley, who fired a low finish inches wide of the post. Johnson’s men crafted their best opening of the first half when Broadhead’s powerful header forced Nathan Bishop into action, but Mansfield volleyed back with two chances in quick succession. An excellent block deflected Lapslie’s effort inches over the top and Hawkins headed the resulting corner against the crossbar, ensuring it remained 1-0 at the interval. The Lads made four changes ahead of the second period, as Callum Doyle, Carl Winchester, Alex Pritchard and Lynden Gooch replaced Tom Flanagan, Alves, O’Brien and Dajaku Dan Neil’s rising effort soared inches wide following the restart after Gooch drove forward, but the visitors stuck to their task and frustrated the Black Cats. A golden opportunity arrived on 82 minutes and Corry Evans slammed a 10-yard finish towards goal, however, George Maris stuck out a leg and smashed the ball clear. Neil was inches away from a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser, but the crossbar denied the midfielder and the Stags booked their place in round two. Sunderland AFC: Burge, Flanagan (Doyle 45), Wright, Alves (Winchester 45), Cirkin (O’Nien 70), Evans, Neil, Embleton, O’Brien (Pritchard 45), Dajaku (Gooch 45), Broadhead. Subs not used: Hoffmann, Taylor, Younger, Harris. Mansfield Town: Bishop, McLauglin, Hewitt, Charsley (Forrester 90)Clarke’s Maris, Hawkins, Quinn, Oates (Bowery 62), Lapslie (Sinclair 84), O’Toole. Subs not used: Johnson, Shelvey, Burke, Ward, Clarke, Law. ------------------ This is how it played out as Sunderland woes deepen with another FA Cup first round exit to Mansfield Town sunderlandecho.com, By Phil Smith, Saturday 6th November 2021 Sunderland’s woes deepened as they were knocked out of the FA Cup for the third season in a row. Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town repeated their trick from last season, sealing a deserved victory as they resolutely defended a well-earned early lead. The visitors benefited from a Lee Burge error to go ahead through Rhys Oates just minutes into the game, and after enjoying the better of the first half they dug in resolutely through the second. Sunderland hit the bar through Dan Neil at the start of stoppage time, but were unable to work Nathan Bishop anywhere near enough through the contest. https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/this-is-how-it-played-out-as-sunderland-woes-deepen-with-another-fa-cup-first-round-exit-to-mansfield-town-3448016 Though Johnson had unsurprisingly shuffled his pack following a bruising week on the road, it was even with six changes a side more than strong enough to seal progression into the next round. Mansfield had struggled in the opening weeks of the season but victory at Tranmere Rovers last weekend looked to have lifted their spirits, and it was little surprise given Sunderland’s recent travails that they found joy pressing early and aggressively. Even if the opener was self-inflicted from the home side’s point of view, it came after a couple of lucky escapes. The distribution from the back had been unconvincing in the first few minutes, to say the least, and ultimately gifted the lead to Clough’s side just five minutes in. Burge tried to distribute to his centre back but instead laid it straight into the path of Oates, who looked certain to score. The finish was not emphatic but good enough, finding the far corner after striking the inside of the near post. Sunderland were struggling to produce any kind of rhythm in possession, though showed that there were spaces to be found when Wright finally broke the press on the quarter of the hour mark. Cirkin drove forward and played a clever one-two with Elliot Embleton in the channel, but the cross to the back post was just too heavy for Dajaku who could only head high and wide. That was an encouraging sign, but in truth the movement and precision exhibited in that move proved to be the exception, rather than the rule. Mansfield were laying from a book that has yielded Clough success here before, happy to wait for the error in possession before breaking in numbers with strong runners from midfield. It should have yielded a second when Broadhead was robbed near the halfway line, Mansfield suddenly having numbers on the overlap. The ball was quickly driven into the right-hand channel where Charsley met it on the run, his effort inches wide of the far post with Burge undoubtedly beaten. Broadhead was at least attempting to show some drive in possession, but the decision to move Aiden O’Brien infield and Elliot Embleton onto the wing meant the Black Cats were again lacking composure in possession. A similar move offered Charsley another opening shortly afterwards, but this time it was his first touch that let him down and allowed Burge to gather. Sunderland did close to a response when Dajaku burst past his marker and stood up a cross, Bishop saving well from Broadhead’s header, but it rather summed up a listless half that the visitors would break and almost double their advantage immediately. Lapslie saw an effort deflected just over the bar after meeting a low cross just inside the box, before Hawkins towered above his marker from the corner and planted a header off the crossbar. The Black Cats were labouring, reflected starkly in a quadruple substitution from Johnson, the head coach making clear that he wanted a better tempo and considerably more personality in possession. The speed of the game certainly lifted, though McLaughlin went close to making it two when a free kick ran to him and his effort flew just wide of the far post. Sunderland did look sharper, though, and went close when Gooch played a pass inside and Neil struck it just wide of the far post on the half volley. Mansfield continued to look a threat on the break, but the hosts were benefiting from a change of shape. Johnson had matched the visiting midfield diamond and with more ball players on the pitch, the errors in possession at least stemmed from a willingness to try and break open the defence. The chances remained elusive, though, amid swirling winds and growing restlessness in the stands. Though not as threatening as they had been in the first half, Mansfield were keeping their shape and looking disciplined. It wasn’t until the final ten minutes that Sunderland finally carved a real opening of note, a good move down the right-hand side seeing Carl Winchester drive a threatening ball into the channel. The ball across to the back post was met by Evans, but his effort was blocked by the covering defender. At last, the hosts were beginning to build some sustained pressure, pushing Mansfield into their own box and forcing poor clearances. Clough’s side were able to reset and relieve some pressure, and though Neil struck an excellent effort off the bar at the start of stoppage time, they were able to hold on to the lead and seal the win. Sunderland XI: Burge; Alves (Winchester, 45), Flanagan (Doyle, 45), Wright, Cirkin (O’Nien, 71); Evans, Neil (O’Nien, 72); Dajaku (Pritchard, 45), Embleton, O’Brien (Gooch, 45); Broadhead Subs: Hoffman; Taylor, Younger, Harris Mansfield Town XI: Bishop; Hewitt, O’Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin; Maris, Charsley (Forrester, 90), Quinn, Lapslie (Sinclair, 84); Oates (Bowery, 62), Clarke Subs: Johnson, Shelvey, Burke, Ward, Law Bookings: Evans, 31 Hewitt, 48 Wright, 49 Charsley, 50 Clarke, 79 Quinn, 79 ----------------- Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield report: Black Cats dumped out of the FA Cup at first hurdle again chroniclelive.co.uk, By James Hunter, 6 NOV 2021 https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/sunderland-0-1-mansfield-report-22086884 Sunderland were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by League Two Mansfield Town for the second season running. The Black Cats lost by a single goal at the Stadium of Light - just as they did 12 months ago - and with Sunderland losing in the first round against Gillingham the year before, this is the third season in a row they have gone out of this competition at the first round stage. A misplaced clearance by goalkeeper Lee Burge presented Rhys Oates with the ball, and the ex-Hartlepool man made no mistake with the finish. Go here for all the latest Sunderland AFC news After three straight league defeats had killed Sunderland's momentum in the league, this was an opportunity to make amends - albeit, only in a cup competition. But instead Lee Johnson's side delivered another poor performance, and they were booed off by the home fans - just as they had been by the away support at Rotherham and at Sheffield Wednesday in their previous two outings. Johnson made six changes to the side that lost at Wednesday in the league in midweek, and also switched back to his preferred 4-2-3-1 system. Nathan Broadhead made his first start since returning from a hamstring injury, while Lee Burge, Frederik Alves, Bailey Wright, Leon Dajaku, and Elliot Embleton, also came into the side. Thorben Hoffmann, Carl Winchester, Callum Doyle, Luke O'Nien, Lynden Gooch, and Ross Stewart, made way. Mansfield boss Nigel Clough made two changes to the side that started his team's 2-0 win against Tranmere last weekend. George Lapslie and John-Joe O'Toole came into the side in place of Farrend Rawson and Danny Johnson. Sunderland were poor in the first half, conceding early after a mistake by Burge, and when the half-time whistle went they could consider themselves fortunate to trail by only a single goal. That opener came in the sixth minute, when Burge's miscued clearance went straight to Oates on the edge of the box and he controlled before steering his finish beyond the keeper and in off the left-hand post. Sunderland needed a response and created a couple of half-chances, with Embleton sending a long-range shot straight at the keeper, while a good run from Dennis Cirkin saw his deliver a cross to Dajaku at the far post but it was just too high for the German and he could not keep his header down. Mansfield looked the better side and Lapslie's throughball released Harry Charsley in the right-hand channel, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal from inside the box when he should have done better. Sunderland's best chance of the half came five minutes before the break when Dajaku beat his man on the right and got to the byline before standing the ball up for Broadhead at the far post, only for Nathan Bishop to make a brilliant save to keep out the initial header and then recover to grab the loose ball at the second attempt. Yet still there was still time for Mansfield to finish the half strongly, and only a desperate last-ditch block from Cirkin prevented Lapslie adding a second goal with the ball diverted up and over the bar. Then, from the resulting corner, Ollie Hawkins headed against the crossbar with the ball going over the top. Sunderland's poor first-half showing prompted a quadruple change at half-time, with Johnson sending on Doyle, Gooch, Winchester, and Alex Pritchard for Tom Flanagan, Aiden O'Brien, Dajaku, and Alves. But there was barely any improvement. Dan Neil sent a half-volley narrowly wide from inside the D early in the half, and in the final ten minutes Corry Evans saw a shot blocked by George Maris after good work from Pritchard. Sunderland hit the woodwork in injury-time through Neil, but the Black Cats could have no complaints at the result. How they lined up Sunderland:Burge, Alves (Winchester 46), Wright, Flanagan (Doyle 46), Cirkin (O'Nien 71), Evans, Neil, Dajaku (Pritchard 46), O'Brien (Gooch 46), Embleton, Broadhead. Subs not used: Hoffmann, Taylor, Younger, Harris Booked: Evans, Wright Mansfield Town: Bishop, Hewitt, O'Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin, Charsley (Forrester 90+4), O Clarke, Maris, Quinn, Lapslie (Sinclair 84), Oates (Bowery 62). Subs not used: Shelvey, Johnson, Burke, Wark, J Clarke, Law Booked: Hewitt, Charsley, O Clarke, Quinn Referee: James Oldham (Derbyshire) ------------------- |
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