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Archived News from February 2022

SENDING-OFF COSTLY AS SUPERB STAGS DRAW AT NEWPORT
24th February 2022 22:10


English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Newport County 1 - 1 Mansfield Town
Telford pen 82. Pask OG 68. O’Toole sent off 73
Attendance: 3,956 (332 from Mansfield)

Date: 19 February 2022

Martin Shaw at Rodney Parade

Mansfield Town and Newport County drew 1-1 at Rodney Parade this afternoon in a game between two sides in the play-off places. It was frustrating for Mansfield not to come away with the three points that their overall performance deserved. But the Stags shot themselves in the foot and the sending-off of John-Joe O’Toole after 73 minutes completely changed the game after the Stags had finally and deservedly got themselves in front only minutes earlier. And Newport equalised after 82 minutes from the penalty spot leaving the Stags to hang on for a draw in the closing minutes.

For 73 minutes, the Stags were superb. In the first half, Mansfield created 9 chances, knocking the ball around really well, putting in plenty of good crosses, and looking an excellent side. The only thing missing was some clinical finishing. At half time, the Newport iFollow commentators said to me that no-one had come here and played like this this season.

The Stags finally scored the goal that their play deserved after 68 minutes though it came in fortunate circumstances. Ryan Stirk, who had a fine game, squared the ball to Stephen McLaughlin who took aim from 24 yards. McLaughlin’s low shot was heading wide of the right post but deflected off central defender Josh Pask and wrong-footed keeper Nick Townsend, ending up in the back of the net.

The crowd were silenced. The Stags had been defending superbly once again with Oli Hawkins and John-Joe O’Toole in great form in central defence, and another clean sheet looked on the cards.

But it all changed when Hawkins tried to stop Courtney Baker-Richardson taking a quick throw-in. The two players clashed on the touchline, which was daft enough in itself from Hawkins’ point of view because he was trying to avoid a yellow card which would lead to a two game suspension. But then O’Toole came in and got Baker-Richardson in a headlock to pull him away from Hawkins. You just can't do that and O’Toole should know better. Once things calmed down, the referee showed O’Toole a red card, the correct decision in my opinion. And then he showed yellow cards to Baker-Richardson and Hawkins, again correctly in my opinion. 73 minutes gone and the Stags had 17 minutes plus stoppage time to hold out for the win.

But the red card gave Newport the impetus they hadn’t had all afternoon, and the crowd were now right behind them.

And on 82 minutes, Newport were awarded a penalty. Scott Bennett got the ball 24 yards from goal, cut past Ollie Clarke into the area and from 15 yards fired in a shot. Hawkins tried to block the shot, but had his arms outstretched and away from his body. The ball hit his arm, and the referee gave a penalty. It’s a little unlucky perhaps because the ball was struck from only a yard away, but I think it was a reasonable decision from the referee. Dom Telford stepped up and sent Nathan Bishop the wrong way from the spot.

Newport were right on top now and put the Stags under pressure for the remaining 8 minutes plus 7 minutes of stoppage time, but with Farrend Rawson alongside Hawkins at centre half, the Stags defended really well as a team and in the end did well to hang on for a draw in a game that we should have won.

Nigel Clough was frustrated with his centre halves over the sending-off incident after the game saying “I can't believe that, with his experience, Oli Hawkins would even want to get involved. It's their throw-in and all he had to do was spin back into position and deal with the throw-in. But sometimes with these players, things go through their heads. I can't fathom it. He's on nine bookings, the crowd is quiet, the game is dead and we're winning 1-0 and in complete control. But he wants to rile the crowd and get involved in something he shouldn't, got himself a yellow card and he is now missing for two games. Then his partner in crime alongside him (O’Toole) decides to join in and get himself a red. For two 30+ year-old players to do that is quite incredible really. ...There is no excuse.”

It was a hugely costly incident. Not only for today. But of course both players will miss the games against Bradford and Exeter, and O’Toole will also miss the game against Tranmere. Rawson will of course go in at centre half. The other position will likely be taken by one of James Perch, Richard Nartey or Elliott Hewitt. Clough will have to assess whether Perch is ready to play 90 minutes, returning from his long period out with injury. Nartey is playing U23 football for Burnley. I think the most likely change is that Clough will want to minimise the number of changes, and might move Hewitt to centre half, and put the versatile Akins at right back, where he has played a lot for Burton. We’ll see. Clough may use an U23 game this week to partner Rawson with Perch, but he can only user three over-age outfield players, and he might also want to give Kieran Wallace and Danny Johnson a game.

The draw keeps Mansfield’s good run of form going: 12 wins, 3 draws and just 1 defeat from 16 league games. The Stags remain in 6th place. Newport drop a place to 8th.

DETAILED REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE

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SAT 19 FEB 2022, LEAGUE TWO
Newport County 1-1 Mansfield Town
Telford (82'minutes pen)
Pask (68'minutes og), O'Toole (Dismissed at73'minutes)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60357320

Ten-man Mansfield Town extended their unbeaten run in League Two to 12 games with a draw at Newport County.

Both sides squandered chances before Stephen McLaughlin finally broke the deadlock on 70 minutes, his long range strike deflecting off Josh Pask.

The visitors had to play the last 20 minutes a man down after John-Joe O'Toole was red carded.

Newport equalised through a Dominic Telford penalty after Oliver Hawkins' handball in the box.

Mansfield are now unbeaten in the league since 23 November and remain in the hunt for promotion. They are currently sixth having played fewer games than their closest rivals.

County slip out of the play-off places to eighth, having not won in their last three games.

Match Stats
Home Team Newport Away Team Mansfield
Possession Home 51% Away 49%
Shots Home 17 Away 13
Shots on Target Home 3 Away 3
Corners Home 4 Away 8
Fouls Home 7 Away 9

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Controversy aplenty as 10-men Mansfield Town are pegged back at rivals Newport County
chad.co.uk, Saturday 19th February 2022

Battling ten-man Mansfield Town were cruelly forced to settle for a point at Newport County in a thrilling and controversial 1-1 draw at their promotion rivals this afternoon.

Defender Stephen McLaughlin returned with a bang as he put the visitors on course for a first win at Rodney Parade since 2016 with a low shot that deflected in off Newport's Josh Pask.

But the afternoon turned sour when John-Joe O’Toole was sent off after a mass brawl on 73 minutes

And on 82 minutes goal machine Dom Telford levelled from the spot after a controversial penalty decision for Oli Hawkins’ handball.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/otoole-sent-off-as-newport-hit-back-against-dominant-stags-3576548

O'Toole now faces a three-game ban and Hawkins two games and leaves Stags short at the back.

The Stags did stretch their impressive unbeaten run to 12 games, but frustratingly missed the chance to close the gap on the automatic promotion spots.

Nigel Clough made a trio of changes after his side’s goalless draw at Bristol Rovers last weekend.

As expected, right-back McLaughlin returned to the starting line-up after his recent injury niggle, whilst Ryan Stirk and George Maris were also recalled.

The Stags dominated proceedings in the first half without finding a deserved opener.

Newcastle United loanee Matty Longstaff could only fire straight at a grateful Nick Townsend early on.

Down the other end, prolific marksman Telford hit an effort straight into the side-netting at the visitors were let off the hook.

Maris blasted over before Stephen Quinn volleyed wide of the mark at the back post as Clough’s charges upped the ante.

The dangerous Quinn should have done even better when he missed from close range after Elliott Hewitt’s tempting cross.

Experienced striker Lucas Akins, who has a fine game, forced Townsend into a good stop on the stroke of half-time.

County made two changes at the break to stem the flow of Stags’ chances.

And the hosts frustrated Clough’s side early in the second period.

Newport’s Finn Azaz had an effort from the edge of the box before Quinn couldn’t keep his effort down.

The Stags finally got the breakthrough as McLaughlin’s deflected effort put the visitors ahead in the 69th minute, given as a Pask own goal in the end

But minutes later they were down to 10 men as O’Toole was sent off for his part in a brawl on the far side of the pitch.

Hawkins tried to delay a throw-in and players piled into the fray.

The victory then slipped away as Hawkins was harshly judged to have handled Scott Bennett’s strike, the ball spinning up off his foot and hitting his outstretched arm.

Stags players were furious with the decision and Quinn ended up being substituted before he was sent off, being shown a yellow card before storming off to the dressing rooms.

Striker Telford calmly slotted home his 23rd goal of the season as he sent Nathan Bishop the wrong way from the spot.

Substitute James Waite and Mickey Demetriou both almost stole it for the hosts late on as the referee played an extra eight minutes with Stags on the ropes defending for their lives.

There were emotional scenes at the end as a clearly furious Clough and coach Andy Garner rounded up the players and went over to acknowledge the away fans.

NEWPORT: Townsend; Pask, Dolan (Willmott, 45), Demetriou; Bennett; Lewis, Cain (Waite, 75), Azaz, Haynes (Norman, 45); Baker-Richardson, Telford. SUBS NOT USED: Day, Clarke, Collins, Street.

STAGS: Bishop; Hewitt, O’Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin; Longstaff (Bowery, 83); Clarke, Quinn (Wallace, 83); Maris (Rawson, 73); Stirk, Akins. SUBS NOT USED: Stech, Law, Perch, Johnson.

REFEREE: Will Finnie.

ATTENDANCE: 3,936 (339 away).

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Newport County draw with Mansfield after Dom Telford penalty
southwalesargus.co.uk, By Chris Kirwan, Saturday 19th February 2022

NEWPORT County AFC shared the spoils for the second week on the spin after a dramatic 1-1 draw with League Two promotion rivals Mansfield Town.

The Stags headed to Rodney Parade with an 11-game unbeaten streak and had to defend strongly at the death to make it 12.

Mansfield, who were superb in the first half, took the lead after 67 minutes when Josh Pask deflected a Stephen McLaughlin shot into his own net.

John Joe O’Toole was red-carded for the visitors after wading into a scuffle and County levelled from the spot in the 82nd minute through Dom Telford, his 22nd of the campaign, after a handball.

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19937702.newport-county-draw-mansfield-dom-telford-penalty/

They pressed for a winner but had to settle for a draw against a side looking likely to be in the mix for the top three, let alone play-offs.

On the balance of play that was a solid effort with County ticking their tally along on another dramatic afternoon in Newport.

They slip to eighth but can’t let the table affect their assessment after having to dig deep for a draw. This was a point gained.

County fired in 36 shots in their 3-3 draw against Oldham but this time they had to ride their luck to go into half-time goalless.

The hosts had three efforts to the Stag’s nine and it was only some poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Nick Townsend that meant it was 0-0 at the break.

County also had their moments, with one especially wasteful counter-attack, yet would have been grateful to head to their changing room level to address some issues.

Manager James Rowberry made a pair of changes at the break and it was a tighter contest before things went mad in the closing stages.

County made two changes to the side that started against Oldham with midfielder Ollie Cooper absent, presumably injured, and right-back Cameron Norman missing out on the XI for the first time this season.

Liverpool loanee Jake Cain slotted in next to Scot Bennett and Finn Azaz in midfield while Aaron Lewis’ patience was rewarded with a first start since New Year’s Day at Walsall as wing-back.

County endured a tough start against their confident visitors, not helped by playing with a strong wind that made the long ball to relieve pressure tricky to judge.

Mansfield pressed them high and conjured some early chances with Matty Longstaff scuffing a shot from the penalty spot before Stephen Quinn’s shot from the edge of the area, after a poor Ryan Haynes clearance, deflected just wide off Stags front man Lucas Akins.

County striker Dom Telford fired into the side netting from a tight angle but it was one-way traffic and it was a relief that it remained goalless after 20 minutes.

Mansfield were well-drilled and rigid yet also slick and enterprising, playing off mobile and physical striker Akins.

The Exiles moved captain Matty Dolan into midfield to try and get a foothold and nearly burgled the lead approaching the half hour.

Dom Telford chipped a lovely ball through for striker partner Courtney Baker-Richardson but his lob over onrushing ‘keeper Nathan Bishop was too strong.

Haynes was caught napping down the left to gift Mansfield another chance after 32 minutes but Quinn fired the cross from the right over the bar when hitting the target would surely have led to an opener.

Goalkeeper Townsend was called into action a minute later and he was up to the task, getting down low to his left to push out a drilled shot from McLaughlin.

Yet for all Mansfield’s dominance it should have been 1-0 to the hosts after 37 minutes when they broke with energy after defending a corner.

Telford played Azaz in down the left but he was slow to spot Baker-Richardson and not only was the forward offside by the time the ball was played but he failed to control it.

It was goalless at the break, but only thanks to more heroics by Townsend.

Akins used his body well to shield the ball in the box, turned and slammed in a left-footed shot that was kept out by a fantastic reaction save by the County ‘keeper, who stuck out his strong left hand.

Rowberry acted in the interval by bringing on Norman for Haynes, switching Lewis to the left, and Robbie Willmott replaced skipper Dolan.

It got the desired response with the contest much more even thanks to County’s midfield diamond having more of a say with the ball - helped by playing into the breeze? - and without it.

There were chances at either end approaching the hour with the Stags wasting a chance after Scot Bennett was mugged in midfield, Longstaff failing to control, and then Azaz feebly shooting from outside the box with his weaker left.

The prospect of a point was appealing to both sides yet Mansfield hit the front in the 68th minute with a slice of good luck.

McLaughlin fired in a thumping shot from distance - similar to the one that Townsend saved in the first half - and it deflected in off the unlucky Pask.

County had to chase the game and they did it against 10 men for the last 15 minutes after O’Toole was dismissed for his part in a scuffle in front of the Bisley Stand.

It was sparked by Baker-Richardson being shoved into the hoardings and the striker was cautioned along with centre-back Ollie Hawkins.

County levelled from the spot after excellent work by Bennett, who dummied and then fired in a shot that was adjudged to have been handled.

Harsh? Referee Will Finnie had an excellent view and only the highlights will give a better indication.

Telford made no mistake and that was followed by a remarkable incident with fired-up Quinn furious at being substituted by Nigel Clough.

The Irishman took off his shirt before reaching the touchline and sulked all the way to the changing room, with the manager ordering one of his assistants to follow and no doubt explain the reasoning.

Back on the field, the Exiles pressed for the winner and went close a couple of times with Telford denied by one exceptional Farrend Rawson block.

Against Oldham it felt like two points dropped, this felt like one gained.

County: Townsend, Pask, Dolan (captain, Willmott HT), Demetriou, Lewis, Haynes (Norman HT), Bennett, Cain (Waite 75), Azaz, Telford, Baker-Richardson.
Substitutes: Day, Clarke, Norman, Collins, Willmott, Waite, Street.
Yellow: Baker-Richardson.
Goal: Telford (penalty).

Mansfield: Bishop, McLaughlin, Hewitt, Clarke (captain), Maris, Hawkins, Quinn, Stirk, Akins, O'Toole, Longstaff.
Substitutes: Rawson, Bowery, Johnson, Perch, Wallace, Stech, Law.
Yellow: Hawkins.
Red: O’Toole.
Goal: Pask (OG)

Referee: Will Finnie.
Attendance: 3,956 (away 332)

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Mansfield lose their heads to draw against Newport County
southwalesargus.co.uk, By Chris Kirwan, Saturday 19th February 2022

NEWPORT County AFC drew 1-1 with Mansfield Town at Rodney Parade after Dom Telford kept his cool from the spot in a fiery finale.

The Exiles looked set to suffer defeat to their League Two promotion rivals when centre-back Josh Pask unluckily deflected a Stephen McLaughlin shot into his own net in the 68th minute.

The Stags, who bossed the first half, then imploded from a position of strength with John-Joe O’Toole dismissed for getting Courtney Baker-Richardson in a headlock in a scuffle.

County then got a penalty for handball and Telford scored his 22nd league goal of the season.

The Exiles pushed for an undeserved winner but had to settle for a hard-earned point.

Here are the talking points from Rodney Parade...

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19938044.mansfield-lose-heads-draw-newport-county/

Bosses in many sports are quick to mention when they get a midweek apology for wrong decisions that went against them, it’d be nice if they occasionally issue their own apology.

Managers are asked for their opinions on flashpoints and often opt to swerve commenting. Nigel Clough didn’t fancy doing that at Rodney Parade.

“We feel as if his decisions, unfortunately, have been decisive - the ‘defining errors’ we call them - with the penalty and with the sending off,” said the Stags boss.

When Clough watched the footage back he must surely have realised that referee Will Finnie got both the decisions spot-on. Maybe it was just distraction tactics.

Perhaps more players were lucky not to be cautioned in the melee - and both clubs will inevitably be sanctioned for ‘failing to control their players’ - but O’Toole could have no complaints about being shown red for grabbling Baker-Richardson around the neck.

That gave County the chance to press for a leveller and they got it from the spot after Oli Hawkins handled a Scot Bennett shot.

Mr Finnie was well-placed, took his time and made the correct decision.

That was followed by Stephen Quinn - a 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international who played in the Premier League and has vast EFL experience - having an incredible meltdown.

He raged at the referee, removed his shirt when heading off to be substituted and then stomped off to the away changing room, pursued by one of Clough's assistants.

Mansfield were in command and likely to earn three points but they imploded and were grateful for a superb block at the death by Farrend Rawson from Telford on the turn.

Amid all that, credit to Bennett for earning the penalty with a superb dummy before his shot.

The dust has settled and that was a very good point for County against an impressive Mansfield side who can mix up their game.

There would have been no complaints if the Stags had taken three points back to Field Mill; they bossed the first half and should have been in front.

They are a well-drilled, well-organised side that can play off the pain-in-the-backside forward Lucas Akins, with quality from Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.

County can be a delight when they are in their attacking stride yet on this occasion they had to dig deep and show character for a point, admittedly while riding their luck.

Conducting a post-mortem on the back of a draw is obviously much nicer than after a defeat.

SHAPE SHIFT

Manager James Rowberry changed from 3-5-2 to a flat four when a Stags opener seemed inevitably in the first half and then made a pair of half-time changes.

Captain Matty Dolan was swapped for Robbie Willmott after being shifted from the heart of a three to midfield while left-back Ryan Haynes got the hook at the break for the second home game this season, Cameron Norman coming on down the right and Aaron Lewis shifting across.

It was no doubt a tough call but it proved to be the correct one with the Exiles enjoying a tighter contest in the second half, seemingly helped by playing into the breeze.

It needs to be Bennett/Dolan and Willmott deserves a recall after doing well off the bench in consecutive games. Bennett, Willmott, fit-again Ollie Cooper, Finn Azaz?

Norman missed out on the XI for the first time this season in League Two and that was also a fair decision.

The right-back’s form has dipped a little of late and Aaron Lewis deserved a chance after showing patience. A manager cannot go on about it being a squad game and having selection headaches if he doesn't provide opportunities.

It could well be Haynes’ turn to be on the bench against Tranmere on Saturday after he only last 45 minutes, with a telling moment perhaps when he switched off to allow an attack down the right that should have resulted in a goal from a cutback.

Nick Townsend, who made one sensational reaction save in the first half, booted his right post in frustration at the sloppiness and Rowberry was raging in the dugout.

Like last season, County are looking to settle on their full-backs for the run-in but Norman should come back in on the right after a superb first campaign in Newport.

IGNORE THE TABLE (I KNOW, IT'S PICTURED ABOVE)

County slipped to eighth, outside the play-offs, but this was still a valuable point.

Midfielder Finn Azaz said on Friday that the Exiles had targeted 30 points from a possible 45 but they can’t go chasing that tally too early.

There will be twists and turns ahead, County just have to look after their own business and let’s remember that they denied a rival two points they deserved on Saturday.

Rowberry’s men just need to keep ticking along and ensure they are still in the mix for the play-offs and potentially top three at the end of this five-game streak in Newport.

Home games are important but these are five tough ones with second-placed Tranmere, leaders Forest Green and rising Bristol Rovers to come.

County have taken just eight points from their last six games but it’s not been a run to merit hitting the panic button.

The likes of Mickey Demetriou, Dolan, Bennett and Willmott will be telling their teammates that composure is key in a promotion challenge. There is just a third of the season to go, but it’s a long third.

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