Archived News from October 2018
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TEN MAN STAGS EARN BATTLING POINT AT SWINDON
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Swindon Town 0 - 0 Mansfield Town Attendance: 6208 (320 from Mansfield) Date: 20 October 2018 Martin Shaw at the County Ground Mansfield Town fought hard to earn a battling and deserved draw at Swindon Town this afternoon after going down to 10 men on 42 minutes when Will Atkinson was sent off for two yellow cards, the second of which was a poor decision from the referee. It was Mansfield’s first sending-off this season. Atkinson had already been booked for a late tackle on Matt Taylor on 31 minutes, the correct decision from the referee. On 42 minutes, Atkinson and Keshi Anderson battled for the ball near the touchline in the Swindon half. There was the slightest of touches by Atkinson on Anderson, a foul but no more than that, and a ludicrous decision from referee Antony Coggins to produce a yellow then red card. The referee was to litter the game with more execrable decisions, none more so than on 88 minutes when he stopped play for a foul by a Mansfield player when Swindon sub Iandolo was clean through 1-on-1 with Bobby Olejnik. And then on 90+4 minutes, CJ Hamilton was fouled as he ran at goal, he stayed on his feet but lost a bit of momentum and was well-tackled by keeper Vigouroux. But rather than pull the play back for the foul, the referee allowed play to continue, Swindon broke straight to the other end and Bobby Olejnik was forced to make a good save from Keshi Anderson. Referee Coggins has now refereed two Stags games and sent Stags players off in each game (the other being Pearce at Forest Green last season, though no argument over that decision). The Stags had started the game much the better for the opening 30 minutes, creating four chances to Swindon’s none, including Rose forcing the keeper into a good save with a diving header. Swindon created their first chance on 36 minutes, as Olejnik saved by Adebayo’s downward header, then Olejnik blocked Keshi Anderson’s shot when through 1-on-1. The Stags switched to a 4-3-2 formation and it was effective in keeping the Stags in the game, such that you wouldn’t have known which side was a man down. The Stags went close to going in front on 67 minutes when sub Tyler Walker curled a shot wide via a deflection off a Swindon defender though the hapless referee gave a goal-kick. At the other end on 69 minutes, a great chance for Swindon as Adebayo knocked wide at the far post after a great cross from Jermaine McGlashan. The ever-impressive Matt Taylor nearly scored from a free kick from 26 yards on 82 minutes, as he fired towards the near post, and Olejnik did well to get down and push it on to the post and behind for a corner. Well it should have been a corner, but the referee inexplicably gave a goalkick. The game finished with that foul on Hamilton and the save from Olejnik at the other end on 90+4 minutes. So a sixth consecutive away draw for Mansfield, setting a new club record, beating five set twice previously in 1949 and 2011. The five draws at Yeovil, Tranmere, Macclesfield, Cambridge and Bury felt disappointing though and felt like points dropped. This one felt like a fine battling point from a difficult situation. If we add in the two wins and a draw in the final three games of last season, the Stags are unbeaten away from home for 9 games, which is a club record in the Football League (though one less than the 10 games unbeaten away in the Conference in 2011). Mansfield have now gone 11 games without a win at Swindon. The last win at Swindon was all the way back in 1977, the season we were promoted to the second tier of England football, with a single goal from Colin Foster. For the second away game running, David Flitcroft was back at his old club where he was previously manager. Probably the first time that has happened to a Stags manager (two away games running), though it would be a very long night if one was to attempt to check that! A section of Swindon fans chanted “Stand up if you hate Flitcroft”. I couldn’t see many Swindon supporters stand up. Jake Garner from Radio Nottingham told me he saw about 20 stand up. To put it in context, Timi Elsnik was also booed by a section of Swindon fans. Elsnik was on loan at Swindon last season. Swindon manager Phil Brown elected not to take Elsnik back on loan for this season. Why would you boo a young player in that situation? The Stags made two changes from the side that drew at Bury in the last league game. Neal Bishop was suspended for one game. Tyler Walker was dropped for the first time in a league game. In came Will Atkinson and Jacob Mellis. It was a 3-4-2-1 formation. Atkinson at right wing-back. Hamilton and Khan either side of and just behind Danny Rose up front. Craig Davies and Alex MacDonald remained out through injury. Hayden White, who had made his comeback from injury in the Checkatrade Trophy against Wolves U21, was out with a different injury, this time a slight quad injury, though he could be back very soon. Both Matt Preston and Timi Elsnik were returning to the side they played for last season. The Stags move on to Morecambe on Tuesday, and have to start winning. A draw at Morecambe would certainly feel like a defeat. As an aside, I realised yesterday that it’s just over 20 years since I started doing match reports on Stagsnet. Almost every game for the past 18 years. Every game for the past 6 years. Thank you for reading. Thanks to Paul Taylor for today’s historical stats plus stats on the referee. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------- Match report: Swindon Town 0-0 Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by Agency, Saturday 20 October 2018 David Flitcroft came away with a goalless draw on his return to Swindon Town. Former Robins’ boss Flitcroft left his role towards the end of last season to take over at Mansfield Town. Today his Stags side had to play 48 minutes with 10 men after Will Atkinson was sent off for two bookings at the County Ground. It was a fiery contest with seven players being booked as well as Atkinson’s sending off. The Stags carved out the first real chance as Matt Preston was denied by Lawrence Vigouroux in the hosts’ net. Flitcroft’s visitors broke quickly, with Chris Hamilton lashing over. Vigouroux once again kept the game goalless as the Chilean stopper kept out Rose’s header after the striker latched onto Otis Khan’s clip. Bobby Olejnik was tested for the first time 10 minutes before the break to keep out Elijah Adebayo. And Olejnik was called upon soon after, rushing off his line to deny Keshi Anderson. Just before the break Steven Alzate’s flick from Matty Taylor’s cross almost went in. After the restart Preston nodded a tame diving header at Vigouroux. The Stags were let off with Adebayo squandered a great chance to put the hosts ahead at the back post. Substitute Kaiyne Woolery failed to trouble Olejnik with a poor effort from six yards out. Swindon Town v Mansfield Town: Fans Gallery Woolery once again missed the chance to open the scoring as he failed to get a touch on Taylor’s teasing cross. The Stags were fortunate not to find themselves behind with eight minutes left. Taylor stepped up and struck the post from a free-kick which looked destined for the corner. And a minute later Olejnik kept calm to safely grasp Alzate’s effort. Late on Sid Nelson headed wide as Swindon missed the chance to grab the points. Swindon: Vigouroux, Knoyle, Lancashire, Nelson, Taylor, Anderson, Diagouraga (McGlashan, 59), Doughty, Alzate, Adebayo (Iandolo, 74), Richards (Woolery, 66). Unused subs: McCormick, Woolfenden, Iandolo, Dunne, Twine. Mansfield: Olejnik, Pearce, Preston, Sweeney, Atkinson, Elsnik (Butcher, 79), Mellis, Benning, Hamilton, Rose, Khan (Walker, 45). Unused subs: Logan, Walker, Sterling-James, Law, Gibbens, Graham. Referee: Anthony Coggins. Attendance: 6208 (320) Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/match-report-swindon-town-0-0-mansfield-town-1-9406318 --------------------- Swindon Town held to goalless draw at home by Mansfield Town swindonadvertiser.co.uk, By Harry Abbott @harryabbott SWINDON Town’s winless League Two run extended to a fifth game this afternoon as they failed to kill off 10-man Mansfield Town at home as the contest ended in a stalemate. The dismissal of Stags midfielder Will Atkinson for a second bookable offence three minutes before half-time gave Phil Brown’s side the initiative at the Energy Check County Ground. However, although they dominated play until the conclusion, the hosts failed to carve out the one gilt-edged chance they needed to snatch all three points. The draw meant former Swindon boss David Flitcroft was able to travel back north with a point on his first return to Wiltshire with the club for which he left back in March. https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/16996922.swindon-town-held-to-goalless-draw-at-home-by-mansfield-town/ After a cagey opening, it took almost 10 minutes for either goalkeeper to be called into action as Mansfield’s former Swindon player Matt Preston was the man to draw the first save of the match. Otis Khan’s corner fell nicely to the centre-back, who found room to blast a powerful shot, but home stopper Lawrence Vigouroux was able to parry before gathering at the second attempt. The other ex-Swindon player in the Stags line-up, Timi Elsnik, then played a part in the visitors’ next chance as he played the ball to Danny Rose, whose nod down allowed CJ Hamilton to charge in on goal but the Mansfield forward blazed high over the bar. Mansfield remained in the ascendancy and had two more chances as the first half reached its midway point. First, Khan showed good skill in the Swindon box before laying off to Jacob Mellis just outside, and although his shot managed to get through a crowd of bodies, it dribbled well wide. Only a wonderful save from Vigouroux prevented the Stags from getting their noses in front after 25 minutes, with the Swindon number one tipping over a Rose header from a Khan free-kick after Toumani Diagouraga had felled Elsnik. A total of 36 minutes had passed before the home side had their first sight of goal, with a Matt Taylor free-kick the source of it as he picked out Elijah Adebayo at the back post, but the on-loan Fulham forward sent his header straight at goalkeeper Robert Olejnik. Having had to wait an age to get going, the home side had another decent opening immediately afterwards but again Olejnik kept them at bay, rushing from his line to thwart Keshi Anderson after he had been slipped in on goal by Adebayo. Momentum then firmly turned in Swindon’s favour three minutes before half-time when Mansfield were reduced to 10 men following two bookings in quick succession for Atkinson. The winger had been booked on the half-hour mark for a crude challenge on Taylor and although his second offence was soft, checking across Anderson after a clearance upfield, referee Antony Coggins had little hesitation in brandishing a second yellow card. That allowed the home side another opportunity just before the break as Steven Alzate flicked a boot at Taylor’s low cross from the left to the near post, with the effort drifting narrowly wide as the two teams headed back to the changing rooms with the deadlock still intact. Swindon were quick out of the blocks in the second half and good work from Adebayo saw him cut the ball back across the six-yard box for Anderson after only two minutes, but Preston got in a crucial challenge. The contest then stagnated for a while, but Town had huge appeals for a penalty just after the hour mark when Marc Richards went down in the box, however, referee Coggins had already blown his whistle for an earlier foul on Anderson by Ryan Sweeney. Mansfield then mustered their first threatening attempt in more than half-an-hour as substitute Tyler Walker found space to let fly from just outside the box, with the effort flying just wide of the far post. Swindon substitute Kaiyne Woolery, who had only just replaced Richards, was then straight into action, pouncing on a cross-cum-shot from Kyle Knoyle before firing straight at Olejnik. Another second-half introduction, Jermaine McGlashan, then created the first gilt-edged chance for the home side on 70 minutes as he found an unmarked Adebayo at the back post with a deep cross from the right, but the striker could not get his effort on target from an acute angle. The hosts continued to throw numbers forward and a deep cross from Taylor just eluded Anderson as the goal Brown’s side craved eluded them. Only the woodwork then denied Swindon with nine minutes to go as Taylor curled a 25-yard free-kick against the post after McGlashan had been left in a heap by Malvind Benning. Taylor’s balls into the box were becoming the primary source of danger for Swindon and a deep free-kick with two minutes to go found the rising Sid Nelson, who looped a header across goal but agonising the wrong side of the post. Added time was a breathless affair, with Mansfield appearing to have a chance to steal the win when Hamilton bore down on goal, but Vigouroux burst from his line to snuff out the chance before sending the ball upfield to Anderson, who drew a fine save from Olejnik as the final chance for a winner escaped the hosts. SWINDON TOWN (4-1-4-1): Vigouroux; Knoyle, Lancashire (c), Nelson, Taylor; Diagouraga (McGlashan 59); Adebayo, Doughty, Alzate, Anderson; Richards (Woolery 65), Adebayo (Iandolo 75). Subs not used: McCormick, Dunne, Twine, Woolfenden. MANSFIELD TOWN (3-4-3): Olejnik; Preston, Pearce (c), Sweeney; Atkinson, Mellis, Elsnik (Butcher 79), Benning; Khan (Walker 46), Hamilton, Rose. Subs not used: Logan, Sterling-James, Law, Gibbens, Graham. Referee: Antony Coggins Attendance: 6,208 (320 away) --------------------- Adver Sport assess the performances of the Swindon Town players in today’s 0-0 draw at home to Mansfield Town in League Two swindonadvertiser.co.uk, By Harry Abbott @harryabbott https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/16996960.adver-sport-assess-the-performances-of-the-swindon-town-players-in-todays-0-0-draw-at-home-to-mansfield-town-in-league-two/ Adver Sport assess the performances of the Swindon Town players in today’s 0-0 draw at home to Mansfield Town in League Two. LAWRENCE VIGOUROUX - 8 Recalled after a lengthy absence and produced a sublime performance with a couple of wonderful saves. KYLE KNOYLE - 6.5 Did what was required on the right but not his busiest game, particularly after the Stags’ threat dropped after the red card. OLLY LANCASHIRE (C) - 7 Led the back-line well against Mansfield’s three-man attack early on but wasn’t called into too much action the longer the game went on. SID NELSON - 7 A strong return to action defensively after a brief injury lay-off and had a good chance to win the game with a late header. Booked. MATT TAYLOR - 7.5 Looked a little exposed initially but grew in influence the longer the game went on and his set-pieces were the primary source of danger for the hosts. TOUMANI DIAGOURAGA - 6 Hustled and bustled in the middle of the park but had a few loose passes and was substituted in favour for a more attacking option. Booked. ELIJAH ADEBYAO - 6 Looked lively in patches but lacked a little bit of clinical edge when in advanced positions and probably had the best chance to snatch the winner too. Subbed late on. MICHAEL DOUGHTY - 7 Was quiet early on but after space opened up following the red card, his array of passes was on display and it led to several openings for the hosts. STEVEN ALZATE - 6.5 Flashes of real quality but was in and out of the game. Did not really kick on as you’d expect when the hosts had a numerical advantage. KESHI ANDERSON - 7 Lively throughout and was involved in a number of Swindon chances. Got himself in good positions to worry the visiting defence. MARC RICHARDS - 6 Showed his usual physicality but didn’t get too much change out of the Stags back-line and chances in front of goal were at a premium before being subbed. Booked. Substitutes: JERMAINE MCGLASHAN - 7.5 (For Diagouraga, 59) Made a real impact and posed a headache on the right. KAIYNE WOOLERY - 6.5 (For Richards, 65) Got himself involved but still working his way back to fitness. ELLIS IANDOLO - 6.5 (For Adebayo, 75) Not on for long but sent a few dangerous balls into the box. Subs not used: Luke McCormick, James Dunne, Scott Twine, Luke Woolfenden. --------------------- |
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