Archived News from October 2020
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TERRIBLE STAGS BEATEN BY BRADFORD
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English Football League - Sky Bet League Two
Mansfield Town 1 - 3 Bradford City Cook 85. Lapslie sent off 78. Stech OG 8, Wood 14, Donaldson 69 Attendance: behind closed doors Date: 17 October 2020 Martin Shaw at the One Call Stadium, Field Mill Mansfield Town dropped into the relegation zone in League Two for only the second time since promotion back to the Football League, after a terrible 3-1 defeat at home to Bradford City this afternoon. Bradford had not won away from home for a year but were helped on their way by a gift from Stags keeper Marek Stech who dropped a Bradford corner into his own net whilst under no pressure after just 8 minutes. A catastrophic error. Just two minutes earlier at the other end, the Stags had been presented with a gift from the Bradford keeper, who cleared straight to Jordan Bowery, but with only the keeper to beat, Bowery fired straight back at him. Bradford made it 2-0 after 14 minutes as left back Connor Wood was left in yards of space in the box to fire past Stech from 16 yards. Dreadful defending. Mansfield’s brittle confidence, already so low, was completely shot, and the game was as good as over. The Stags should have pulled a goal back after 22 minutes when Bowery had a chance from point blank range but fired straight at the keeper. The Stags were terrible in the first half, too often exposed at the back with Bradford finding too much space. The second half didn’t get any better. Andy Cook who came on at half time, surprisingly for Nicky Maynard rather than Jordan Bowery, headed too close to the keeper after a great cross from Mal Benning, another half time substitute. But Bradford should have increased their lead when Pritchard was given too much space in the area before shooting straight at Stech. And it was no surprise when Bradford did add a third after 69 minutes as the Stags allowed Lee Novak, who seemed to be boxed in near the corner flag, to backheel to Wood who crossed for Clayton Donaldson who beat Sweeney to the ball and flicked into the net from close range. The Stags’ best player on the day in my opinion was new signing George Lapslie, signed on loan from Charlton for the rest of the season. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did, as Lapslie picked up a second yellow card and was sent off. The first yellow card had been harsh, but the second yellow probably came from a bit of tiredness as he challenged Donaldson from behind. The Stags did at least score a consolation goal five minutes from time as Cook headed firmly home from a good corner from O’Keeffe. But it was far too little too late. A terrible day for the Stags with an awful performance. And the alarm bells are ringing loudly. Football is a results business and with the Stags in the relegation zone after just 6 games, manager Graham Coughlan needs wins quickly. If the Stags are in or around the relegation zone with about 10 games gone, the time at which the league table really starts to take shape, owners John and Carolyn Radford with CEO David Sharpe may decide that action needs to be taken, even though John and Carolyn are well-known for wanting to give managers every chance to succeed. The Stags are at Morecambe on Tuesday, desperate for a victory. Morecambe were surprisingly top of the table before today’s 4-0 defeat at Crawley. A win could make a huge difference to the morale of everyone of a Stags persuasion. A reminder that the game kicks off at 6.30pm. Mansfield made two changes to the side that drew with Stevenage. Lapslie came in for his Stags debut in place of Harry Charsley, while Bowery returned in place of Jamie Reid. It was the usual 3-5-2 formation, with James Perch in front of the back three, and Lapslie alongside George Maris in midfield. Gordon and Smith dropped out of the 18, while Sinclair came back on to the bench. Midfielder Ollie Clarke is out “for a number of weeks” through injury according to Coughlan, quite a blow. Bradford made five changes from their side that lost to an impressive Harrogate side on Monday night. FULL REPORT IN THE MATCH CENTRE ------------------------- Lapslie sees red on debut as Mansfield Town drop into bottom two following Bradford City defeat Mansfield Town 1 Bradford City 3 chad.co.uk, Saturday 17th October 2020 Winless Mansfield Town slumped to their heaviest league defeat of the season - going down 3-1 at home to Bradford City. Graham Coughlan's side have now gone nine matches without a victory in all competitions this term, dropping into the bottom two after Oldham Athletic’s last gasp winner at Bolton Wanderers. And the afternoon was made even worse for the Stags when debutant George Lapslie - who joined on loan from Charlton Athletic on Thursday - was sent off in the 79th minute. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/lapslie-sees-red-debut-mansfield-town-drop-bottom-two-following-bradford-city-defeat-3006818 The Bantams stormed into a 2-0 lead within the opening 14 minutes. The warning signs were there when Dylan Mottley-Henry hit the side netting in the second minute, but the Stags also had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Jordan Bowery pounced when Richard O'Donnell slipped clearing, but the keeper recovered well to stop the effort. Rollin Menayese headed Stephen McLaughlin's ball over before an own goal handed Bradford a seventh minute lead, keeper Marek Stech unable to hold Connor Wood's corner and forcing the ball into his own net. Menayese forced a save from O'Donnell following another headed effort before the advantage was doubled when Wood netted after beeing teed up by Harry Pritchard's neat back pass O'Donnell pulled off further saves to deny Bowery, Corey O'Keeffe and McLaughlin as the hosst couldn't break his resolve before the interval.Stags boss Graham Coughlan made three changes at half time, Mavind Benning, Harry Charsley and Andy Cook replacing Farrend Rawson, George Maris and Nicky Maynard. The first chance of the second half saw Stech deny Callum Cooke while, at the other end, a free header from Cook was saved by O'Donnell. Clayton Donaldson put the game beyond doubt with a third for the visitors in the 69th minute, volleying home Wood's delivery at the near post. Lapslie's dismissal, awarded for his second booking of the afternoon, only rubbed salt into the wounds. Cook, however, attempted to give the scoreline some credibility with his 85th minute consolation, heading home Benning's corner. STAGS: Stech, Menayese, Rawson (Benning HT), Sweeney, O'Keeffe, Perch, Lapslie, McLaughlin, Maris (Charsley HT), Maynard (Cook HT), Bowerry; Subs (not used): Stone, O'Driscoll, Reid, Sinclair. BRADFORD: O'Donnell, Hosannah, Richards-Everton, O'Connor, Pritchard (Longridge 89), Cooke, Novak, Donaldson (Samuels 86), Watt, Wood, Mottley-Henry (French 76); Subs (not used): Hornby, Clarke, Coisin-Dawson, Guthrie. ------------------ BANTAMS CRUISE TO MANSFIELD VICTORY 17 October 2020 https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2020/october/bantams-cruise-to-mansfield-victory/ Stuart McCall’s Bantams returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium. City were 2-0 up at the break and added a third after the interval, as Andy Cook scored Mansfield’s only goal late on. McCall's men drew first blood in fortuitous fashion with a Marek Stetch own goal. The Stags’ goalkeeper was unable to grasp onto Connor Wood’s cross from a corner and fumbled the ball over the line within the opening eight minutes. After the first goal, the wind was in the visitors' sails, and it did not take long for the second goal to come, six minutes later. Harry Pritchard found himself with room on the edge of the area to cleverly backheel the ball into Wood’s path. The defender took the opportunity by storm and smashed home to give City a two-goal lead heading into half-time. Mansfield tried to turn the tides by bringing on three substitutes after the break and did manage to conjure a couple of chances. However, City proved to be too dominant and grabbed a third - courtesy of Clayton Donaldson. Lee Novak held the ball up in the corner before sneaking a pass into the path of Wood. The full-back teed up Donaldson who volleyed home at the near post. It went from bad to worse for the hosts, as new signing George Lapsile was given his marching orders - in the 78th minute - for a second-bookable offence. Graham Coughlan's men did manage to grab a goal of their own before the full-time whistle - through an Andy Cook header. But the Bantams held on to record their first away victory of the 2020/21 Sky Bet League Two campaign. MANSFIELD: Marek Stech; Corey O’Keefe, Rollin Menayese, Ryan Sweeney ©, Farrend Rawson (Mal Benning 45’ (booked 90+2’)); Jordan Bowery, George Maris (Harry Charsley 45’), James Perch, Stephen McLaughlin; Nicky Maynard (Andy Cook 45’), George Lapsile (booked 44’, dismissed 78’). Subs (not used): Aidan Stone (GK); Aaron O’Driscoll, Jamie Reid, Tyrese Sinclair. GOALS: Andy Cook (85’). CITY: Richard O’Donnell ©; Bryce Hosannah, Ben Richards-Everton, Anthony O’Connor, Connor Wood; Callum Cooke (booked 51’), Elliot Watt, Harry Pirtchard (Jackson Longridge 90’), Dylan Mottley-Henry (Tyler French 76’); Lee Novak, Clayton Donaldson (Austin Samuels 86’). Subs (not used): Sam Hornby (GK); Billy Clarke, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Kurtis Guthrie. GOALS: Marek Stech (8’ OG), Connor Wood (14’), Clayton Donaldson (69’). --------------------- Mansfield Town 1 Bradford City 3 By Simon Parker https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18802192.live-blog-mansfield-town-1-bradford-city-3/ CITY bounced back to form with a comfortable 3-1 win at Mansfield this afternoon. It was just the reaction Stuart McCall wanted after the disappointment against Harrogate. And the Bantams should have won by more against a poor home side. City were on the front foot from the start and were two up inside the first 14 minutes. Dylan Mottley-Henry, one of five changes from the Harrogate defeat, fired into the side-netting from their opening attack. Then City were gifted the lead as home keeper Marek Stech committed an absolute howler to drop Connor Wood’s corner over the line. But there was no doubt that Wood was the scorer of the second - a superbly-worked move as Harry Pritchard backheeled into the left back’s path to coolly slot home. Mansfield had their chances - and there was a big escape early on when Richard O’Donnell slipped but recovered to smother Jordan Bowery’s shot. The City skipper also denied the same player from close range. But City should have scored more before the break as they continued to threaten. The second half was equally open and Callum Cooke tested Stech from distance. Pritchard also went close as the chances kept coming. Mansfield made all three subs at half-time and striker Andy Cook should have done better with a free header. But Stuart McCall’s men nailed it with a third from Clayton Donaldson. Wood again had the assist after a cheeky backheel from the excellent Lee Novak by the corner flag. Mansfield went down to 10 men when debutant George Lapslie was sent off for a second booking. Stech prevented Donaldson from a City fourth before Cook headed a late consolation. ------------------------ |
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