April Fools | Stags 0-2 Leyton Orient

Sky Bet League Two | Friday 2nd April 2021 – One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]

Last time out Mansfield Town earned praise for fighting back against promotion chasing Tranmere, but yet again those of us who had hope as a result of that fight back were left the victim of a mistimed April Fools joke, as the Stags put in a whimpering display – losing two-nil at home to Leyton Orient thanks to two golden gifts.

Clough’s men are still eleven points clear of second bottom Southend, however by the time Monday’s trip to Exeter comes around, that gap could be narrowed to just six – with the relegation battlers in action this lunchtime against Carlisle, meaning yesterday’s result could leave a very sour taste.

Yes, Orient deserve credit for pressing us high and giving us little room – but the bare fact is, they actually created very little, I’m struggling to remember Stone having a shot to save from anything created organically from the visitors, their two goals absolute gifts from us – TWO errors, TWO errors which if we don’t make them – earns us a point and as a result, further pulls the rope from Southends grasp.

We are essentially masters of our own undoing.

It’s tough to sit here and write these little blogs at the moment, they’re becoming shorter at fear of becoming repetitive. We know what we’re lacking, who we’re missing and the mistakes we’re living to regret – but we can’t change that, the only thing we can change and effect is the next game.

With Lapslie now back fit and Clarke on the verge of being so, I’d look to shuffle the pack again and compact the midfield with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which includes a number of changes. 

My team would be as follows
Stone
J Clarke – Perch – Sweeney – Benning
Maris – O Clarke ©
Charsley – Lapslie – Quinn
Law

I’m not the manager and I know he’ll be feeling as frustrated as the rest of us, he pretty much said it during the week – we should be safe now, it should be job done and for whatever reason it’s not. I want to see us go to Exeter with some fight and fire, let’s press from the front and use the attacking edge of Charsley, Lapslie and Quinn to support Law – with the likes of Bowery, Reid and Sinclair to come off of the bench, plus if we need an extra body, send Sweeney forward!

Hopefully Southend will lose this afternoon and the gap stays at 11 points with twenty-one left to play for, we don’t need the stress or the panic because we’re not good enough to cope with it right now – the proof is in the results.

Over the next two games, Exeter and Newport, let’s find that energy and drive from within and get it done, four points coupled with two losses for Southend (against Carlisle and Morecambe) makes the buffer 15 points with as many left to play for [for us, Southend would have 18 left to play for as we play Friday, and them Saturday] should see us OK – surely even we could find one more point at the stage?!

This season has been horrendous watching from the sofa, let’s get it done and dusted and move on very bloody quickly.   

Click HERE to read the clubs official match report.

​STAGS: Aidan Stone | Kellan Gordon (Ryan Sweeney 83), Farrend Rawson, James Perch ©, Mal Benning | George Maris, George Lapslie (Ollie Clarke 75), Stephen Quinn (Harry Charsley 80), Jason Law (Stephen McLaughlin 75) | Jamie Reid (Tyrese Sinclair 80), Jordan Bowery Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Keaton Ward