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Oldham Athletic 3-1 Mansfield Town [Otis Khan] | Sky Bet League Two | Tuesday 28th January 2020 | Boundary Park  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
Mansfield Towns’ season of misery continued last night as the Stags sunk to a weak 3-1 defeat at relegation rivals Oldham, and yes, I am using the word “relegation” in the introduction – because three more performances like that in the next three games, and we’re up a certain creak with no paddle. On Saturday the lads played so well and gave everything to overturn Bradford 3-0, yes you can argue they had little time to prepare for Tuesday… but it was the same for Oldham, and yet they managed to stand up and be counted in first of four games against teams desperately trying to get out of the quick sand. It was never going to plain sailing and I certainly didn’t expect a repeat performance from Saturday, but at the very least I expected some response, some get up and go, some desire to go and make it back to back victories – and to be honestly I’m bitterly disappointed that they boys couldn’t find something to fight for. I heard the usual call for the manager to be removed after the second goal, I had to laugh as the consistency in the Stags’ failure is not in the man in the dugout, it’s those wearing the shirt. Graham Coughlan has a huge task on his hands, this is not about coaching skills and working on phases of play, from what I can tell from his press comments, that’s happening – it’s a mind-set, it’s an attitude, it’s a lazy approach to work which is seeing us not get beat by others, but beat ourselves. I understand why there was only one change made to the line-up, you win you keep your shirt – simple, but like with the Grimsby game when the CG admitted tired legs I can’t help have a tinge of annoyance at not using fresh legs or trying something a little different to keep us fresh, to give us the energy we so clearly forgot to put on the team bus. Once is a mistake, twice is a coincidence, three times is consistency and I don’t think we can keep affording to prioritise sentiment over results. We win together, we lose together AS A SQUAD. Coughlan is right with his comments of worse performance under him so far, I think he’ll learn from that and I’m actually optimistic about the response the players will give on Saturday – he’ll accept defeat when we’ve worked hard and not quite had enough about us, but I doubt he’ll accept defeat in the manner of last night. The transfer window closes soon, I think we need two more players still – both experienced players, one a central defender, the other a central midfielder – we have to shake things up, we have to pick ourselves up and go again, because if we don’t – those nightmares, don’t bare thinking about. Match Recap Mansfield made it three games in a row where a new face was added before kick-off, this time it was the turn of utility man Kelland Watts who joined on loan from Newcastle until the end of this tiresome season. He went straight in to an otherwise unchanged starting eleven, replacing Neal Bishop who dropped to the bench. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Oldham 3-1 Mansfield Town STAGS: [4-3-3] Bobby Oljenik | Joe Riley, Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning | Alex MacDonald, Kelland Watts, Harry Charsley (Willem Tomlinson 51) | Nicky Maynard (Andy Cook 51) Danny Rose (Otis Khan 71), CJ Hamilton Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Matt Preston, Otis Khan, Neal Bishop *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
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Mansfield Town 3-0 Bradford City [Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard, Andy Cook] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 25th January 2020 | One Call Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
That winning feeling is such an epic one! Let’s be honest here, it’s a feeling Mansfield should have had weeks ago – which highlights the importance of hard work and a committed attitude, so hats off and a huge well done to the players – overcoming Bradford City 3-0 in a victory which SHOULD go a way to kick-starting this campaign. It’s very easy after such a victory, especially with the manner in which we played, to get carried away and say we’re going to go on a good run now. The next four games are really tough against four teams scrapping, fighting, pinching and punching around us – four games wrapped with expectation. Cementing one brick, doesn’t make a home. Victory and a clean sheet gives us a massive spring board yes, but we have to work even harder now to maintain the standard set – standards which Graham Coughlan will (a) want to improve on, and (b) will not accept anyone who drops off of maintaining them. The way in which we played was fantastic, moving the ball with intent and patience in equal measure – playing with courage and desire to go and not only win a football match, but tighten up at home and reward supporters for nearly twelve months of faltering and poor performance. It was announced late in the week that Lee Glover had departed the club, he was seemingly (although let’s be fair here, there genuinely IS such a thing as a coincidence) replaced on the touchline with Jamie McGuire, his passion and energy really helped to put in a spring into our step and her certainly fits into the Coughlan/ Dunne mould more – I’d be sad to see him have to hang up his playing boots (having been playing for AFC Mansfield this season) but selfishly, Jamie McGuire involved with the Mansfield Town FC first team on match days, is things you’d love to see. It was very difficult to pick a man of the match yesterday, Danny Rose was perhaps the right choice for me, covering every blade of grass, winning battles, dropping deep to create, defending like a…. who am I kidding, Danny Rose played like he does every other week, hero! It was good to see the two new lads involved, we’ve needed some fluidity in the middle for a while and Charsley brings that, whilst Joe Riley, arriving from Plymouth, performed well at Right Back and gives up many an option – I like and rate young Clarke, who’s done nothing wrong at all, but Riley brings the experience we’ve been asking for having played at League One level. One win and one clean sheet doesn’t change the season and eradicate the weaknesses that we’ve allowed to creep in, and I still believe that we need at least two more bodies within the squad, experienced ones, BUT it gives us a foothold, a ledge to try and climb from – we go again on Tuesday night against an Oldham side clinging around us on 30 points, proving tough to break down at the moment with four draws – let’s go there, play on the front foot and go into next Saturday with two wins, rather than one. It’s not about what you have done or where you’ve been, it’s about where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. Match Recap Mansfield added defender Joe Riley to the ranks before the game, arriving from Plymouth Argyle having been on the bench for the Pilgrims against the Stags last week. He went straight into the starting line-up along with fellow newbee Harry Charsley who arrived a week ago. Matt Preston and Hayden White missed out as the Stags opted for a flexible 4-4-2/ 4-3-3 with Hamilton alternating between wide left midfield and as the third striker alongside Rose and Maynard. In other transfer news, Conrad Logan departed on loan to Forest Green Rovers until the end of the season. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 3-0 Bradford City | Attendance 5,537 (1,467) STAGS: [4-3-3] Bobby Oljenik | Joe Riley, Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney, Mal Benning | Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop, Harry Charsley (Willem Tomlinson 83) | Nicky Maynard (Jimmy Knowles 74), Danny Rose (Andy Cook 74), CJ Hamilton Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Matt Preston, Otis Khan, James Clarke *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Plymouth Argyle 3-1 Mansfield Town [Andy Cook] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 18th January 2020 | Home Park  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* The only direction you’re supposed to go after ‘hitting rock bottom’ is up, but then again this is Mansfield Town and things this season, just go against the script – the Stags slipping to a 3-1 defeat at Plymouth to move just five points from the one relegation place, as Graham Coughlan returned to his old stomping ground – hoping to spark a Stags revival. Mansfield were again beaten by their own inept mistakes with the first two goals, failing to mark up from another set-play for the first and then an absolutely poor bit of defending from Preston who gave away a cast iron penalty… AGAIN! The third goal is to be expected when you’re chasing the game, a sucker punch I accepted non-the-less as I slumped into my chair thinking about the four-and-a-half-hour drive back to Mansfield empty handed, rapidly losing faith that the Stags can stay up! The most frustrating thing is that the work Graham Coughlan is doing IS working, we look like a far more dangerous attacking side with Rose on fire playing in that attacking midfield/ deep lying striker role in a 3-4-1-2 yesterday – but the two in front of him in Maynard and Hamilton have no confidence when it comes to finishing cast iron, critical chances. IF we score those chances we’re creating early doors, we have something to protect, something to fight for – but it just doesn’t come and inevitably, the opposition play on our weakness, get a set-play and take the lead – and then our confidence drops like a boulder into a pond. I applaud Coughlan for his post-match interview where he looked very much like he wanted to commit murder, there is no place for hiding, no place for covering up mistakes and wrapping those players up cotton wool – we are in a big relegation battle here and if those players keep making those same errors, that isn’t the odd mistake that’s consistency – and we simply cannot proceed as a football club with that Sunday league, school boy level of poor character and performance. Step up to the mark, or step away. To be honest the long drive home gives a lot of time for reflection and I hate writing with the anger that has built up and built up, I hate having to highlight the errors and the individuals who rather than try and get the water off of the boat, are making the hole bigger. As supporters we are entitled to our say and opinion, especially having spent stupid money to travel to the other end of the country to watch us crumble – BUT, we have FOUR of the teams engrossed in the relegation battle with us to play in the next five games, and the only way we are going to through it is to give these lads the support and backing when the chips are down. Regardless of frustration and anger, these lads are the ones who can and WILL affect our fate as a football club going forward – regardless of if they’re here to face the consequences at the end of this season going into the next. Personally I can see the work and endeavours that are being put in place and trust me, when it pays off someone will get a bloody good hiding and it will spark us and galvanise us – we’ve just got to bite our tongues a little harder and suppress the rage, the anger and disappointment into support and drag this bunch through the mud and onto the right path. The transfer window remains open and I firmly believe Coughlan will add at least one more, hopefully a solid experienced defender who can help drag us through, but there’s no point me sitting here (and you on social media too) saying let’s get rid of X, Y is as useful as a cauldron trying to bail out the titanic, or we’d be better off playing a traffic cone than Z – it’s funny, but not helpful – because let’s face it, if YOU were X, Y or Z would you REALLY want to give your all and safe this ship from sinking? Whilst these boys are wearing the Stags’ crest, they’re on our side and we support them all the way. The good performances WILL come and WILL turn into positive results, WE WILL stay up and we WILL fight again another day – this season has been a write off for me since day one, we just need to see it through and go again. Nightmares and bad experiences can do one of two things – they can make you hide under the duvet and shy away from the world, or they can make you aware, awake and ready to take on the challenge. Time to wake up lads. Match Recap A week ago, Captain Pearce alongside Jacob Mellis was told he could seek new challenges, however after a week of hard work to impress on the training ground, he returned with the armband to the starting line-up as the Stags went with a back three to replace Willem Tomlinson. Hayden White also returned to the starting line-up for James Clarke, whilst there was space on the bench for new arrival Harry Charsley, who joined until the end of the season following his release from Everton. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Plymouth Argyle 3-1 Mansfield Town | Attendance 10,523 (246) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Bobby Oljenik | Matt Preston, Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney | Hayden White (James Clarke 52), Neal Bishop (Harry Charsley 79), Alex MacDonald, Mal Benning | Danny Rose (Andy Cook 66), Nicky Maynard, CJ Hamilton Unused Subs: Aiden Stone, Craig Davies, Otis Khan, Alistair Smith *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Mansfield Town 3-4 Forest Green Rovers [Hamilton, Rose, Maynard] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 11th January 2020 | One Call Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
I don’t think it would be much of an exaggeration to say that we watched two different teams play yesterday – both were Mansfield Town, who went from utterly brilliant, to gut wrenchingly woeful in a split second. The moment was six minutes into the five added to the end of the first half, when the Stags at 2-0 up gave a way a free kick and just stood, flat-footed and watched, as Forest Green won the game got a goal back. That goal burst Mansfield’s bubble of confidence and way in which in deflated was heart breaking to watch, we really did hit rock bottom allowing Forest Green to level the game through another sleeping set-play, and then take the lead through another fine example of concentration-less static play. Bleak hope was given when Maynard levelled in injury time, but Forest Green weren’t done and took full advantage of the Stags’ arrogance at thinking they’d got out of jail – taking all three points, and fair play to them. This side, this dressing rooms, seems to be full of problems – highlighted by the fact skipper Pearce, the clubs longest serving player, has been told by the manager he, alongside Jacob Mellis, is free to seek new challenges and will no-longer be part of the squad, unless something drastic happens. It wouldn’t surprise me if one or two more had been told the same but are playing because needs must, judging by Coughlan’s post-match “shop window” comments movement will happen if it can in January, but if not, the summer window will be very busy indeed. It’s worrying that the man elected leader of the dressing room is the one told to seek new challenges, it highlight’s a lack of leadership within the players – a lack of someone with experience who can come in and ruffle feathers. That player also needs to be someone who can be dominant in our own box, because it doesn’t take a detective to work out the consistent pattern in the goals’ we concede does it? THAT is a deal which NEEDS to be done in this window, ASAP. Coughlan has had a full week on the training ground to try and improve this rapidly failing squad, and to be fair our first half performance really showed the hard work had begun – riskily playing a lob-sided 4-3-3 with MacDonald, Tomlinson and Bishop in a tight central triangle with Hamilton stretching a high wide left, feeding balls into Rose and Maynard. It worked beautifully with a number of chances created, playing with intent and desire to press and push high against a physical side in blustery conditions – the two-nil lead deserved. Typically, Mansfield couldn’t quite see it through, the extra time in extra time no excuse for a lack of concentration, pride and care in defending our own box and protecting our lead – had we got through at 2-0 at Half Time, I genuinely feel we’d have gone on to win. And yet, here we are another Sunday, another loss. More work is to be done with things getting tougher and tougher and tougher as time ticks on. One or two more bad results and we could get dragged further into trouble, when will this hell ever end? Plymouth away next, on my actual birthday too – I see now why people say there’s no joy in getting old… Christ, I’ll on be twenty-bloody-nine! Match Recap With Pearce and Mellis told to look elsewhere, neither were included in the matchday squad as Ryan Sweeney took the armband returning into the line-up alongside Tomlinson, both back from injury. James Clarke replaced Hayden White who is still struggling with injury, whilst Oljenik came back in for Logan – with the Stags boss seeking someone to claim the number one spot. Changes, are afoot. Click HERE to read the official report FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 3-4 Forest Green Rovers | Attendance 3,965 (115) STAGS: [4-4-2] Bobby Oljenik | James Clarke, Matt Preston, Ryan Sweeney ©, Mal Benning | Alex MacDonald (Otis Khan73), Neal Bishop, Willem Tomlinson (Alistair Smith 36), CJ Hamilton | Danny Rose (Andy Cook 63), Nicky Maynard Unused Subs: Aiden Stone, Craig Davies, Jimmy Knowles, Hayden White *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Mansfield Town 0-1 Grimsby Town | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 4th January 2020| One Call Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* When players have been long servants, sometimes it’s hard to let go, or even get your head around the idea of letting go – but sometimes moving on is the best thing to do in order to move forward. The idea of letting go of two or three long serving players is something we all need to buy into – mainly in order to survive. Graham Coughlan has a huge job to reshape this team and get them going in the right direction, after falling to his second defeat in his five game tenure, this time Mansfield failing miserably to beat Grimsby, who played with ten men for eighty plus minutes. The Stags boss made a fatal error in showing sentiment towards his players, rewarding the side who beat Cambridge on Wednesday by naming the same starting line-up, despite openly admitting that he knew his players would hit a brick wall at some point and were running on empty – following a hectic schedule of games over the festive period. I get an appreciate that he had to back and reward his players for their efforts, but for me results come first and if that means annoying one or two individuals in order to get fresh legs and energy, then do it every single time. I honestly don’t think he’ll sacrifice a result for sentiment again, given his comments about this group already getting one manager sacked – it’s more drastic than that for me, 80% of this squad have got two managers sacked and FAILED to get us promoted – therein lies the problem. Mansfield were weak and feeble against Grimsby, Coughlan was spot on in his post-match analysis when you’re playing against ten men for so long, you have to move the ball quickly side to side, you have to play with intensity and purpose – not timidly pass between the two centrebacks and the keeper, reluctant to move forwards. Obviously us mere mortals in the stands have no idea about fitness etc and must trust in the management to make the right choices during the match, throwing Davies and Cook on however played right into Grimsby’s hands as we bypassed the non-existent midfield and might as well have renamed ourselves Mansfield Town Hoofball Club – we made it so easy for Grimsby to defend against, whereas using the more hungry and creative players in Khan, Smith or Knowles could have helped unlocked the visitors. Mansfield are dangerous (ish) when then get the ball down and play, lumping it long is pointless, I can see why we did it playing against ten, but we really need to play to our strengths. Coughlan has a week on the training ground now which will be of benefit, but we have to look at getting some new bodies in to drag us away from the quick sand dangerously nipping at our heals – an experienced commanding defender, a left sided player, a creative midfielder and a hungry striker at the bare minimum, whoever goes to accommodate them goes… unless it’s Rose because that’s madness, for the doubters – I’ll write a novel series one day on why he needs to stay! No time for sentiment, no time for dwelling, no time for arguments – dig in, pull together, improve and move on…. In every sense of the bloody phrase! Match Recap Graham Coughlan named an unchanged side, rewarding the players for the New Years Day victory, despite voicing concerns over fitness and hitting a brick wall. Click HERE to read the clubs detailed report FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 0-1 Grimsby Town | Attendance 5,840 (1,137) STAGS: [4-4-2] Conrad Logan | Hayden White (James Clarke 74) Krystian Pearce ©, Matt Preston, Mal Benning | Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop (Andy Cook 51), Jacob Mellis, CJ Hamilton | Danny Rose (Craig Davies 86), Nicky Maynard Unused Subs: Bobby Oljenik, Otis Khan, Alistair Smith, Jimmy Knowles *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Cambridge United 2-3 Mansfield Town (Nicky Maynard x3) | Sky Bet League Two | Wednesday 1st January 2020| Abbey Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Hurrah! That winning feeling is so good, it’s been far too long since we’ve got it but with a new year comes new opportunities and new chances – and that’s exactly how boss Graham Coughlan sold the Cambridge match to the players – forget what’s gone, focus on the here and now. A 3-2 victory wasn’t the easiest to achieve and the Stags were helped on their way with a red card to former Mansfield winger Reggie Lambe, but in truth given the way the Stags responded to being 2-1 down at the break – they started the second half with real energy, real determination and there was only one side winning that game. Mansfield’s season had lacked fight, lacked the energy to get at teams and dictate the play – but even despite a woeful start, conceding just three minutes in, the Stags showed the characteristics they’ve been lacking for far too long to reward the travelling fans with a long overdue victory. The players know the threat of losing their place is real, Coughlan made five changes from the Bradford defeat, and didn’t hold back in his statement about incomings and outgoings – they needed to grasp the opportunity to keep their shirt and unlock their potential. One such player was Nicky Maynard who has lacked confidence so far this season, his display today was excellent and Rose really complimented him dropping deeper to create space and openings for him to pounce – and pounce he did, thrice! His second hat-trick of the season. Quickly on Rose, people lambast him for the lack of goals at times, and whilst he’s capable – his support play is phenomenal and is the type of play that will work given time under Coughlan with the right partner and service around him. The scenes at the end were magical and a delight to see all the relief from the players after such a negative run, October being the last time we won a League game, however within that came the determination for the winning goal, with forceful headers from Pearce and Cook who were determined to get the ball, and the Stags, over the line. One win doesn’t change too much, there is a huge road ahead of Graham Coughlan’s men – they’ll be ins and outs, twists and turns throughout January, going unbeaten would be a massive step in the right direction – we’ve got some tough games coming up, but IF we can continue the performance from today, who knows where 2020 may lead. Small steps, but at least we’re taking them. Match Recap Graham Coughlan was forced into two changes with Sweeney and Tomlinson injured, Pearce and Bishop came in to replace them – whereas three more changes were made, as out went Khan, Cook and Clarke, for Mellis, Maynard and the much missed Hayden White. Click HERE to read the clubs detailed report FULL TIME: Cambridge United 2-3 Mansfield Town | Attendance 3,848 STAGS: [4-4-2] Conrad Logan | Hayden White (James Clarke 79) Krystian Pearce ©, Matt Preston, Mal Benning | Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop (Andy Cook 79), Jacob Mellis, CJ Hamilton | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard Unused Subs: Bobby Oljenik, Craig Davies, Alistair Smith, Jimmy Knowles *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* |
