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Northampton Town 1-2 Mansfield Town [Danny Rose (P), Willem Tomlinson] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 7th March 2020 | PTS Academy Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
When Graham Coughlan took charge of his first game as Stags boss back in December against Northampton at the One Call stadium, you could sense that given time to work he would lift us into a side that would go toe to toe with the top sides, a side that would show some resilience and battle – yesterday’s 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture over the Cobblers, certainly showed the lads have put the work in. There’s a massively long way to go, more than anything the excitement and joy of victory is building for next season rather than a positive end to this one, but you have to give the lads credit for standing up and fighting against a physical Northampton side. The fact they had ten men for the majority of the game to me is irrelevant because even with a man less, they caused us problems, throwing themselves about, pinching, punching, kicking and screaming to try and get something from the game which, like it or not, good successful sides do – if anything that little bit of ‘bullying’ is a characteristic which we lacked when we were in their shoes this time last season. Mansfield were strong but that came from the very back in Aidan Stone, who was absolutely excellent when called upon in the Stags goal – his flying save to tip around the top corner bound free-kick moments before our counter-attack-won penalty, was the turning point of the game for me and simply said “today, we will not crumble”. The young shot stopper is fully deserving of his run in the side at the moment and made a string of saves throughout the match, vocally marshalling his defence and making it a frustrating afternoon for Northampton – whose goal late on will be disappointing for Stone to not keep a clean sheet, but one in which the Stags need to do better in defending higher up – little things make a difference. Stevenage losing takes the gap to sixteen points, but there are still ten games to go for both – let’s kick on from this and keep battling, for the last few seasons’ we’ve had a very poor end, so let’s end strong and take that into the next campaign. Crewe up next will prove a technical challenge rather than a physical one, we have to be switched on and defend well – taking our chances when they come, because as yesterday proved, those chances make a difference when you take them. What a good feeling to get a win! Match Recap Defender Joe Riley returned to the starting line-up in place of Hayden White following the two-week gap between games in the sides only change. On the bench, 16-Year-Old goalkeeper Maison Campbell was given a call up, replacing Oljenik who picked up a knock in training, whilst young forward Tyrese Sinclair also was brought onto the bench. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Northampton Town 1-2 Mansfield Town | Attendance 5,666 (767) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Aidan Stone | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts (Hayden White 87) | Joe Riley, Neal Bishop, Willem Tomlinson, CJ Hamilton | Harry Charsley | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard (Craig Davies 82) Unused Substitutes: Maison Campbell, Mal Benning, Jack Evans, Tyrese Sinclair, Jimmy Knowles *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Cheltenham Town 1-0 Mansfield Town | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 22nd February 2020 | Jonny Rocks Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
As a football fan, the worst time of the season is the final game – but this season, I think you’d be very hard pushed to find a Stags fan who can’t wait for the full time whistle to blow and bring an end to this whimpering, deflating season. A 1-0 defeat to promotion pushing Cheltenham was to be expected really, BUT it shouldn’t be accepted as yet again Mansfield Town did what they do best – waste chance after chance and then get punished for sloppiness at the other end. The Stags have come a long way under Graham Coughlan and look a lot fitter and more dangerous going forward, which does excite me for next season because I’m convinced that all the foundations will be restructured – but what’s frustrating is wasting the here and now, because there’s no doubt in my mind we’d be battling for a play-off space now if we weren’t so dam poor at the back across the entirety of the squad. It’s alarming how cheaply we turn the ball over and that was highlighted beautifully by Cheltenham when they scored the games’ only goal – putting no real pressure on the Stags but pouncing with predatory instinct when they got in the final third, we’ve become far too easy to play and attack against really. I believe we will win games this season under Coughlan and will improve on our defensive errors and I think so long as we maintain a big enough gap between ourselves and Stevenage, I’m happy enough to let this season fizzle out and close the book – but for now until we are mathematically safe, the worry continues, the frustration bubbles – and the feeling of deflation hangs around like a bad smell. Match Recap Defender Joe Riley was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench, but couldn’t force a start as Graham Coughlan stuck, naturally, with the same starting eleven which beat Newport 1-0 last weekend Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Cheltenham Town 1-0 Mansfield Town | Attendance 3,274 (381) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Aidan Stone | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts (Craig Davies 86) | Hayden White, Neal Bishop, Willem Tomlinson, CJ Hamilton | Harry Charsley (Mal Benning 71) | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Joe Riley, Jack Evans, James Clarke, Jimmy Knowles *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Mansfield Town 1-0 Newport County [Danny Rose] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 15th February 2020 | One Call Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
When Danny Rose dropped his shoulder and unleashed a shot with real venom, it was only a split second before leaving his boot and smashing the back of the net – but it felt like an eternity, a moment filled with hope that against the negativity of the storm, the Stags could battle through and come out the other end with a spring in their step. The goal proved to be the only one of the game but the Stags stood firm and defended well from front to back to protect the three points, moving thirteen points clear of Stevenage and providing some breathing space as things seemed to get continually worse. Questions had been asked about the player’s desire and urge to fight for each other and protect what they had, but I think we found a few answers yesterday thanks to a mini-master stroke from Graham Coughlan in handing a football league debut to shot stopper Aidan Stone. Stone had little to do but commanded his area and back line well, the players relished the challenge of protecting him and handing him his first ever football league clean sheet by throwing their bodies on the line and eradicating any sniff of repeated errors from set-play’s – with Newport winning a number and hurling the ball into the box time after time. The conditions again didn’t lend themselves to an easy afternoon’s football, with the pitch heavy and zippy – but I felt the Stags managed them well getting on the ball and moving it wide, trying to utilise the pace of Hamilton and White to feed Maynard and a very hungry Rose. Mansfield have been guilty of turning the ball over quickly and cheaply in recent weeks, and whilst it wasn’t as perfect and crisp as it could have been, the Stags sharpened up and put real pressure on in feeding on scraps in the final third – highlighted none more so than in Roses’ thunderous strike. Newport offered little in clear cut chances and that can’t be ignored, we can’t for a second think we’re fixed and the finished article because we are not. We must harness this winning feeling, this fight, this spirit or pulling together and pushing back against the storm trying to drag us down – replying with something very simple indeed, a win at Cheltenham next Saturday. Match Recap Following Tuesday nights defeat at Leyton Orient, Graham Coughlan shuffled the pack – handing a League Debut to young goalkeeper Aidan Stone, who replaced Oljenik as one of three changes. Elsewhere there was a return for Hayden White, replacing the injured Joe Riley, and Harry Charsley came in for Benning, with Hamilton moving across to the left hand side in a 3-4-1-2. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 1-0 Newport County | Attendance 3,653 (111) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Aidan Stone | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts | Hayden White, Neal Bishop, Willem Tomlinson, CJ Hamilton | Harry Charsley | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Mal Benning, Matt Preston, Craig Davies, Jack Evans, James Clarke, Jimmy Knowles *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Leyton Orient 2-1 Mansfield Town [Kelland Watts] | Sky Bet League Two | Tuesday 11th February 2020 | Brisbane Road  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
The more this season drags on, the more unbearable it is becoming to watch as the Stags continue to make the same school boy errors which are consistently dropping them into the heart of the fire. Over the last four games, Mansfield have had a real opportunity to put distance between themselves and the drop but following last night’s 2-1 poor defeat at Leyton Orient, are starting to lose their grip and have made it anybody’s game. Two defeats and two draws against four of the sides around us is far from acceptable with the same mistakes and errors costing us – something needs to change quickly because whilst the gap between the Stags (21st) and Stevenage (24th) is ten points, the pendulum can swing very quickly and if we’re not careful – that gap WILL shorten. I can’t find too much fault with the performance last night, compared to the Oldham game (our last defeat, also midweek) the desire and effort had vastly improved – BUT, the simple approach to taking the game to Orient (as Coughlan emphasised pre-match) was poor, and ultimately cost us. Playing 3-4-3 is fine, that gives us the opportunity to get the ball down on the floor and play it in behind for CJ to attack and get at the hosts’ vulnerable defence who really struggled with the ball on the floor. The problem is, we did that about three times – resorting to clipping it over the top far too often, which the hosts lapped up as heading practise. I can’t imagine that to be the instruction from the management – if it was, then I’ll hold my hands up – praise the lads for doing as told, and then majorly question why on earth we continue to play high over the top when it doesn’t work and we haven’t got the players for it! Playing Rose on the right side of the three was pointless, he tried his hardest as ever and I can’t fault him for that, but genuinely he looked lost and awkward – we’d have been better playing him in the attacking midfield central role, acting as a buffer between the deep midfield pair of Bishop and Tomlinson and Maynard & Hamilton, who would have latched onto and (hopefully) put away low through balls. We’re all managers through from the stands, aren’t we?! All I know is I can see my team falling apart, making stupid errors week after week, mile after mile, dropping point after point – and its bloody well hurts. I don’t think it’s a management thing, it can’t be because look back at this time last year when it started to unravel and our dreams were shattered – same silly mistakes, and the same failure to keep it simple. It’s frustrating, it’s horrible to watch at times, and it’s even worse to sit here and try and write about without penning the same old words like a song stuck on a loop – but we have to hold our hands up and look at the next fixture, Newport at home, and hope for three points to lift our tired spirits once more. Match Recap One change yet again for Graham Coughlan, bringing in Hamilton for Charsley going with a flat 3-4-3 to try and get at Leyton Orient. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Leyton Orient 2-1 Mansfield Town | Attendance 3,587 (181) STAGS: [3-4-3] Bobby Olejnik | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts | Joe Riley (James Clarke HT), Willem Tomlinson, Neal Bishop, Mal Benning (Harry Charlsey 88) | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard, CJ Hamilton Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Jimmy Knowles, Matt Preston, Jack Evans, Craig Davies *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Morecambe 1-1 Mansfield Town [Joe Riley] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 8th February 2020 | Globe Arena  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
A trip to the seaside is sometimes what you need to re-galvanise the soul, but for Mansfield Town the fresh sea-air did nothing bar inflict the same old bitter feeling – as Graham Coughlan’s men toss away another chance of victory, like a youngster tosses away the 2ps you’ve been saving for a year – not even winning a novelty key ring on the addictive slot machines. The Stags’ behaviour and attitude this season is far from the frolicking fun and innocence of family holiday’s, more like the carelessness of a backpacker – with no idea where they’re going or care where they end up. The script is writing itself for the Stags – play OK first half, get into a lead by upping the ante and then switching off and conceding cheaply from a set play. Fortunately, Morecambe are as poor as we are so couldn’t take full advantage but better sides will and this absolute failure to beat the teams around us WILL catch up with us when we play, and inevitably get punished by, better teams. I can’t stomach looking at the league table right now, the gap is narrowing and we’re being pulled deeper and deeper and deeper into the mud with every game that goes by, every opportunity that we miss and every goal we concede. We keep talking about how we’ll be glad to see this season end and have a massive re-shuffle, and yes I will too – but that very much seems a dangerous game to play, giving up and just thinking we are safe and guaranteed a place in League Two next season – news flash, we’re not! There’s a lot of games to go and many twists and turns can happen so we must focus on the remaining games and back the boys to survive. Leyton Orient is a massive test on Tuesday, we’ve seen numerous times this season that the boys aren’t coping with quick turnarounds of games – we’re going to have to find that energy from somewhere and go and get a positive result, if that means big changes to the line-up so be it! We have to put results first and play our way too safety – the rest will take care of itself. Another sucker punch, another blow, another Sunday where it feels like a loss but it isn’t – let’s write it off and go again. Match Recap With Alex MacDonald injured it was just a case of shuffle along one place – Willem Tomlinson came into the starting line-up to replace MacDonald – new loanee Jack Evans took the vacancy on the bench. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Morecambe 1-1 Mansfield Town | Attendance 1,965 (337) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Bobby Olejnik | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts | Joe Riley (James Clarke 82), Willem Tomlinson, Neal Bishop, Mal Benning | Harry Charsley | Danny Rose (Craig Davies 90+2), Nicky Maynard (CJ Hamilton 76) Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Jimmy Knowles, Matt Preston, Jack Evans *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* Mansfield Town 2-2 Carlisle United [Nicky Maynard 2] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 1st February 2020 | One Call Stadium  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
Mansfield Town have a habit of throwing things away this season, so whilst it came as no real shock that the lads once again let a two-goal lead slip in the last minute, conceding another needless free-kick – it still hurt. The conditions were really tough with a horrible wind sweeping across the pitch, I was really pleased and proud of the lads for being tight enough in the first half to go in at 0-0 having had little of the ball, the pride grew further with two well-taken goals from Nicky Maynard to put us into a commanding lead – but as always, pride becomes before a fall and here we are having dropped points once again, fearing that a bad result against Morecambe next Saturday coupled with good results around us for others could put us right in trouble. The match itself and the result reminds me of being a child, the excitement of putting in the work to get your brand-new kite to fly. You put all the effort and desire into getting it under control and taking flight beautifully, running through the bright green fields happy with the sunshine settling on your face – before arrogance and compliancy sink in, one big gust of wind loses your grip – and before you know it, the kite is ripped out of your hands and is thrown into a tree, ripping and tearing apart as the blue skies turn grey, the heavens open and you get p*** wet through, having lost everything within seconds. That feeling of disappointment and dejection sums up the mood right now – having come through a horrendous transfer deadline day with nothing bar the overwhelming feeling of worry sweeping over us. On deadline day itself, the Stags brought in loanee Jack Evans from Swansea right at the death – but saw Jacob Mellis (Contract terminated – joined Bolton), Otis Khan (Newport County, loan) and Andy Cook (Tranmere Rovers, loan – undisclosed fee) all depart – leaving the Stags with limited options in attack and looking threadbare in all areas. Mellis I totally get and wish him all the best, he has barley featured under Coughlan and given what happened back in the Summer months, a fresh start is good for him – Khan I also understand, having started just once for Coughlan – predominately being an unused substitute, but I would like to have kept hold of a clear creative player. Cook is a strange one, Coughlan wants to play with a high pacey press from the front and obviously that’s not Cook’s game which became clear in the new boss’ first three matches at the helm, in which Cook started. His impact from the bench however can’t be overlooked with two goals from the bench in the last three games – having scored seven all season, could we really afford to lose him? I get that he wants to play first team football as a regular starter, and Tranmere too is a huge draw for him considering his affinity with the club – I really wish him well, I think my disappointment comes in not replacing him (yet) as, from the bench or not, players like him make a huge difference in winning the fight. That said, and this is really important, it’s clear he wanted away – listen to the interview from Cook upon his return to Tranmere, quite simply we don’t need players sitting in that dressing room who have no desire to be there, because that will take us in one direction – down. Don’t believe me? Look at our league position! Genuinely, I’d much rather have a smaller squad and perhaps not even be able to fill the bench some weeks, filled with players who want to be here and succeed, than have a large pool of people who don’t give two hoots about progressing this club and are happy to pick up a pay check – once again, take a look at how our season went from this point last season!! We can still sign free agents I believe, and I genuinely think we may see one or two be added should the right player come knocking – some very good players who could really help us out of this mess are currently free – Coughlan is no fool, he’ll certainly be working hard to make sure that if our options become properly threadbare, gaps will be filled. The same old mistakes cost us, we dust ourselves down and go again – we need six points from the next two games. I never really saw the appeal of flying a kite anyway Match Recap After a hectic transfer deadline day which left the Stags with fewer options, Coughlan made just one change from Tuesday’s match, Neal Bishop back in for CJ Hamilton as the Stags switched to a 3-4-1-2, new loan signing Jack Evans wasn’t in the squad – but no doubt will be next week as the Stags head to Morecambe. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 2-2 Carlisle United | Attendance 4,272 (368) STAGS: [3-4-1-2] Bobby Olejnik | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts | Joe Riley, Alex MacDonald (Willem Tomlinson 20), Neal Bishop, CJ Hamilton | Harry Charsley (CJ Hamilton 77) | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard (Matt Preston 88) Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Craig Davies, Jimmy Knowles, James Clarke *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations* 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* 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* |
