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Papa Johns Trophy [EFL Trophy] Northern Group E Game 3/3 | Tuesday 10th November 2020 | Sands Venue Stadium | Nigel Clough’s First Game as Manager  It was a match which meant absolutely nothing in terms of competition progress, but one which meant everything to Nigel Clough and the progress of Mansfield Town as the boys began the new era, with their second win in as many games.
Clough made 11 changes for his first fixture in order for him and his coaching staff to have evaluated every player of the last four games, with Clough and his staff having observed the Stags from the stands for the duration of Richard Coopers excellent caretaker tenure. The fixture also allowed key players such as Ryan Sweeney, Corey O’Keeffe, Ollie Clarke and Rollin Menayese to get some much needed minutes after isolation and injury spells, whilst younger “fringe” players were also given the opportunity to impress the Stags’ new gaffer. All in all it was a very good performance from Mansfield who continued to play out from the back and with a freedom to their play, something which reflected in the two goals scored by Ryan Sweeney and Jamie Reid. The score line suggests a tighter affair, but in truth Mansfield were on top for the majority of the match – it took an absolute rocket to beat Aidan Stone, who was excellent again between the sticks pulling off some good reflex saves, showing good distribution and footwork along with a vocal commanding presence – worthy of the man of the match accolade for sure. As well as minutes and victory in the bank, we’ve also netted 10K – add that to the just shy of 17K we picked up for the win over Sunderland (£16,972 to be exact according to the internet!) and it’s not been a bad week in gaining some much needed financial income! The real work starts on Saturday as Clough takes charge of his first League game for the Stags, a trip to Forest Green Rovers who sit third in the table and are unbeaten at home so far this season in the League. Two wins in the cup mean nothing come 3pm Saturday, other than boosting confidence and gaining some momentum – however there’s a lot to be said for perspective, we’re playing well, with confidence and are, in all competitions, four unbeaten with two back to back wins. Roll on Saturday! Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | James Clarke, Rollin Menayese, Ryan Sweeney ©, Corey O’Keeffe | Tyrese Sinclair (Kellan Gordon 87), Aaron O’Driscoll, Alistair Smith (Ollie Clarke 74), Jason Law | Andy Cook, Jamie Reid (Nathan Caine 88) Unused Subs: Maison Campbell, Harry Charsley, Jordan Bowery
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EFL Trophy [NORTHERN GROUP E Game 2/3] – Tuesday 6th October 2020, One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  It’s not often that I struggle to write my thoughts and feelings after a match, but following the 3-1 defeat at home to League One Lincoln City, I’m really struggling to put pen to paper – I can’t help but think that something big is missing.
Not many people take this particular cup competition seriously, but after our opening four league games left us winless, it was a prime opportunity to hit the reset button and have a go at someone and for players to seize an opportunity – the truth it, the moment that iFollow froze was probably the most exciting things got from a Stags perspective! I’ll have to be in a really generous mood to tolerate a comment along the lines of “Lincoln outplayed us and made it difficult for us” from whomever is thrust in front of the camera for a post-match comment, as if truth be told – Lincoln, whilst they showed class, didn’t really have to work for it. We lacked zest, we lacked fire, we lacked leadership, we lacked ideas, we lacked pace, we lacked any form of intensity and when that’s evident from the first thirty seconds, you know you’re in for a long night. I felt sorry for Aidan Stone out there tonight, he made some very good saves and again looked solid when called upon – I can’t put him at fault for any of the goals, although many will for the third – wrongly. This feeling of being sluggish and below par is becoming far too frequent and I fear a bad result Saturday against Stevenage will only make the situation worse. We have to come out and fight, we have to come out and want to play for the badge – we do not have to go three goals down to spark some form of fight either. It’s deflating enough not being in the ground to watch, let alone this consistent lack of any form of progression on the pitch. I feel like I should talk about the managers’ record thus far, but I’m not sure now is the right time for that particular argument. I just want to write this game off and move on. I’ve wanted to do that for the past three games or so – and yet here we are, deflated again. Something is missing. Something BIG is missing. We need to find it, quickly. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | Rollin Menayese, Aaron O’Driscoll, Ryan Sweeney © | Kellan Gordon, James Perch (Alistair Smith 57), Tyrese Sinclair (Stephen McLaughlin 57), Harry Charsley, Mal Benning | Jordan Bowery (Nicky Maynard 57), Jamie Reid Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Corey O’Keeffe, Farrend Rawson, George Maris
EFL Trophy Group E Game 1/3, Tuesday 8th September 2020, The One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors
With the new Sky Bet League Two season edging closer, Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan had one last opportunity to get minutes into players’ legs – in what many saw as a “competitive friendly” against Manchester City’s under 21s side.
The first of three group games in this season’s EFL Trophy saw the Stags on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line, and whilst many will be disappointed and slightly worried by the full time result – I actually believe the scoreline doesn’t reflect our performance and the progress we’ve made. Mansfield lined up with a few younger players but it was still a solid side and one which competed throughout, putting together some good moves but being undone by a simple move of pace and flare to be a goal down at the break. For my money, Mansfield controlled the second half and looked like they were going to draw level and take the games to “bonus point penalties” but were denied by a string of strong saves from the young City keeper. Concerns were raised as we gave two very cheap and very easy goals away in the final two minutes of the match – we have to be stronger, we have to switch on and we have to keep pushing, the two errors, no MISTAKES, completely changed the match and left a very sour taste. With the season just around the corner though I’m determined to take the positives from the match and head into Saturday with some zest and hope! That comes from the emergence of the next generation in Tyrese Sinclair, who had a very comfortable game and impressed throughout – for me, I’d be putting his name on the team sheet for Saturday right now in big, bold, letters. Aaron O’Driscoll too had a decent game, there was one moment in the second half where he sold a very short back pass to Stech which nearly landed us in trouble – but aside from that I felt he did very well in the middle of the back three and again, would be on my team sheet for Saturday. Finally, Ollie Clarke had a very good game running the midfield – he scored a belter on Saturday in the non-streamed game at Burnley and was unlucky not to score. He certainly gave us something we’ve missed for a long while and to be fair, that was evident after the hour mark when he was subbed – presumably to be ready for Saturday. In reality the result is a nothing – yes it would have been nice to win and go into Saturday with a zip, but we came through it without injury having played some good football at times, but also having been punished without any real damage done. Is it Saturday yet?!
Click HERE to read the clubs official match report.
STAGS: Marek Stech | Rollin Menayese, Aaron O’Driscoll, Ryan Sweeney | Corey O’Keeffe, Ollie Clarke © [Kellan Gordon 60], Alistair Smith, Mal Benning | Tyrese Sinclair | Jamie Reid [Jimmy Knowles 83], Nicky Maynard [Josh Scott 60] Unused Subs: Aidan Stone, James Clarke, Aidan Walker, Jason Law |
