 Craig Priest writes….
Approaching a local derby with a manager at the helm who was yet to win a game of football, coupled with the fact that our rivals were rock bottom of the football league in desperate need of victory to mount a survival bid – it’s fair to say that yesterday could have gone very badly indeed in the eyes of a Mansfield Town supporter. Alas no, Mal Benning had other ideas and not only wrote himself into folk law with his second half goal and knee slide, but also etched his name onto our hearts with the comment post-match we needed to hear after weeks of agonisingly watching our heroes capitulate “I don’t know how I’m feeling at the moment, I don’t know what to think – but first of all – that’s for the fans” Yes Mal, we know what you mean my friend, and from us all – thank you! Over recent week we have all questioned the Stags players commitment to the cause and just last weekend, I sat at this very desk not knowing how to write my feelings after we fell apart without a care in the world at home to Crewe, but yesterday they put their bodies on the line and didn’t stop until the final whistle was long gone – boy did we need that. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t as comfortable as it should have been, the strange over-turn of the Chesterfield red card added to the anguish as had the free kick gone our way, the final second would have played out in front of us – miles from our goal! What matters most is the victory and what psychologically that can do to the players going into three massive games. The victory coupled with results elsewhere has put us back into the play-offs but only just – Lincoln are breathing down our necks and, thanks to their Checkatrade Trophy exploits, have two games in hand. In my personal view, they have momentum on their side where as we are once again the target to be shot at. Of the teams below us, I’ll never discount the maths but I think some strange goings on would be needed for Cambridge or Newport to sneak in with their games in hand whilst Carlise, I don’t think they have enough about them to do it. Which then makes it between us, Lincoln and Swindon for the final play-off place – add in Coventry if we want to aim for 6th – but for me, 7th will do – let’s just get in there and see what happens. Can we do it? My heart will always say YES, my head says no – I’m useless at following either so let’s just let the drama play-out! One thing I want to credit from ON the pitch yesterday is the fact the players finally tried to play Flitcrofts way a little more and that reflected in the goal – get us out to the half-way line and then play, pass and move, drag defenders out with you if you can and exploit the gaps which we did to devastating effect. I’d have liked us to defend a little higher and take some of the pressure off; sometimes I do think we’re the masters of our own downfall, but we stood firm enough to get the job done and lifted a massive weight off of our shoulders and helped the sun to peak through the clouds, and in doing so put a nail into the coffin of our rivals – a decade after the revelled in joy at our own demise, whose laughing now eh?! Cheers Mal! Match Report Skipper Zander Diamond returned to the line-up in the place of Rhys Bennett whilst Mal Benning returned from suspension to replace Johnny Hunt – Alfie Potter also got a start in place of CJ Hamilton on the left hand side, whilst completing the four changes from Stevenage, Jacob Mellis replaced Joel Byrom. Backed by a loud vocal support, it was the Stags who nearly struck first as Alfie Potter found a way through to latch onto a rebounding ball after a parry from Ramsdale in the home goal, Potter shot though was always rising – Kane Hemmings also dragged one wide during the opening exchanges with the Stags in control. The pendulum swung in the hosts favour as Logan had to be alert to a cross, he also watched on as Jacob Brown fizzed an effort wide, before at the other end Danny Rose saw an effort palmed away by Ramsdale as the game hit the twenty minute mark. Seven minutes later Logan was the hero as Chesterfield came on the charge, he then had Potter to thank as he slid away to prevent Zavon Hines from turning home the rebound. Rhys Bennett replaced the injured Hayden White on 32 minutes before Logan was again on hand to rescue the Stags three minutes later – diving through a sea of bodies to claim the ball. After the break the Stags had the better start with a freekick which just evaded the head of Zander Diamond, Danny Rose was also unlucky to not connect with Hemmings’ cross on 57 minutes, just after CJ Hamilton had been introduced for Mellis, with MacDonald going back into the middle and Potter switching to the right. Hamilton was the pace the Stags needed to stretch the hosts and it nearly paid off on 62 as he romped down the left hand side, his cut back to heavy and quick for anyone to convert as the Stags looked to break the deadlock. Four minutes later a hero was born and a left back knighted as fluent play saw Mal Benning able to drive into box and hit one, his effort zipped beneath the keeper and into the bottom corner to give the Stags the lead they deserved. On 70 minutes Danny Rose squandered the chance to make it two-nil as his effort cannoned off a blue shirt, four minutes later it was Potter who weaved his way through – again a blue shirt made the block to deny a second goal of the afternoon for the Stags. Hearts were in mouths on 79 minutes as Kristian Dennis poked an effort through the crowd, fortunately it landed wide of Logan’s post – Jak McCourt hit a volley 10 minutes later as the hosts went in search of a goal to pull the match level – the referee bringing the game to a close after overturning his own decision to send off Louis Reed for hacking down Rose – the Stags stood firm as Chesterfield pumped forward the resulting free-kick for offside against Rose, the away end erupting to the sound of the full time whistle as FINALLY, David Flitcroft sealed his first win, as Mansfield Town manager. FULL TIME: Chesterfield 0-1 Stags STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden white (Rhys Bennett 32) – Zander Diamond © - Krystian Pearce – Sir Mal Benning Alfie Potter – Will Atkinson – Jacob Mellis (CJ Hamilton 53) – Alex MacDonald Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings (Adam King 85) Unused substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Lee Angol, Johnny Hunt, Joel Byrom Referee: Darren Drysdale Assistants Marvyn Amphlett, Kevin Mulraine Fourth Official Nick Greenhalgh Attendance: 7,967 (2,617)
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 Craig Priest writes….
Over the past eighteen or so years of following the Stags, football has been played with many an interesting backdrop – but not as ironically apt as last night at Stevenage where the circus came to town. The Stags have become their own circus in recent weeks and have been walking a tightrope….. Badly - giving us, the fascinated on-looking audience heart palpitations as our beloved artists look like they are about to fall from a great height. The second half on Saturday at home to Crewe gave us some hope that we could turn something around, but yet again I’m left feeling frustrated that we haven’t killed a team off and that, yet again, we’ve had to go a goal down to start caring. The first half last night was completely unacceptable in my book and there are clear problems starting to boil over, the goal was a playground set play where we lost a runner and allowed a shot to come in – but rather than rally, we stood for a good two minutes hands on knee’s looking like we wanted to walk off and go home. Performance wise in the first half there were only a few times where we got going and strung more than two passes together, our clearances were flat as was our energy – and if you add to that Alex MacDonald ignoring the game to argue with fans, something is not right there. And yet, the second half was a vast contrast which was highlighted in our excellent play for Will Atkinson’s goal – pass and move! If we play like that constantly for 90+ minutes on Saturday and for the remainder of the season, we might JUST sneak in – and it feels crazy to say that when you look at our results and performances. Over the last eight games, no wins obviously gives Flitcroft the worst start of any Stags manager – but we’ve shipped 13 goals, scored eight in reply as you’d expect with the form, but the concerning thing over all is the change in discipline. According to my records over the last eight games we’ve picked up 23 yellow cards and three reds (2.8 bookings a game, so round that up to three) in vast contrast to just the eight yellows and one red picked up in the last eight games under Evans [all competitions] which, doesn’t take a genius to work out, is an average of one booking a game. If discipline is slipping on the pitch, which as stats show is very much the case, then what about behind the scenes within the dressing room, I personally believe the two go hand in hand, I can’t be the only one who is concerned with that. You can only put so much blame onto a manager, at the end of the day this is the same squad who only two months ago were being ruthless in their quest for points, ala Newport at home – and fighting back to the death to carry on, ala Morecambe away – other than the big Scot, his mate dodgy and fitness coach Lee Taylor leaving and being replaced by the chess player, big ben and the interim coach – what has changed? Why has their professionalism and work ethic swung on a trapeze from one side of the tent to the other? The ring master’s hat may have been passed on, but the acts are still the same, so please get out there against Chesterfield and put in the show we know you’re capable of! Four games to go, four wins and the chance to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat – anything less, league two it is for another year! We believe, we back you – believe in yourselves and back yourselves boys! Match Report Striker Ricky Miller dealt the first blow of the evening tweeting that he was injured and would be out for about two weeks, so a deserved start for him didn’t happen – but FOUR other changes did, as Krystain Pearce replaced captain Zander Diamond, Will Atkinson and Joel Byrom replaced Potter and Mellis, both benched, whilst leading scorer Danny Rose replaced Lee Angol, also benched. The Stags started well with Kane Hemmings’ attempted lift over home keeper Tom King earning an early corner which the hosts cleared, Hayden white also earned a corner with a testing cross but again the stags couldn’t convert Stevenage then had a corner of their own on 14 minutes an inevitably took the lead, as Danny Newton pealed away from his marked, to hammer home to low corner routine. Kane Hemmings then nodded Hayden White’s cross over the bar with twenty minutes on the clock, CJ Hamilton and Alex MacDonald also had pop shots which caused little damage – at the other end, Conrad Logan on hand to palm away another effort from Newton with two minutes to go before the break. The Stags seemed fired up after the break and in act two of the circus display, scored a fine team goal on 51 minutes to pull level as Hamilton and Hunt linked up on the left hand side – Hunt squaring into the mix for Atkinson to latch onto and fire into the roof of the net. Joel Byrom was then replaced by Jacob Mellis as Flitcroft tried to give the Stags a more attacking edge, Danny Rose denied on 53 minutes as Hemmings tried to feed him in on goal before four minutes later, Hemmings hit over on the volley as the ball zipped around the area like pinball on heat. Cometh the hour cometh the save from Conrad Logan to keep the scores level, before substitute Alie Potter went on a mazey run which nearly led to a goal, moments after replacing CJ Hamilton. Mansfield peppered the hosts box but Stevenage remained firm to keep the game finely balanced before heading down the other end to put on pressure, to their credit the Stags turned the screw back and defended well amidst a barrage of shots. Into the final ten minutes and the stags had two chances to win the game, first Kane Hemmings was denied by a fine save from King, before Alex MacDonald zipped one wide of the post with a minute to go, the full time whistle calling time on a fair result – but the Stags search for victory goes on as they prepare to face rivals Chesterfield on Saturday. FULL TIME: Stevenage 1-1 Stags STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden White – Krystian Pearce © - Rhys Bennett – Johnny Hunt Alex MacDonald – Joel Byrom (Jacob Mellis 52) – Will Atkinson – CJ Hamilton (Alfie Potter 58) Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Paul Digby, Zander Diamond, Lee Angol, Adam King Attendance: 2,294 (274) Referee: Seb Stocksbridge Assistants Carl Fitch-Jackson, Paul Yates Fourth Official Kevin Howick  Craig Priest writes….
You know it’s funny this writing lark, there are many days where you know exactly what you want to say, and then you get the polar opposite of staring longingly at a blank screen. But also there are those rare occasions where you know exactly what to say, but what for whatever reason the words are held back – almost as is if, if you don’t write them – then it never happened. Today is one of those days. You know, of all the scenarios that were swirling around my head prior to kick-off yesterday being two-nil down inside ten minutes and then four-one down inside half-an-hour was not one I saw happening, and yet here we are – reflecting on the oldest cliché in football “a game of two halves”. Firstly there’s something I want to address in brief – the reason for the snap poll on Flitcroft’s future is not me being negative or saying I want him gone, it’s merely for the purpose of judging the raw reaction of supporters after such a turbulent afternoon, in retrospect I broke my own rule of allowing emotion and anger take over when thinking ahead to the next podcast [Today (Sunday) 5pm on our facebook page] – it retrospect I shouldn’t have posted that and for that I hold my hands up and apologise – I’m not usually a negative supporters, I’m quite the opposite, but yesterday for once, emotion and hurt won. Since his appointment I have backed Flitcroft and still believe that deep down he will come good for us, I also still believe a lot of the situation we find ourselves in, is on the head of Steve Evans. That said, and I’m calling myself out here, yesterday I wouldn’t have battered an eye-lid if the news of his departure had come out – because that Mansfield Town performance was beyond dreadful. Again I think he got his team selection wrong, as proved by the second half turn-around which I’ll stand and applaud – Ricky Miller should have started, and we as a collective should have started with the rampant lust for victory – trailing 4-1 at half-time should NEVER be the catalyst for that. What I question, and no player regardless of the effort they show is exempt from this, is collectively has David Flitcroft got the backing of the dressing room – because every time teams come forward we look like we are about to crumble and these tiny cracks are starting to break into gigantic holes which just make me question if any of that dressing room actually want to achieve the play-offs and deliver on what they signed up for? I’ve said it before, it matters not who the conductor of the band is, just how good collectively the music sounds. Seven games into his tenure and Flictroft should in my view have installed some direction into the music he wants his band to play, and yet we sit here on the back of another defeat having listened to racket of out of tune, lost souls. Are there injuries in the camp that are preventing certain players from getting a start or in the match-day side, what for instance has happened to Paul Anderson whose leadership and desire we have missed? Jimmy Spencer too seems to have evaporated from thin air when, certainly in games like yesterday when you’re throwing the kitchen sink at sides, he’s be a pivotal part? Above all else, was Zander Diamond injured yesterday when he was taken off – or is there something more there, because if it’s the latter, then to take your captain off after half-an-hour says to me there is something very wrong in the dressing room. Several times writing this today I’ve had to walk away and go and have five minutes in fear of welling up because we as supporters know that we are being the masters of our own downfall right now. I have full faith in John and Carolyn Radford’s appointment and I feel sick to my stomach that I crossed the divide into wanting Flitcroft to go yesterday, what sickens me more is that I know that anything less than victory on Tuesday at Stevenage I’ll want exactly the same thing and will find it even harder to drag myself back to the rational thinking of the bigger picture – which is a summer rebuild, his squad, his players, his methods, his way – basically promotion, just a year later than planned. The reason for that is simple, having travelled countless miles this season in not missing a game – I’ve watched this bunch of individuals become a squad on the brink of achieving something special, and over the past seven games I watched that crumble away like a melting flake. Within that dressing room the ability to achieve THIS SEASON, is still there – Ok 7th is perhaps the best we can hope for right now, maybe 6th at a push, but it’s still there, but time is against us and a failure to beat Stevenage on Tuesday puts the final nail in the coffin for me, as it’d leave David Flitcroft without a win heading into a game against our relegation threatened rivals, and that fills me with utter dread. What is baffling about this whole situation is the ability to fight back – we lost the game 4-3 in the end and in truth should have won it, how crazy is that considering how utterly woeful we were in the first half?! I will back Mansfield Town Football Club to the death, I’ll stay with them through the good, the bad and the ugly – but please boys, for the sake of all our sanity, sort whatever issues there are out right now and get out there and deliver what you are capable of. As I said I let anger and emotion rule yesterday with the Snap Poll, and I hold my hands up to that – can you do the same? Can you as a collective say “we are not good enough, but we WILL put it right” rather than “Ah well, it’s just not dropping” or “it’ll come soon enough” – Nothing happens in this game until you make it happen. You got us into this position, it’s upto you all – regardless of whatever underlying issues you have, to get us out of it. We’re behind you, never think otherwise – you’re Mansfield Town Football club afterall. Match Report Winger Alfie Potter was back in the fold after an appearance from the bench of Monday as he replaced Will Atkinson in the one change to the starting eleven. Striker Ricky Miller was on the bench despite his hat-trick for the reserves in midweek, whilst Youngster Jordan Graham was also a surprise addition – showing that, long term, a partnership and development strategy is in place with the academy. The Stags started well but were left shell shocked on seven minutes as Crewe grabbed the game’s opening goal as Alex MacDonald’s miss placed pass was picked up and swept forward to James Jones who centrally, evaded the challenge of the Stags defence and hammered beyond Logan. Three minutes later the visitors doubled their lead as Mansfield fell apart at the back, a cross from the left hand side wasn’t dealt with by Hunt and then Diamond – allowing a shot which Logan half-palmed away, into the path of Jordan Bowery who tapped home. The stags pulled one back on 14 minutes as Kane Hemmings dropped deep to cross from the left hand side, Lee Angol rose highest but sent his header against the post, he reacted quickest however to turn home the rebound on the stretch for 2-1. Any hope of a Mansfield comeback was dented once more on 25 minutes as Crewe netted their third of the afternoon, Alfie Potter was disposed inside the centre circle by Charlie Kirk who sent Harry Pickering on his way down the Crewe left – unmarked and unchallenged, Pickering set himself and drilled past Logan. A fourth followed just two minutes later, Kirk turned from provider into goal scorer as he went untracked and unmarked by White and Potter as the Stags failed to clear their lines from an initial long throw. Pearce then replaced Diamond with the damage somewhat done already, the Stags did however limp towards the half-time whistle without sustaining any further damage – Rose and Miller then introduced at the break for Potter and Angol as the Stags went 4-3-3 in an attempt to mount what at the time, seemed like the impossible comeback. And yet they nearly managed it, with Ricky Miller setting up Kane Hemmings on 50 minutes to make it 4-2, Miller’s right sided left footed cross nodded in at the far post by Hemmings. Danny Rose then had two chances to narrow the scoreline in as many minutes but failed to do so, Hayden White also flashed one across the face of goal but with no end reward. Conrad Logan then made a fine stop on 70 minutes to prevent a Crewe fifth, before Danny Rose tried to recreate his volley at Shaw Lane in the FA Cup – this time hitting narrowly over. The Stags to their credit were finally having a go and made it 4-3 on 77 minutes as Ricky Miller got the goal he deserved, turning his man well to anticipate CJ Hamilton’s cut inside and pass – chipping over the grounded keeper from an acute angle. At 4-3 the Stags deserved another, but despite efforts from Miller, Hamilton, Rose and Mellis to name just a few, couldn’t grab a point from the jaws of destruction – Rose the closest as he struck the underside of the bar. FULL TIME: Stags 3-4 Crewe Alexandra STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden White – Zander Diamond © (Krystian Pearce 31 ©) – Rhys Bennett – Johnny Hunt Alfie Potter (Ricky Miller HT) – Jacob Mellis – Alex MacDonald – CJ Hamilton Lee Angol (Danny Rose HT) – Kane Hemmings Unused Subtitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Will Atkinson, Adam King [#29] Jordan Graham Attendance: 3,480 (238) Referee: Richard Clark Assistants: Paul Graham and Mark Cunliffe. Fourth Official Richard Wild.  Craig Priest writes….
The worst feeling in football is not defeat, it’s the deflation which comes from what could have been. That’s the feeling I left Kenilworth Road with yesterday, as David Flitcrofts men threw away a one goal lead to be beaten 2-1, by two sloppy goals in a performance which in the end, lacked energy and drive – a polar opposite from how it began. It’s like when a rock looks solid, but you pick it up and with one tiny squeeze, crumbles to dust and slips through your fingers – all than promise, gone – and there’s nothing you can do to prevent it happening. I wrote on Saturday of how, if we came out and played like we did against Accrignton, we’d be fine and to be fair we did for sixty minutes. We pressed high, scored a good goal, should have scored at least two more and as a whole, weren’t troubled by Luton at all. And then on the hour it was like someone flicked a switch and all of our energy drained away whilst Luton’s shot up – our tired legs couldn’t cope with Luton’s increasing pressure and they did what good teams do, exploited weakness and pounced. For the first goal especially it was a carbon copy of the goals we’ve conceded from open play under Flitcroft in, not strong enough down the left which gives space, a ball cut back across the middle and an easy finish. The second, yes you can blame Logan for spilling the free-kick, but why didn’t we follow it in to make sure? It’s basic school boy defending when you’re tired. I could debate here if the team selection, the one enforced change, was right given the quick turn around in games – but given the way we played against Accrington, I feel Flitcroft was right in sticking with what worked. I do however feel that from the side lines, changes need to come earlier – a double change is not going to impact the game with a mere three minutes left, it needed to be done a lot earlier. The players looked sapped of all energy after an hour and crumbled, there is no excuse for that and whoever takes up the post of fitness coach following the departure of Lee Taylor, needs to address this quickly as, despite the fact our next few games are against sides at the wrong end of the table, we need to last the ninety in what is going to be dogfight after dogfight. Again the issue of ‘is flitcroft the right man for the job’ could be debated time after time, it’s true that in a higher league, no win in six games would be cause for the sack – but we’ve got six games to go and despite the fact the play-offs seem a world a way right now, we’re still only two points away with a game in hand, so it’s not harder – it’s tougher. Like him or his methods or not, he’s the manager of Mansfield Town Football Club right now – let’s back him and see where we end up. Tired legs keep running, but only when those around are running with them too. Let’s do this. Match Report With Mal Benning suspended, Johnny Hunt was back in at left back after returning to the fold on Friday on the bench, other than that it was as you where, with Alfie Potter returning to the bench alongside the back from suspension Pearce. It was a nervy start from both sides, the Stags desperate for their first win under David Flitcroft and Luton desperate to regain their title hunt – but the Stags settled the quicker with CJ Hamilton and Kane Hemmings linking up well down the left hand side in the opening ten minutes. On 15 minutes Luton opened up the Stags but skipper Zander Diamond did well to get a block in whilst Hayden White also stood tall against Danny Hylton. The Luton hit man tried his luck again on 21 minutes, but Conrad Logan watched his effort sail wide. Rhys Bennett was next to get a block in on 26 minutes as Potts squeezed an effort past Logan, Bennett nipped in behind to scramble away and watch on as at the other end, Kane Hemmings saw a cross defelect into the side netting Alex MacDonald swung in a teasing ball on the half hour which Zander Diamond nodded just over James Shea’s bar, four minutes later Shea beaten – as Conrad Logan hoofed long for Hemmings who turned his man beautifully to power in the game’s opening goal. MacDonald nearly made it two nil on 38 minutes as he powered one towards the target, Zander Diamond also saw a follow up blocked as the Stags peppered the Luton goal in a wave of frenzied attack, which also saw Hemmings denied by a smart save. The Stags ended the first have in control, Jacob Mellis so close to adding a second goal as a long range drive deflected up and onto the bar. Luton stepped up the pressure after the break and on 53 minutes the Stags had Logan to thank as he denied Olly Lee from close range, the Stags then countered with Mellis, Angol and Hemmings but failed to convert as the hour mark approached. The hosts were back in the game on 61 minutes as they skipped freely down the left hand side and cut the ball back into the box – former Crawley man James Collins on hand to tuck home. Lee Angol pulled the trigger from Diamonds knock down at the other end to try and get the Stags back into the lead, but Angol was denied by a block – Luton then struck what proved to be the winner on 70 minutes, Glen Rea pounced in front of Logan to convert Alan Sheehan’s free kick – which Logan spilled. FULL TIME: Luton 2-1 Stags STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden White (Paul Anderson 87) – Zander Diamond © - Rhys Bennett – Johnny Hunt (Ricky Miller 87) Alex MacDonald – Will Atkinson (Alfie Potter 71) – Jacob Mellis – CJ Hamilton Kane Hemmings – Lee Angol Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Krystian Pearce, Paul Digby, Joel Byrom Referee: Kevin Johnson Attendance: 9,592 (725)  Craig Priest writes….
Almost a week ago after the complete capitulation against Forest Green, I sat at this very desk writing with anger, disappointment and a sense of bewilderment – a week on and I have the same feelings, but this time I can’t aim any of that towards the management or playing staff at Mansfield Town FC, unlike some I could mention! Seriously though, yesterday despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat, 10 man Mansfield gave everything for David Flitcroft and the fans and yet as we enter the penultimate month of the season, find themselves out of the play-offs struggling to understand just what is going wrong. Let’s address what the problem yesterday was – the subject most of us loath, simple Maths. Playing 10 vs 11 against the League Leaders was never going to end well – did Mal Benning need to go in as strongly as he did, could he not have stood up and pushed the Accrington man further towards the bye-line? Maybe, but what does it matter, it’s done, it was a red card and we move on. The frustration comes not in Benning’s error but in the inconsistency of the referee throughout the remainder of the game where Mansfield, to Flitcrofts credit, we’re tactically spot on and resilient. They held their shape, held a high line and pressed well – the Accrington keeper must take tremendous credit for his part in denying the Stags the reward they so richly deserved with a fine display between the sticks when called upon. From open play we looked the side at the top of the league, we looked the side with 11 men and most importantly we looked the side most likely to do the damage, alas it was all undone by a simple calculation – one extra man at a set-play was always going to prove the difference, and it did on the hour as the Stanley skipper Seamus Conneely broke the deadlock. The Stags tried and failed to pull level and some questionable finishing paired with a man less and a sharp keeper was the calculation which left us, wrongly, empty handed. I’ll say this right now, if the Stags come out at Luton with the same intensity, purpose and desire for the cause – the long awaited victory for Flitcroft WILL come, and regardless of what happens between now and the end of this turbulent season, if they match that game by game, I’ll draw a close to this campaign satisfied that in the end, they fought for us and eachother. On paper it’s not looking good for Flitcroft, after the conclusion of Easter Monday’s match at second placed Luton, he’ll have played 50% of the games that were remaining upon the Posh Scotts amendment, it’s a strong possibility he’ll have won none of those games and as a result he’s rapidly losing the support of the faithful, which as bleak as the outlook is, we can’t allow to happen. What’s that saying – you can’t always wait for the storm to pass, you have to learn to dance in the rain. I’m getting tired of talking about Evans but it is on him that we’ve been left up a certain creak with a paddle, as I’ve said time after time – ANY manager who walks into that situation needs time, and that is something we don’t have, because it’s not JUST time for the manager to mould his ideas and allow them to set, it’s time for the players too – for example we have four of five key players within the dressing room who can make an impact given two maybe three games to get settled, Miller, Penney, Thomas, Digby to name a few – but time is not something we have, we have to remember that. In contrast to Forest Green, tactically Flitcroft got things spot on yesterday before and after the red card – just moments before the goal Johnny Hunt was about to come on and shore things up at left back where CJ had done an OK job, but was starting to come unstuck. Had the goal not happened, I think we’d have been sitting here with three points now. The game however is gone, it’s over, it’s done and we can’t dwell on it much more as we’ve another huge task ahead and can’t afford to focus on anything bar that. Yes we are out of the play-offs but actually that might be a blessing right now, as those around us are expecting us to come unstuck and as such, no longer see us as threats which releases a little pressure – all we can do now, just ONE point outside of the play-offs with a game in hand, is focus on ourselves and apply ourselves with the same determination we did yesterday. I’d rather play like that and be hurt at the full time whistle than not turn up and not care like at Forest Green. Nothing is lost yet, the maths says so. Match Report With Krystain Pearce suspended, skipper Zander Diamond was back in the heart of the back four, whilst in midfield Jacob Mellis returned alongside CJ Hamilton replacing the injured Danny Rose and Joel Byrom who was on the bench, alongside two surprise names in Jack Thomas, back from his spell at Tamworth, and Johnny Hunt. The Stags started brightly with Lee Angol trying to fill the goalscoring boots of Danny Rose, he had a second minute effort tipped over by Aaron Chapman in the Accrington goal. At the other end Kayden Jackson hit the side netting on five minutes as he got in behind the back four, two minutes later Conrad Logan was on hand to save from Scott Brown. The game then took a turn for the worse on 15 minutes as Mal Benning was dismissed for a late challenge on ex-Stag Billy Kee, the resulting free-kick from Sean McConville well held by Logan as Stags re-reshuffled with Hamilton slotting in at left back, Alex MacDonald and Kane Hemmings consistently switching flanks on the legt and right with Angol as the lone front man. Logan again denied Jackson on the twenty minute mark, three minutes later at the other end Rhys Bennett nodded wide after a well worked corner routine from MacDonald and the impressive Mellis who were really pulling the strings in the middle. Bennett was at it again on 33 minutes, again following a set play – this time the Stags defender nodded at Chapman, who tipped over to deny a certain goal. From the resulting corner, Lee Angol hit on the volley but could only send his effort into the dark afternoon sky. The Stags held the visitors well and reduced them to pop shots from distance which caused little trouble, at the other end White, Hemmings and Angol all had chances to open the scoring, but lady luck refused point blank to show her pearly whites. Kane Hemmings missed a golden chance on 50 minutes from Hayden White’s cut back before ten minutes later, the numerical advantage paid off as Seamus Connelly peeled away to connect with a Stanley corner. Ricky Miller then replaced Hemmings to partner Angol up front, the Stags opting for a three man midfield with MacDonald moving more central alongside Atkinson and the creative Mellis, the loanee striker nearly made the perfect introduction as he romped towards the by-line on 73 minutes, his cut back scrambled away by a desperate Accrington defence. Five minutes later Hamilton fed Angol but he couldn’t open up his body quick enough to let fly, with five minutes remaining Conrad Logan was on hand to give the Stags a glimmer of hope as he denied Jackson one v one – time, as is the case at the minute, was against the Stags would this time around failed to get a foothold back into the game. FULL TIME: Stags 0-1 Accrington Stanley STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden White – Zander Diamond © - Rhys Bennett – Mal Benning [Sent Off 13] Alex MacDonald – Will Atkinson – Jacob Mellis – CJ Hamilton Kane Hemmings (Ricky Miller 66) – Lee Angol Unused Substitutes: Bobby Oljenik, Paul Digby, Paul Anderson, Johnny Hunt, Jack Thomas, Joel Byrom Referee: Andy Haines Assistants: Steven Rushton, Wade Smith Fourth Official Joe Clark Attendance: 5,053  Craig Priest writes…
Just before midnight on April 14th 1912 the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg at sea and disaster struck as it plummeted to the bottom of the North Atlantic. Just after 5pm on the 27th February the good ship Mansfield Town hit its own iceberg as Steve Evans jumped overboard – well despite attempt after attempt to fix it, yesterday in deepest Nailsworth, the ship, along with its new captain, well and truly sunk. I often leave writing this blog until the day after a game as I don’t like writing in the heat wave of emotion that comes directly after the full time whistle, I like to reflect and get my head around the situation, and as I do so on the sunny Sunday, I draw two conclusions. Yesterday we were beyond terrible and that is down to a number of factors which, looked at in isolation, is completely on the shoulders of David Flitcroft – more in a second, bear with me. The fact our promotion and play-off ambitions have, in the majority of people’s opinion, died a slow and painful death as a result of the nightmare in Nailsworth is not however in isolation and there is only one man to blame, he resides in the Peterborough United dugout. I’ll deal with that first and then we’ll come back to the game in isolation – our season died the moment Evans turned his back, simply because the group of players in that dressing room brought into brand Evans, and no manager – no matter previous success – was EVER going to replicate that. It’s like when you go to Asda or Tesco and buy the home brand twix’s – you know there are practically the same product, but deep down you know there is a very subtle difference and you just can’t shake that off enough to truly enjoy the taste. Whoever walked through the One Call Stadium door as manager was fighting a losing battle – if you are successful then you might get a little pat on the pack but predominantly people would say “Yeah, but it was Evans’ squad”, whereas with the boot on the other foot as it is right now, a capitulation is on the new man’s shoulders “Well, they were doing alright before, what’s changed, oh yeah – him” It’s lose, lose and I genuinely feel for David Flitcroft because no matter what he does as Mansfield Town manager, he’s always going to be the one who turned solid gold to sloppy runny brown stuff, you know what I mean. Was it the right choice to appoint Flitcroft, there’s not much point in discussing it because what’s done is done and he’ll have my full backing – as did Evans, but I won’t shy away from highlighting the negatives, I never have and never will. Personally had I been the Radford’s in that situation – I’d have appointed John Dempster until the end of the season and allowed him to build his own experienced back room, and then taken the time and patience to appoint the right man going into next season, regardless of the division we found ourselves in. I think we panicked, and yet even with Accrington and Luton over the next two games – I still believe deep down in the far corners of my heart, we can turn it around…. And I know how stupid that is right now. In isolation, and I’d be saying this if the same situation had played out under any manager, Flitcroft simply got it wrong yesterday. In training they’d worked on a 4-3-3 formation to try and play on the front foot, but in my opinion, to play on the front foot means playing out from the back, and that’s 3-4-1-2 (or 3-4-3 depending on your preference) – 4-3-3 is simply, lump, hold up and try and overload bodies. The system was wrong, as was the starting line-up – Paul Digby has been class when he’s come on and completely changed the game at Notts County by allowing us to play on the front foot, he should have started at centre back alongside Pearce and Bennett. Yes Paul Anderson was poor against County, all be it at right back, but we missed his energy and leadership yesterday, he should have started right side midfield with Atkinson and MacDonald in the middle and Mal Benning on the left, thus allowing the two wide men to drop back and defend in the spells FGR pressed. The front three should have been Hemmings, a hungry and attack minded Miller, along with Rose. Now there’s another thing Flitcroft got wrong, and his staff in fairness – Rose was hobbling in the warm-up, why did nobody question it and allow a late change to be made? Why on earth did he start, our leading goal scorer could now potentially be done for the season?! And then to stick with 4-3-3 but bring a left winger on up front, and on the right side of the three too, was utter madness – I said when the board went up with CJ’s number, of he’ll go 4-4-2 and Atkinson will go wide….. two seconds later when CJ trotted to the right of the front three, I said “We’ve lost this game”. I get and applaud trying to put your stamp on the squad and play your way when clearly playing the way of the old boss under a new man hasn’t quite worked, but for goodness sake, if you’re going to play a system and get an early blow, replace like for like – it was like sticking Oljenik up front, utterly pointless (sorry Bobby!)… Square peg, round hole. The blame now shifts back from the digout to the dressing room, yesterday there was absolutely zero commitment to the cause, zero energy, zero motivation and what sickens me the most is zero desire to play for the shirt and deliver on a promise. I’ve been a position in my career where a senior manager has left and it’s been up to me to steady the ship and make the best of a bad situation – I managed it, it was challenging and had its moments of no desire, but in the end I was professional enough to pick myself up and get on with it – I’d stick good money on that story being similar if not identical for 99.9% of us – so why can’t professional sportsmen rally around each other and deliver? Get over yourselves, Evans and his bolshie bull in a china shop management has gone – it’s been replaced by a methodical, quiet and tactical chess player – you couldn’t have more of a difference, but does that really stop you in getting a result? Does that really stop you going out week in, week out, pulling on that shirt and giving your all for the cause? If the answer is yes, I’d love to hear why. You have got eight games left to play, which includes playing the top two along with three, possibly four, teams in relegation threatened sides – they are not easy games, they are the toughest – all we ask is that from here on in, you come out and give everything you’ve got for Mansfield Town Football Club. Commit to every game for every single millisecond, commit to every tackle, don’t stop running and for fffffffuuuuu (I nearly swore then) sake, commit to having a bloody shot on target. Be brave, have the courage to swim against the tide – that fella jumping onto the Peterborough ship is irrelevant, he hasn’t actually sunk us has he? Eight games to go, and we are STILL in the play-offs, and actually even though it may seem the most ridiculous of tasks right now hopes of automatic promotion aren’t fully dead, there’s a flicker of light in the distance. Cling onto it, please. For the sake of the manager who is fighting an inferno at a petrol station with a water pistol. For the sake of the chairman and CEO who work tirelessly to keep the football club ticking over and put food on your table. For the sake of the supporters who travel countless miles and pay questionable prices week in week out to be put through the emotional mire of pain of football, and despite our rantings and frustrations – we love you and want you to succeed because you are OUR players for OUR team. Last and by no means least, cling onto it for you. You came here and were sold a dream, only YOU have the power to make dreams become reality. Give it a go and don’t stop – then no matter what happens we’ll have your back. Match Report It’s here where I usually skim over the game, but today I’m not going too – I want to leave it with the hope of a happy ending. Click HERE for the club's match report if you want a blow by blow account! We lost two-nil, the game is over and nothing can be done to change it. We play Accrington Stanley and then Luton next week over Easter Weekend, go and put it right. There’s nothing more to be said. STAGS [4-3-3] Conrad Logan, Hayden White – Krystian Pearce © [Sent Off, second bookable offence 84] – Rhys Bennett – Mal Benning Alex MacDonald [ © 84] – Joel Byrom (Jimmy Spencer 70) – Will Atkinson Danny Rose (CJ Hamilton 5) – Lee Angol (Ricky Miller 60) – Kane Hemmings Unused substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Paul Digby, Paul Anderson, Adam King Referee: Anthony Coggins Assistants: Ian Smedley, Ian Rathbone Fourth Official Adrian Quelch Attendance: 2,827 Our ship has not yet sunk. Swim. 
Craig Priest writes…
With both sides battling for promotion, the Stags just three weeks into a new managerial reign and Notts County’s desperate bid to secure their first league victory over Mansfield since 2005 – yesterday’s lunchtime class was all set to be a classic. The weather, a horrific blizzard of blustery snow, blinding pockets of sunshine and ice cold strong windy air, meant it was far from a toe to toe classic of fire – but instead one of grit, determination and bravery, as the Stags took home the point they fully deserved, thanks to a 99th minute penalty. The result keeps Mansfield in fifth and with a firm enough grip on a play-off place going into the final nine matches – but also keeps that tiny chunk of hope of automatic promotion alive too, and given the manor in which the Stags fought back against the elements, it installs a pivotal belief back into the dressing room and of course the terraces. There’s something ironic about having to battle the elements to achieve what we want to achieve, the consistent change in conditions acted as a barrier we overcome, as does the cloud of doubt left by our manager walking out when he did – so if we can battle against the elements to stay in the chasing pack – I see no reason why we can’t break free and achieve the finish we so desperately crave. It’s for that reason why Kane Hemming’s successful conversion meant so much – that solitary point could be the different when it comes to the maths, but above all else, I think had we left Meadow Lane on the back of a defeat added to all the other doubts, our season would have been over there and then. Kevin Nolan, Alan Hardy and all the Magpies can go and wallow and cry in their one for sorrow – the video replays prove a clear hand-ball less than four yards from the vision of the referee, and as for the added on time, you’ve only yourselves and in particular your ball boys to blame for trying to run the clock down. The first half for me was a right off in terms of a game plan and judging Flitcrofts style, it was woeful for both teams and neither could really get going – Notts County’s goal was typical of the conditions and not dealing with the second ball, credit to them for exploiting the classic smash, grab and attempt to shut up shop tactic after 35 minutes. On any other Saturday and against any other opposition it would have worked wonders and do you know what, had we actually lost that game I’d be sitting here applauding said tactic. Yet as it happens, Mansfield Town weren’t playing to that particular script and once one subtle change was made, the Blizzard was a Mansfield Town created one – well, the Met Officer did issue an Amber weather warning afterall! Said change was the withdrawal of Adam King who couldn’t get a foothold in the game and proved, as he did against Lincoln to be fair, more of a hindrance than a help – getting around that comes with experience and game time, which sadly for us because the boy is a great talent begging to flower, we simply have time to allow. As harsh as that may be, it’s fact and the horrible nature of football – proved by the more experienced Will Atkinson being relatively ineffective as an out and out right winger, but very much key once brought more central upon King’s exist for Angol who moved up top, with Hemmings dropping wide. Once that change was made, we had momentum and movement about us and we peppered the Notts County back line with attack, fair enough they weathered the storm and some may have questioned why Flitcroft didn’t make any other changes sooner – simply because we couldn’t afford to disrupt the flow of our game and I’ve no problem with that. Bringing Digby on gave them something else to worry about and to be fair to him, he didn’t stop running and created the opening we needed. However above all else, sending Logan up for the corner was the straw that broke the camels back, or in this case Magpie’s back – they panicked and didn’t know what to do and in the madness, a flailing arm was all it took. It was far from pretty, it was far from what we’d hoped and anticipated but who cares, seriously who actually cares about being pretty right now. Pretty doesn’t win you points, grit, determination and bravery does – never saying die does – and that is exactly what Mansfield Town did. Now to do it again, nine – more – times! COME ON! Match Report With skipper Zander Diamond injured and Rhys Bennett back from suspension there was an obvious change made by David Flitcroft, who was dropped Hayden White in favour of Will Atkinson with Anderson reverting to right back – Adam King also replaced Byrom, whilst Ricky Miller was rewarded with a place on the bench, ending speculation he’d be heading back to Peterborough. With the blustery conditions – it took a while for both sides to get going, the stags had a neat passage of play down the left hand side on seven minutes but Benning’s drive into the area saw him dispossessed – three minutes later at the other end Conrad Logan punched away a cross, only as far as Liam Noble who volleyed high and wide. Kane Hemmings nearly broke the deadlock on fourteen minutes as his turn and shot in the area hit a trailing leg, the stags had to settle for just a corner before the tackle of the first half on 21 minutes, as Notts County fan leapfrogged the barriers in an attempt to taunt the 4,000+ visiting fans – the steward took no prisoners, the police, presumably, did. Back to the action a moment of end to end just past the half hour mark, first Conrad Logan won a one vs one race between him and veteran front man Jon Stead, Danny Rose then pulled the trigger at the other end from 20 yards with his left foot, Adam Vollin in the Notts goal behind the shot well. Conrad Logan then made a fine save on 34minutes as Jorge Grant came forward at a canter and picked out Shola Ameobi, Logan denying the former Newcastle United front man at the expense of a corner – from which, disaster struck as Ameobi headed towards goal only to be denied by Loagn again – former Stag Terry Hawkridge nodded in the rebound to put the hosts ahead. Notts skipper Richard Duffy then made a vital clearance ahead of Hemmings as Anderson lofted in a cross before the half time whistle blew. Danny Rose showed his credentials as a centre half as the second half got underway as he got in the way of Ameobi’s flick on towards Stead on 50 minutes – six minutes later the Stags countered beautifully through Hemming’s who reached the edge of the box and let fly – Adam Collin making a solid one handed save to retain the hosts’ lead. On the hour it was Paul Anderson who hit one from distance following good work from CJ Hamilton, the Stags right back/ right winger/ right beard products endorser a whisker away as his shot curled towards target. A minute later King was replaced by Angol, Alex MacDonald next to have any real chance on 70 minutes with a long range drive, again well held by Collin via a deflection. Ten minutes later Will Atkinson picked out Rose with a fine through ball, Rose cut inside and shot but sent his effort wide of target as the clock began to run out. A succession of corners followed before the Stags introduced an unlikely hero in the form of Paul Digby who replaced Anderson in a tactic commonly known as throwing the kitchen sink at the hosts – Digby’s relentless running saw him pick up the ball in his own half, hammer the ball forward before advancing to link up with Atkinson and then cross beautifully for Alex MacDonald who’s top corner bound header, was well saved by Collin. The Stags looked to be done but with a corner and about a minute to go, the call came from the bench, and 4,000+ Stags fans, for Conrad Logan to power forward and join the attack for Benning’s corner…. With County under siege from a sea of Amber, Alex MacDonald again connected with the ball, looping a head back into the mix – only for the ball to strike the arm of the County defender inside the box, straight infront of the referee who pointed straight to the spot. An agonising wait followed before Kane Hemmings placed the ball on the spot and kept his composure, running up and striking the ball with sheer power and placement beyond Collin who guessed correctly, but could only watch on as Hemmings tore away celebrating the goal which could save the season. Notts County got the game back underway, but soon saw the Stags smash clear to the sound of the full time whistle mixed the eruption of emotional relief, felt by everyone associated with Mansfield Town Football Club, who in securing the point, also retained the Matt Salmon Trophy – long may that be in the hands of the Stags and the memory of a dedicated clubman be honoured. FULL TIME: Notts County 1-1 Stags STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Paul Anderon (Paul Digby 90+1) – Krystian Pearce © - Rhys Bennett – Mal Benning Will Atkinson – Adam King (Lee Angol 61) – Alex MacDonald – CJ Hamilton Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings Unused Substitutes: Bobby Oljenik, Joel Byrom, Omari Sterling-James, Ricky Miller, Hayden White Attendance: 12,514 (4,164) Referee: Andy Woolmer Assistants Daniel Robathan and Mark Russell. Fourth Official Graham Salisbury
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 Craig Priest writes….
With now ten games to go, the balloon of optimism is slowly deflating after yet another 1-1 draw at the One Call Stadium – but the real question is, who has undone the knot in the first place, does the blame lie with players, is it with the fella who legged in to Peterborough or is it in the hands of David Flitcroft. There were a pocket after the game as I was leaving that felt it’s the latter – my tongue now has a polo-like hole in it from biting it so hard – how can you blame a man whose had what, ten days in charge? No matter if it were Flitcroft, Dempster or any of the other names linked with the role – we’d still find ourselves in a whirlwind of bewilderment, the key is rallying together and trying to re-tie the knot and re-inflate. There’s no shying away from the fact we were poor in the second half yesterday, as soon as the whistle blew to kick-off the second period we looked flat and lacked any energy or conviction – it’s that which dropped us two points, as our lack of flair and energy saw us slowly pulled back and allowed a bang average side a cheap way through. Joel Byrom’s clearance was poor, but the blame isn’t just on him – why did nobody pick up the run or try and make a challenge? Why at the other end did we not create enough chances? Why were we so poor with the ball and so flat? I’ve listened to Flitcrofts post-match and he too highlighted that first ten minutes of the second half, if we’d started with some zip and zest about our play we’d be talking about a different result here – and then if Zander hadn’t pulled up injured, we’d have used our third and final substitution to bring on a front man. Some were saying we should have gone three at the back, but at that point Colchester were coming at us and looking like they had another goal in them, had we swapped Zander for Angol or Spencer, we’d have had one natural centre-half, brining Digby on was the right call – he won every header and worked hard to force passages of play which were never going to trouble us, we looked solid at the back when he came on and were so unlucky at the other end to not win the game, Digby’s height and physical presence looked a threat. The game, like that Peterborough fella, has gone – we have ten games left to go we have a game in hand on Notts County in third PLUS them to play on Saturday, oh and the small matter of Accrington (1st) and Luton (2nd) to play over Easter – it’s not over, it’s just the long and hard way around! Match Report With Rhys Bennett suspended, skipper Zander Diamond was back into the starting line-up whilst after scoring in midweek, Joel Byrom was introduced for Adam King as David Flitrcoft made two changes from the side which drew with Lincoln in the week. The returning Stags skipper nearly gave his new boss a dream early start on six minutes, after Danny Rose had won a corner – Diamond steamed in to meet Byrom’s delivery, only to see the visitors hack the ball away from danger. Six minutes later, Diamond’s defensive partner Pearce made a pivotal flick on to Heammings, who headed back across goal rather than thump an effort towards the net, as the Stags searched for their opener Alex MacDonald then took the opportunity for a quick throw on twenty minutes which led to a corner through CJ Hamilton – the Stags failed to make it pay, but took a gamble two minutes later as Logan launched the ball long, finding Hemming’s who lofted the ball beyond the keeper to put the Stags into a 1-0 lead. It should have been two just two minutes later as Byrom picked out Rose – the Stags leading marksman controlled well but couldn’t find the target on this occasion, denied by Sam Walker in the U’s goal. Alex MacDonald then curled a free-kick from thirty yards wide of the target on 38 minutes as Rose was fouled, at the other end Conrad Logan had to be alert with three minutes to go, denying Drey Wright to send the Stags into the break one goal to the good. On 50 minutes the Stags felt aggrieved as Logan launched long for Hamilton, he looked to have been fouled by Jackson who also appeared to have handled the ball, yet the referee awarded the visitors a free-kick. A minute later, in a dase, the Stags conceded a soft equaliser Joel Byrom’s poor clearance saw Brandon Comley advance and place the ball into the back of the net. A double change then saw Anderson and Byrom replaced by Atkinson and Mellis, before the Stags lost skipper Diamond on 65 minutes through injury – Paul Digby his replacement. Digby nearly grabbed the Stags a second just four minutes after coming off the bench, his well-timed run saw him connect with MacDonald’s pin point cross – the substitute sent a header crashing against the bar. With three minutes to go Walker pulled off a tremendous double save – first denying Benning’s top corner destined effort, before palming the rebound – a header from Mellis, away – his back line made sure it was clear, hacking off the line for a corner, from which Pearce thundered in, but headed over. Six minutes of added on time followed, the Stags couldn’t find a winner and settled for a third consecutive 1-1 draw. FULL TIME: Stags 1-1 Colchester Utd STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan – Kyrstian Parce [CPT 65]– Zander Diamond © (Paul Digby 65) – Mal Benning Paul Anderson (Will Atkinson 57) – Joel Byrom (Jacob Mellis 57) – Alex MacDonald – CJ Hamilton Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings Unused Substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Lee Angol, Jimmy Spencer, Adam King Referee: Ross Joyce Assistants: Alix Pashley, Chris Ward Fourth Official: Alf Greenwood Attendance: 4,050 (163)  Craig Priest writes…
“There’s still a lot of work to do on the training ground” Those were the words of new boss David Flictroft speaking after the 1-1 draw against Lincoln City, his first since taking over the reins from Steve Evans last week – those words refreshing to hear from a manager determined to battle against the sands of time and deliver project promotion, with now just eleven games to go. Each manager comes with their own style of play and own ideas, Flitcroft has inherited a team who are used to playing deep and putting us supporters through a rough final ten minutes with back against the wall, sometimes (often actually) panic station defending – yet as a manager he likes his teams to not invite pressure and close the game out in midfield. You could see Ben Futcher (the new assistant manager for anyone hearing about these changes for the first time!) screaming (encouragingly and not in a Paul Raynor way) for the back line to push higher and force Lincoln back and as Flitcroft said in his refreshingly honest and referee abusing free post match interview – for 89 minutes the boys did just that and credit to them, but football is a game longer than that and we fell into Lincoln’s trap, we fell back into the Evans ‘soak up the punches’ mentality and we’re punished as The imps did what the imps do best. I’m not going to sit here and be angry at that, it’s natural to play a certain way after so long – and in such a quick turnaround between the flying Scotsman leaving and Flitcroft arriving, I have no complaints about it, in fact I expected it, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in that situation in four or five games time…. The worry is we don’t have four or five games to tinker! I want to pick up on a few things, firstly if you haven’t already guessed I’m happy with the result, no doubt I’ll go into more detail Thursday in the Podcast, under Evans I’d have feared a capitulation ala Luton. Secondly I want to highlight Flitcroft and Futcher’s professionalism in applauding for the gentleman who sadly passed away recently during the match, the way in which they handled the fans and finally the post-match interview – not ONE word about the referee and the sending’s off late on. Luke Waterfall, another blast from the Stags past, rightly dismissed for hurling that bottle into the crowd – BUT whoever launched it FROM the crowd in the first place needs to be ejected from the ground too, I could totally understand his anger at the card but by the letter of the law, it’s a red card – as was Rhys Bennett’s second yellow – no complaints there. Team and shape wise you could already see the difference, when we were on the attack the system became much more of a 4-2-3-1/ 4-3-3 with MacDonald and King (Later Byrom) sitting in deeper roles with Rose also dropping deeper, allowing Hemmings, Hamilton and the impressive Anderson to play freely around him – Anderson also dropped into that role just off the front two which encouraged the full backs to push forward and thus play a higher attacking game, which again given a few more games will start to really pay off. It was natural that Ollie Palmer was going to score, but let it be – our focus is now on the final 11 games with our fate in our own hands, Flitcroft knows and admitted it wasn’t the greatest spectacle to watch, he also knows where the work needs to be done. We’re fortunate that we are at home again on Saturday so don’t have to waste time travelling – I believe that every possible second will be spent on the training ground getting things right, this is ours to lose and in David Flitcroft and Ben Futcher, we have two footballing people that are determined to battle against the sands of time and deliver on broken promises. Match Report New boss David Flitcroft made just the one change, one I expected in Paul Anderson not playing right back – Hayden White brought back in for Alfie Potter, allowing Anderson to move forward. Interestingly there was no place on the bench for Ricky Miller, of course on loan from Peterborough – a few whispers around me suggested Evans would recall him – but then again, we could be putting two and two together and making seven thousand and four. A tentative start from both sides saw the Stags try and find their groove against a hungry Lincoln side full of old faces – Matt Rhead the first old face to head into Logan’s arms, the offside flag up however on six minutes against a man who made the most critical flick-on in the clubs history. Five minutes later it was one of the newest faces to be involved as Adam King picked up a yellow card for a strong, but fair, challenge on Alex Woodyard – however from then on with King on ice, he looked shaky and vulnerable. Rhead was again in the thick of the action as he struck towards goal, Mal Benning on hand to turn the ball away near the line as the burley front man’s effort trickled goalwards, Benning again in the thick of the action on 17 minutes as another ex-Stag in Luke Waterfall hit towards goal, the Imps skipper denied by Benning before nodding the looping loose follow up wide of the target. At the other end a minute later the first sight of flowing attacking football as Rose flicked into the path of Kane Hemmings – the Oxford loanee picked out the run of Anderson who duly delivered on a plate for Rose, who couldn’t find his former and now reunited boss a first Stags goal, as he volleyed over the bar. The Stags kept on the pressure as Hamilton began to unpick the City back line – his weaving movement set MacDonald from a long range drive on twenty minutes, the ball zipping just wide of Ryan Allsop’s goal. Club legend (remember that when you’re booing him the small minority!) Matt Green popped up to say hello on 29 minutes as he set up Waterfall for a stinging volley – Conrad Logan equal to it, down low in the centre of his goal. Danny Rose again then squandered the chance for an opener on 31 minutes as Hemmings fed Hamilton – the pacey wide man squared the ball from Rose who fired over on his left foot. At the break Adam King was withdrawn for Joel Byrom, Flitcroft admitting after the match he wanted some calm in the middle predicating a feisty second half – he wasn’t wrong with the fuel added by Bryom on 49 minutes as he tore away inside the box to head home Hayden’s White’s chipped cross, after Paul Anderson had created a gap for the anticipating White. With the stags a goal to the good, Lincoln upped the intensity determined as they do to not go home empty handed, Matt Rhead flicking on for Matt Green (that sound’s familiar!) on 57 minutes, Green hitting over from close range. Jimmy Spencer was introduced for Hemmings on 76 minutes, instructed to chase down everything and be the hold-up man – Will Atkinson then replaced Paul Anderson who looked shattered with ten minutes to go before Lincoln made the change which was bound to impact the game, Ollie Palmer replaced Green. Rhys Bennett picked up his first yellow card for time wasting on 82 minutes as a tense finish lingered in the air – Jimmy Spencer unlucky not to seal the game with two minutes to go as Rose sent him on his way, the front man just lacked that extra half a yards pace to round the advancing Allsop – the Lincoln glovesman just clearing the lines. Lincoln, with Rhead as the puppet master, pushed the Stags further back despite instructions to push out and as predicted got their reward as Ollie Palmer latched onto the loose ball unmarked to slam home and celebrate in front of the home support. It was then it turned ugly as a bottle was launched towards the celebrating crop of Imps players and ex-Stags, Luke Waterwall the City captain and brief former Stag launched the bottle back into the crowd – spotted by the referee who subsequently produced a straight red. The game calmed for a minute, before Rhys Bennett brought down a Lincoln player, picking up his second yellow card and taking one for the team – fortunately the sands of time in this particular encounter ran out before any more damage could be done. Work to do, yes – is it over, grow up! A fair result between two competitive sides – the Stags remain in 5th – one point behind Notts County in the last automatic place in third with a game in hand on them AND them still to play. This story isn’t over, this is chapter one of twelve in 'twelve against time' FULL TIME: Stags 1-1 Lincoln STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Hayden White – Krystian Pearce – Rhys Bennet [Sent Off, two bookings 90+4] – Mal Benning Paul Anderson (Will Atkinson 80) - Adam King (Joel Byrom HT) – Alex MacDonald – CJ Hamilton Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings (Jimmy Spencer 75) Unused substitutes: Bobby Olejnik, Zander Diamond, Jacob Mellis, Lee Angol Referee: Graham Salisbury Assistants: Gary Hilton and Grant Taylor Fourth Official Peter Gibbons Attendance 6,091 (unknown)  Craig Priest writes….
With the spring afternoons starting to break through the clouds, the end of the season is approaching in the distance – and with supporters up and down the land knowing what the run-in means for their team, it’s on afternoon’s such as Saturday where reactions could prove the critical difference. In the grand scheme of things a point against Coventry is far better than capitulating and losing – however playing for a good percentage of the game against ten men, there’s a frustratingly chilling bite of air in the otherwise sunny landscape. It’s naturally that stutters and stumbles will happen and you can’t fault the players endeavours as sometimes things just don’t fall your way, for example the penalty shout on Ricky Miller for which he was booked for simulation. Teams like Coventry won’t sit back and die with ten men, they’ll make it hard for you in every way they can – it’s how you react to that and then how your react the following week which counts. Personally I don’t think we were clinical enough and with the early man advantage should have gambled to get that extra cushion to take the game, ultimately using just two substitutes rather than all three proved the undoing as we ran out of legs and ideas. I can see why Evans opted for Mellis but having not played centrally with Alex MacDonald in a match situation, it hindered rather than helped as Coventry moved bodies into the middle and despite having a man less, made it difficult for us to get going. Also, why not use that final substitution we had to get Atkinson alongside Mellis (thus solving the pairing issue) and get MacDonald wide, as Potter wasn’t having his greatest afternoon up against Ryan Haynes. Alas though it’s all hindsight and a point onto our tally is better than all three onto someone else’s – we have momentum on our side and must just react, using the full energy of the squad to focus game by game, with our next being Stevenage away on Saturday. Match Report It was as you were once again for Steve Evans who named the same starting line-up and bench as the previous two games, it was start as you finished too for the Stags, who found themselves under emended pressure from the first whistle as the visitors enjoyed three successive corners, Conrad Logan on hand with the second to beat away Rod McDonald’s powerful header. The Stags nearly caught the visitors out over the top on ten minutes as Benning and MacDonald combined to feed CJ Hamilton, the pacey winger just unable to get a boot around the body of Jordan Willis who watched the ball out of play. Direct play then saw the visitors down to ten men as Logan’s long punt found Rose free on goal, the leading marksman was brought down on the edge of the box by Willis who was the last defender, and as such protested little at the sight of the straight red card. The resulting free-kick gave Mansfield another advantage – a goal! Alex MacDonald whipped one low through the wall, Kane Hemmings’ boot the one which was judged to have had the last touch, as the set play dribbled into the bottom corner. A man up and a goal up saw the Stags take a foot hold of the game, but with it came fe clear cut chances – as good possession coupled with poor touches from Hamilton, Anderson and Potter equalled squandered opportunities for a second – Alex MacDonald’s long range drive caused little trouble for Lee Burge on 23 minutes, seven minutes later Rhys Bennett headed over an Alfie Potter cross. The excellent Lee Burge then denied the Stags a second with five to go before the break as Hamilton countered down the right hand side following a poor Coventry corner – Hamilton, just inside the box, fired straight at a grounded Burge – rather than try and lift the ball over the Sky Blues number one. Kane Hemmings also spurned a chance three minutes later, after Anderson had delivered from the right, heading wide of the target. Mansfield started the second half with fire and hunger as Hamilton and Anderson caused problem after problem down either side, on 62 minutes Lee Burge again came to Coventry’s rescue as Hamilton picked out Hemmings’ – the Oxford loanee’s shot cannoned off the legs of Burge and away. Alex MacDonald whistled one wide on 65 minutes from distance but five minutes later the visitors had a golden chance to draw level – as MacDonald bundled over Clarke-Harris inside the box – Conrad Logan was left with egg on his face after failed attempts at mind game with Clarke-Harris, who subsequently converted the spot-kick for 1-1 – after Logan had been yellow carded. At 1-1 the game was balanced despite the stags numerical advantage, the introduction of Miller and Mellis did little and the Stags had to wait until the 82nd minute for another chance – MacDonald again stepping up top hit a free-kick, denied however by a good save from Burge. With three minutes to go Miller went down in the box by got nothing bar a yellow card for simulation, whilst after four minutes of stoppage time, the game ended level and with results elsewhere – the Stags dropped a place to fifth with a game in hand. FULL TIME: Stags 1-1 Coventry STAGS [4-4-2] Conrad Logan Paul Anderson – Krystian Pearce © - Rhys Bennett – Mal Benning Alfie Potter – Adam King (Jacob Mellis 80) – Alex MacDonald – CJ Hamilton Danny Rose – Kane Hemmings (Ricky Miller 74) Unused substitutes: Bobby Oljenik, Zander Diamond, Will Atkinson, Jimmy Spencer, Matt Penney Referee: Michael Salisbury Assistants: Peter Gooch & Duncan Street Fourth Official Mark Dwyer Attendance 6,105 (1,523) |
