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Sky Bet League Two, Saturday 7th August | Mansfield Town 2 (Hawkins, Johnson [P]) Bristol Rovers 1  Apparently a house party is only as good as it’s DJ – Danny Johnson ensured the Stags’ house party was absolutely bouncing, coolly netting a 90th minute penalty at the Quarry Lane end to seal opening day victory for Nigel Clough’s men.
Strike partner Oli Hawkins had swooped in to nod home a well worked set-play between Ollie Clarke and Stephen McLaughlin to start the party in the first half – however a well hit strike levelled things for Rovers in the second swung the game back into balance. However, when Johnson was judged to have been struck by Paul Coutts with fourteen minutes to play – the Rovers skipper was given his marching orders and the Stags the prime opportunity to take all three points. Overall, a Mansfield victory was deserved as Rovers’ offered very little and Clough’s men racked up the chances – however despite the euphoria, Clough, his players and the majority of fans know that performances must be a lot better, if the Stags want to challenge consistently. Clough has worked hard to build a style of play which brings fluidity through the midfield and hunger to counter – for whatever reason that was lacking from Mansfield’s performance which in turn, led to a handful of ‘sharp intake of breath’ moments which on another day, the visitors may have capitalised on. We’re still a central defender short in my view, someone experienced and commanding – mainly to put that added bit of authority into our play, adding fuel to the fiery approach of our challenges – Stephen Quinn especially has this ‘no way through’ attitude which is brilliant to see. It was so good to see the One Call Stadium full and hear fans singing and cheering throughout – I’ve no doubt that contributed towards the players’ nervousness and eagerness to impress, we have to remember that not only is this a new group still trying to gel, but that players haven’t played in front of crowds for as long as we’ve been stuck on the sofa! For both parties, it’ll take some getting used too! Harness that winning feeling, soak in those matchday rituals and get ready for a long, but exciting season! They do say start as you mean to go on afterall! STAGS: Nathan Bishop | Kellan Gordon, Farrend Rawson, James Perch, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris (Ryan Stirk 90+1), Ollie Clarke ©, Stephen Quinn, Rhys Oates (George Lapslie 70) | Danny Johnson, Oli Hawkins UNUSED SUBS: George Shelvy [GK], Jordan Bowery, Ryan Burke, Tyrese Sinclair, James Clarke Attendance: 6,436 (1,388)
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Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 8th May 2021 – Vale Park [Behind Closed Doors]  …MORE! No, we’re not rewriting Oliver Twist, more is exactly what we want from the Mansfield Town who turned up and turned over Port Vale 3-0 yesterday, as the 2020-21 League Two season, came to a close.
The Stags put in the display that we’ve been begging for all season, slick football, good movement, pacey pressing, decent set plays and three well taken goals – typically though it should have been double figures for the second game running, but on the Brightside – no mistakes! The performance certainly wet the appetite for next season with Clough going after eight targets, including Stephen Quinn. Clough also mentioned Pardington on a potential loan from Wolves again, I imagine as third choice keeper (Clough mentioned when he arrived that he likes to have three) but I don’t think the twenty year old will be part of the “top eight”. I felt he played well and would be happy with his as third keeper, he didn’t have a lot to do but looked competent in commanding his area and collecting routine crosses – I’m glad, for him as much as us, that we got to see him start and given the chance to irradiate the memory of his substitute appearance against Salford. Clough hinted in his post-match interview that the retained list would be out next week, with the players already knowing their future, three players started (excluding the on loan Pardington & Quinn) who are out of contract, James Clarke, Ryan Sweeney and Jordan Bowery – I hope both Clarke and Sweeney have been offered extensions (along with Stone, who was on the bench), Bowery, OK if he stays great, but I don’t see him being a regular starter so if there’s other offers for him, let him go. Clarke was brilliant at right back and like I’ve said on the Podcast time and time again, should have been involved more this season – hopefully he’s done enough in training to impress Clough, because if I had to rank our right back options, he comes above Corey O’Keeffe who hasn’t been on the scene pretty much since Clough arrived. As for the others, youngsters Keaton Ward and Jaden Charles, Ward could offer us some back up in midfield, perhaps a year with a little loan deal to develop early doors may work – whilst Charles, I’ve not really seen enough to make a fair judgement and there are better options out there to be a real first team contender, and Clough has already said he wants experience. A good performance to round off the season, I can’t quite believe we’ve done a whole season on the sofa! Cross everything that next season we can return and watch a performance like yesterday on a more consistent basis. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Jamie Pardington | James Clarke, James Perch, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin (Jaden Charles 82) | George Maris (Keaton Ward 82), Ollie Clarke © (Harry Charsley 75), Stephen Quinn (Jason Law 51), George Lapslie | Jordan Bowery (Jamie Reid 75), Tyrese Sinclair UNUSED SUBS: Aidan Stone, Kellan Gordon Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 1st May 2021 – One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  As Mansfield Town conclude fixtures on their own patch for this season, Nigel Clough wanted to see his side give viewers a taste of what to expect next season – whilst they listened to the gaffer, they couldn’t quite resist throwing in a classic caper, stinking heavily of this season!
The “mix-up” between Sweeney and Stone in the 51st minute was typical of the Stags this season, a farcically soft goal to give away with a complete lack of idea and communication. It’s a goal too which left fans divided over who to blame, and sadly with both out of contract in the summer, it won’t have done them any favours as Clough comments “ I think we’re about done with [extending] contracts” Personally, I’d be very frustrated to see both go but that is very much a discussion for another time – it’s very easy to talk about and focus on the negatives of the goal, but let’s focus on the positives, scoring four goals at home and getting hungry young players onto the pitch. In true Mansfield fashion it should have been about ten by half-time but we all know that we’ve struggled to show a ruthless streak this campaign, something Clough will be working hard on putting right – however our build up play was very impressing, and we pressed with real intent and purpose, if we can continue to build on that with the right additions, I’m very much looking forward to seeing that in person next season. As for the youngsters, Keaton Ward got his first start and looked very comfortable in the middle of the park – we should certainly look at developing him next season and extending his deal. Tyrese Sinclair bags another goal, we don’t really need to talk about him really – pre-season will be his time to really develop and push on more, whilst off of the bench came James Clarke to show us exactly why he should have started more games this season. Clarke was fantastic last season for us and I personally think would have really developed this season had he been given game time, he’s another out of contract and for me, would be a great asset in and around the first team to push Kellan Gordon, or even more the latter forward. We also saw a brief glimpse of Jaden Charles for ten-ish minutes, perhaps we’ll see a little more of him next week at Port Vale, where for me, I wouldn’t mind at all if we were to start all of our younger players and give them the opportunity to go and earn a deal and a place in Clough’s plans next season. A comfortable win, it should have been more and we should have kept a clean sheet – but that’s the story of this season, one more game and we can put it behind us and look forward to a proper football season! Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | Kellan Gordon (James Clarke 73), James Perch ©, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris, Keaton Ward (Jordan Bowery 73), Stephen Quinn (Jaden Charles 82), George Lapslie (Harry Charsley 82) | Tyrese Sinclair (Jason Law 82), Jamie Reid UNUSED SUBS: Jamie Pardington, Jake Wright Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 24th April 2021 – Peninsula Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  Whilst Mansfield Town can put their feet up, there are some teams in Sky Bet League Two that cannot – one of which is play-off chasing Salford City, who kept their dreams alive yesterday with a 2-0 victory over Clough’s safe Stags.
Mansfield were on paper the better side and were perhaps unlucky to not get on the scoresheet, but Salford did what play-off chasing sides do best – took their chances when they came along. Clough will have been disappointed to have lost, especially given the Stags were the better side even at 1-0 down. The second goal killed the game, but had the Stags had a little more fight, they may have taken the opportunity to get something from the game when Salford were reduced to ten men when Towell was dismissed for lashing out on Gordon on 68 minutes. In typical Mansfield style though, they handed the hosts the chance to make it 3-0 lead on 74 minutes when Stone gave away a penalty – he made up for it with a splendid save to deny Henderson, his last action as on loan Wolves man Jamie Pardington replaced him to make his professional debut. Those on social media (a small minority to be fair) saying that Stone was subbed off for giving away the penalty and getting booked, behave! Listen to what Clough said – Pardington was always coming on, and had the camera been on the other side of the pitch, we’ll have all seen him warming up! The substitute keeper was involved in a nasty accident on Farrend Rawson late on which resulted in the defender being knocked unconscious by the out-rushing keeper, thankfully Clough confirmed after the game Rawson was awake and was being taken to hospital – he also put huge emphasis on players communicating at the back, he has a very good point. Fingers crossed Rawson will be OK, however given the nature of his injury and time of the campaign, I imagine that will be his season over. Clough will no doubt continue to experiment and give players minutes in the final two games, but he will still expect high standards – as do we as supporters, lets end this horrible season on some form of high! Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone (Jamie Pardington 75) | James Perch ©, Farrend Rawson (Off injured 90), Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris (Kellan Gordon 66), Stephen Quinn (Keaton Ward 80), George Lapslie (Jamie Reid 66) | Jason Law (Harry Charsley 75), Tyrese Sinclair, Jordan Bowery UNUSED SUBS: James Clarke, Jadon Charles Sky Bet League Two | Tuesday 20th April 2021 – One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  Mansfield Town have confirmed their league two status for the 2021/22 campaign, following a solid 3-0 victory over Scunthorpe United last night – meaning with three games to go, we can all breathe a long overdue sigh of relief!
Goals from George Lapslie, James Perch and Tyrese Sinclair sealed the Stags’ fate, an evening where Clough’s men looked in complete control and should have hit double figures. We all know the Stags should have secured safety weeks ago and many will reflect on this campaign and question why we didn’t push on post January, however when Clough came in, Mansfield were seemed absolutely done for despite the early stage of the season – his job, in the midst of a pandemic, was to come in, reduce the budget and secure league status – he’s done it and now the real work begins to get us into a much better shape for next season. We’ve got plenty of time to delve into that between now and early July [pre-season], and for me, stage two of Clough’s remit is now in play – evaluate. Regardless of contractual status, every player is now playing for their future and their shirt – most have been since day one, but a few on the fringes will now be given the opportunity to shine – predominantly the younger ones. Personally I’d like to see us, and see no reason why we can’t, go unbeaten in our final three games – two of which are “dead rubbers” against Oldham and Port Vale. So many of our previous seasons have fizzled out, I want to see us be competitive and hungry to finish as “high” as possible and give us supporters, who’ve endured a horrible season stuck on the sofa. I’m worried that a few supporters will have lost interest because of being cut off, I’ll be honest – had it not been for doing the Podcast after a game, I doubt I’d have been watching as often. If we can get positive results on the pitch it will generate conversations again and whet the appetite for returning when Boris takes the padlocks off of the turnstiles! A huge well done to Clough and the boys, a nod too to Richard Cooper who certainly played a massive part in putting us back onto the right track, not just on the pitch but mentally. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | James Perch (Kellan Gordon 86), Farrend Rawson, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris, Stephen Quinn (Keaton Ward 86), Ollie Clarke © (Harry Charsley 84), George Lapslie (Jason Law 84) | Jamie Reid (Jordan Bowery 75), Tyrese Sinclair Unused Subs: Jamie Pardington, Mal Benning Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 17th April 2021 – Lamex Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  A long overdue win for Mansfield Town saw Clough’s men move within one game of securing their league status for the following campaign, as with four games remaining, the Stags are eleven points clear of second-bottom Southend with twelve points to play for.
All the Stags need to do now is match whatever Southend do on Tuesday evening – as maintaining the 11-point gap as a minimum, would see an eleven-point gap with only nine points left to play for, equalling safety – maths kids, got to love it! Ryan Sweeney’s 24th minute goal proved the difference in a match of little quality, but the Stags did what was needed when it mattered and kept a vital clean sheet, thanks in no small part to Aidan Stone who made four or five good saves to further highlight his standing as first choice keeper. The key thing to do in our precarious position is keep clean sheets so when called upon you need the shot stopper to do the routine things, Stone did that very well and certainly earned his clean sheet. Performances don’t matter at this point; points however do – let’s get the job done on Tuesday evening and then enjoy the final three games, ending the campaign strongly and giving us a little ripple bounce ahead of the new season. We all know that there will be a big overhaul in players to get us into a position where we can compete for a top seven finish, however all of that is for playing out in the close season so let’s leave the discussions for then! For the players that are here now, contracted beyond this season or not, this is the chance to go and earn a future and finish strongly – if you look at our last four games, I see no reason why we can’t get at least seven more points. Roll on Tuesday night! Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | James Perch ©, Farrend Rawson, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris, Stephen Quinn (Ollie Clarke 53), George Lapslie (Jason Law 61) | Jamie Reid, Tyrese Sinclair (Harry Charsley 86), Jordan Bowery Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Mal Benning, Kellan Gordon, Keaton Ward Sky Bet League Two | Friday 9th April 2021 – One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  It’s fair to say that Mansfield Town are their own worst enemies this season, with far too many mistakes costing them – but as Nigel Clough says, the bare minimum is to not lose games, and thanks to Tyrese Sinclair’s strike six minutes from time – secured a point which depending on other results, could be a huge step towards safety.
The Stags put in another decent display with the ball but again had no killer instinct which cost them, if they can maintain that performance level and keep the mistakes locked up in a basement between now and the end of the season, we’ll soon be breathing a sigh of relief. Again, like the previous two games, a lot lies on what Southend do this afternoon – a defeat or draw keeps a nice gap with five games, and fifteen points, left to go. A lot was said on social medias as per about the errors which led to Newports goal – don’t dwell on them, Stone will be frustrated to be beaten like that and it was his only error in an otherwise solid display, whilst Maris just needs to be more savvy with the ball in that position – it is what it is. The positive is Tyrese Sinclair, similar to Law he’s had a while to wait and is really grasping his opportunity. He took his goal very well and his all round play was good, he offers that little bit of flair which we’ve been missing but has good vision to get into good areas and open gaps up. Furthermore, he offers a good set play and it appears a long throw! Let’s keep working on those and see what happens! I’d certainly like to see the two of them on the pitch together, it’s very good to have some good young talent in the ranks, backed up and supported by the experience of Quinn, Bowery and Perch to name just three. We have the basis of something good with the right additions and a good, hard working, pre-season under our belts – I’m optimistic about next season, let’s cross our fingers and do the work to ensure we’re ready. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | James Perch, Farrend Rawson, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris, Ollie Clarke © (Jamie Reid 80), Stephen Quinn, George Lapslie | Tyrese Sinclair, Jordan Bowery Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Mal Benning, Harry Charsley, Kellan Gordon, Keaton Ward, Jason Law Sky Bet League Two | Monday 5th April 2021 – St James’ Park [Behind Closed Doors]  In some ways, swinging like a pendulum from one extreme to the other, is typical Mansfield Town – a strong performance and a clean sheet at a play-off contender is the latest platform to swing too, but with now six games to go, let’s hope this little resurrection is the last, and that Mansfield Town keep it up to get over the line.
The point takes us to TEN points ahead of Southend, hopefully they can lose against Morecambe this evening to ensure that stays the same as, for my money at least, whilst it wouldn’t put us mathematically safe, it should just about do the job. Nigel Clough made four changes to freshen things up, including giving Tyrese Sinclair his first league start – changes were needed and to be honest, probably will be again on Friday night, but not on as big a scale, subtly is the way. Sinclair was good value for his first league start and should have won the Stags a spot-kick in the second half, but instead picked up a yellow card – madness, but this season, little things like that haven’t quite gone our way. Like Law, there’s still development there to be had but it’s great to see young talent coming through and representing the club and showing us that we do have options in the attacking third. The bare basics in any game is to keep a clean sheet which we did well, fewer back passes to Stone stopped the hosts from pressing high and gave them little opportunity, in fact I can only remember two real moments of danger – a good block from Perch in the second half, preceded by another solid save from Stone at the death of the first. Yes we need to add that fire power but at this stage of the campaign, every point we get pretty much means Southend need to get three – you can criticise the two wins in sixteen? But of that, seven draws makes us tough to beat in my view - the only time we get beat is when we beat ourselves with ridiculous errors, so as long as we continue to eradicate those – we’ll be OK. Six more to go, come on Morecambe, do us a favour and let these last six be a little less stressful! Newport at home on Friday, 6pm kick-off, let’s get this done. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | James Perch, Farrend Rawson, Ryan Sweeney, Stephen McLaughlin | George Maris, Ollie Clarke ©, Stephen Quinn, George Lapslie | Tyrese Sinclair (Jamie Reid 82), Jordan Bowery Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Mal Benning, Harry Charsley, Kellan Gordon, Keaton Ward, Jason Law Sky Bet League Two | Friday 2nd April 2021 – One Call Stadium [Behind Closed Doors]  Last time out Mansfield Town earned praise for fighting back against promotion chasing Tranmere, but yet again those of us who had hope as a result of that fight back were left the victim of a mistimed April Fools joke, as the Stags put in a whimpering display – losing two-nil at home to Leyton Orient thanks to two golden gifts.
Clough’s men are still eleven points clear of second bottom Southend, however by the time Monday’s trip to Exeter comes around, that gap could be narrowed to just six – with the relegation battlers in action this lunchtime against Carlisle, meaning yesterday’s result could leave a very sour taste. Yes, Orient deserve credit for pressing us high and giving us little room – but the bare fact is, they actually created very little, I’m struggling to remember Stone having a shot to save from anything created organically from the visitors, their two goals absolute gifts from us – TWO errors, TWO errors which if we don’t make them – earns us a point and as a result, further pulls the rope from Southends grasp. We are essentially masters of our own undoing. It’s tough to sit here and write these little blogs at the moment, they’re becoming shorter at fear of becoming repetitive. We know what we’re lacking, who we’re missing and the mistakes we’re living to regret – but we can’t change that, the only thing we can change and effect is the next game. With Lapslie now back fit and Clarke on the verge of being so, I’d look to shuffle the pack again and compact the midfield with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which includes a number of changes. My team would be as follows Stone J Clarke – Perch – Sweeney – Benning Maris – O Clarke © Charsley – Lapslie – Quinn Law I’m not the manager and I know he’ll be feeling as frustrated as the rest of us, he pretty much said it during the week – we should be safe now, it should be job done and for whatever reason it’s not. I want to see us go to Exeter with some fight and fire, let’s press from the front and use the attacking edge of Charsley, Lapslie and Quinn to support Law – with the likes of Bowery, Reid and Sinclair to come off of the bench, plus if we need an extra body, send Sweeney forward! Hopefully Southend will lose this afternoon and the gap stays at 11 points with twenty-one left to play for, we don’t need the stress or the panic because we’re not good enough to cope with it right now – the proof is in the results. Over the next two games, Exeter and Newport, let’s find that energy and drive from within and get it done, four points coupled with two losses for Southend (against Carlisle and Morecambe) makes the buffer 15 points with as many left to play for [for us, Southend would have 18 left to play for as we play Friday, and them Saturday] should see us OK – surely even we could find one more point at the stage?! This season has been horrendous watching from the sofa, let’s get it done and dusted and move on very bloody quickly. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | Kellan Gordon (Ryan Sweeney 83), Farrend Rawson, James Perch ©, Mal Benning | George Maris, George Lapslie (Ollie Clarke 75), Stephen Quinn (Harry Charsley 80), Jason Law (Stephen McLaughlin 75) | Jamie Reid (Tyrese Sinclair 80), Jordan Bowery Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Keaton Ward Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 27th March 2021 – Prenton Park [Behind Closed Doors]  Since the enforced break in late January / early February, the Stags have only picked up two wins from fourteen games with six defeats and six draws – soft goals have proved the undoing with a lack of fight highlighted in those defeats, yesterday however the Stags fought back to get a much needed point against promotion chasing Tranmere.
Stephen Quinn’s phenomenal strike earned Mansfield a deserved point – needed as Southend grabbed a rare win to narrow the buffer to nine points, with eight games to go. If the Stags can continue to show the fight they will be OK, and what’s more important is more rest in between games – the fourteen games mentioned at the top of this blog played in the space of 47 days, very unusual for this stage of the campaign and when you factor in the missing of several key players for a large proportion of that, Maris, Lapslie, Clarke Sarkic etc – we’ve come out of it pretty well. Rotation is going to be critical between now and the end of the campaign too, I totally get why Clough named an unchanged side yesterday having played so well against Forest Green on Tuesday, but even in his post match comments there was a hint that he regretted now shuffling the pack, especially given how we conceded. The squad will be assessed over the coming days ahead of tough games with Orient on Friday at home and then a trip to Exeter on Monday – personally if we can get four points from the Easter weekend, we’ll be safe. Even if we get two, that’s two more wins that Southend need with games running out. Let’s enjoy the midweek break now and put in every last ounce of effort we have to drag us over the line. We’ve got this. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report. STAGS: Aidan Stone | Kellan Gordon, Farrend Rawson, James Perch ©, Mal Benning | George Maris (Stephen McLaughlin 46), Stephen Quinn (Ryan Sweeney 86), Harry Charsley (Ollie Clarke 57), Jason Law (Tyrese Sinclair 88) | Jamie Reid, Jordan Bowery (George Lapslie 46) Unused Subs: Marek Stech, Keaton Ward |
