Getting Through: Stags 0-0 Swindon

Full Time Score Mansfield Town 0-0 Swindon
Competition Sky Bet League Two
Venue One Call Stadium
Stags Goal Scorer(s) /
Attendance 5,311 (486)

Craig Priest writes…

When you’re on a run like ours, sometimes you get an air of arrogance and expect to come out of games with all three points – it’s times like that where you get beat and start a downfall, fortunately for the Stags, the goalless draw with Swindon is one we can put down to a bad day at the office, but one where we still got the job done to the minimum requirement.

There’s always that day over the Christmas period where you have no idea what the time is, where you are, what you are supposed to be doing and frankly just can’t be bothered – I saw a bit of that in yesterday’s performance, but also know that the match was played in a tough wind and against a side who were not simply going to let us play our free flowing game.

The most concerning thing for me was that tempers began to boil over, in particular between the back three and goalkeeper Conrad Logan, as both parties had the right to be angry over either miss placed back passes, taking too long or not coming out in support.

Mansfield’s game is set to be played from the back and that trust between keeper and defenders is paramount to that being a success, we need to iron out these clear indifferences – especially coming up against teams who press high and keep teams penned in, we were very fortunate to see Logan pull off some very good saves to rectify errors from both parties.

The important thing in a game you can’t seem to get a grip in is to defend the clean sheet and the point, and then try and take the opportunities when they come – Mansfield to their credit did just that especially in the last five/ten minutes, but met their match in a Swindon side determined not to leave without a point.

All in all I’m pleased with the result, we are unbeaten in 16 league games having lost once in the league all season, we perhaps need to freshen the line-up up against Grimsby as its 1st vs 2nd in the form table for the last eight games, and given the fact the Stags always struggle at Grimsby – we have to work hard to protect our record and make progress.

2018 has been great, 2019 can be even better if we keep our heads and focus. COME ON YOU STAGS    

MATCH REPORT 
David Flitcroft named an unchanged starting line-up once more and started early looking for the vital opener, CJ Hamilton’s third minute effort was blocked well, before Timi Elsnik fed in Walker, whose shot deflected onto the roof of the Swindon net.

At the other end Conrad Logan pulled off a fine save on 11 minutes to thwart Keshi Anderson before a cross from White nearly bounced in at the other end, Mal Benning saw an effort from a corner blocked and Tyler Walker couldn’t beat Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swindon goal, as he made a good save.

Logan was then the one making a save to deny Matt Taylor from a free kick on 27 minutes, ten minutes later his opposite number was in action – again denying leading marksman Tyler Walker’s thunderous effort.

Both sides enjoyed a chance each before the break, Ex-Swindon man Elsnik curled one over the bar, before Anderson called Logan into action – neither could impact on the 0-0 scoreline at the break.

Mansfield began  the second half as they’d started the first, Mellis nodded narrowly wide from Benning’s cross with the half merely two minutes old, Neal Bishop also tested the water with a peach of a cross, CJ Hamilton unlucky to not connect at the back post.

On 67 Walker was again denied by the visiting keeper, who was again involved on 79, this time flashing an effort wide of the target.

Late on it was all Mansfield as Hamilton was next to be denied by Vigouroux before Substitute Rose saw a header deflect wide for a late corner which, sadly, led to nothing bar the sound of the referee’s whistle for full time.  

FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 0-0 Swindon

STAGS [3-4-1-2]: Conrad Logan, Matt Preston, Krystian Pearce, Ryan Sweeney, Hayden White, Jacob Mellis,  Neal Bishop, Mal Benning (Danny Rose 79), Timi Elsnik (Otis Khan 60), CJ Hamilton, Tyler Walker
Unused Subs: Jake Kean, Will Atkinson, Calum Butcher, Jason Law, Jordan Graham

​Referee: Trevor Kettle