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Leyton Orient 2-1 Mansfield Town [Kelland Watts] | Sky Bet League Two | Tuesday 11th February 2020 | Brisbane Road  *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
The more this season drags on, the more unbearable it is becoming to watch as the Stags continue to make the same school boy errors which are consistently dropping them into the heart of the fire. Over the last four games, Mansfield have had a real opportunity to put distance between themselves and the drop but following last night’s 2-1 poor defeat at Leyton Orient, are starting to lose their grip and have made it anybody’s game. Two defeats and two draws against four of the sides around us is far from acceptable with the same mistakes and errors costing us – something needs to change quickly because whilst the gap between the Stags (21st) and Stevenage (24th) is ten points, the pendulum can swing very quickly and if we’re not careful – that gap WILL shorten. I can’t find too much fault with the performance last night, compared to the Oldham game (our last defeat, also midweek) the desire and effort had vastly improved – BUT, the simple approach to taking the game to Orient (as Coughlan emphasised pre-match) was poor, and ultimately cost us. Playing 3-4-3 is fine, that gives us the opportunity to get the ball down on the floor and play it in behind for CJ to attack and get at the hosts’ vulnerable defence who really struggled with the ball on the floor. The problem is, we did that about three times – resorting to clipping it over the top far too often, which the hosts lapped up as heading practise. I can’t imagine that to be the instruction from the management – if it was, then I’ll hold my hands up – praise the lads for doing as told, and then majorly question why on earth we continue to play high over the top when it doesn’t work and we haven’t got the players for it! Playing Rose on the right side of the three was pointless, he tried his hardest as ever and I can’t fault him for that, but genuinely he looked lost and awkward – we’d have been better playing him in the attacking midfield central role, acting as a buffer between the deep midfield pair of Bishop and Tomlinson and Maynard & Hamilton, who would have latched onto and (hopefully) put away low through balls. We’re all managers through from the stands, aren’t we?! All I know is I can see my team falling apart, making stupid errors week after week, mile after mile, dropping point after point – and its bloody well hurts. I don’t think it’s a management thing, it can’t be because look back at this time last year when it started to unravel and our dreams were shattered – same silly mistakes, and the same failure to keep it simple. It’s frustrating, it’s horrible to watch at times, and it’s even worse to sit here and try and write about without penning the same old words like a song stuck on a loop – but we have to hold our hands up and look at the next fixture, Newport at home, and hope for three points to lift our tired spirits once more. Match Recap One change yet again for Graham Coughlan, bringing in Hamilton for Charsley going with a flat 3-4-3 to try and get at Leyton Orient. Click HERE to read the clubs official match report FULL TIME: Leyton Orient 2-1 Mansfield Town | Attendance 3,587 (181) STAGS: [3-4-3] Bobby Olejnik | Ryan Sweeney, Krystian Pearce ©, Kelland Watts | Joe Riley (James Clarke HT), Willem Tomlinson, Neal Bishop, Mal Benning (Harry Charlsey 88) | Danny Rose, Nicky Maynard, CJ Hamilton Unused Substitutes: Aidan Stone, Jimmy Knowles, Matt Preston, Jack Evans, Craig Davies *The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*
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