Port Vale 2-2 Stags | Coming Up Short

Port Vale 2-2 Mansfield Town [Kellan Gordan, Danny Rose (P)] | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 21st September 2019 | Vale Park, Stoke   

​*The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*

A 2-2 Draw on paper mixed in with the results so far this season on the back of a 4-0 hammering doesn’t look great – however for the first time this campaign, I left the game with the feeling that a succession of victories for this Mansfield Town side is just around the corner.

They key for Mansfield this season has been consistency, or more accurately a blatant lack of it! However, if you take away the period of time Stags played with ten men against Cambridge from the past two games, you can clearly see a hunger and desire to go and play on the front foot and hurt teams.

Unfortunately, the breakthroughs didn’t come prior to the red card Tuesday which sent us hurling back into Toxic city, and whilst twice surrendering the lead yesterday at Port Vale leaves us pretty much in the same place – I believe the Stags are very close to breaking free into something far more positive.

For 99% of the game Mansfield were on the front foot and showed a real eagerness to press high up the pitch, win the ball back and move it with fluidity and purpose – highlighted in both Kellan Gordon’s goal and in the build-up for the penalty, which Danny Rose was never going to miss. The Stags had a number of chances and openings created through the same attitude and application which we can’t ignore and rightfully praise – there’s been far too much emphasis put upon highlighting the negatives over recent weeks.

Naturally there’s one negative to highlight, and that’s a failure in concentration which has ultimately cost us two goals and two points, late in both halves. I think it’s natural for a side after such poor form to let the adrenaline get to them when on the verge of victory, especially after playing so well, we just have to work on this and iron out the creases for victory to follow.

That’s what is important now to build momentum, I’m delighted that Dempster admitted the players were arguing etc after the game, because it shows they care and desperately want to improve – Dempster and his reshaped backroom team now must channel this in the right way to get the results, likewise we as supporters, back at home, must show the same positive support which was shown yesterday.

​Everybody makes mistakes, we all learn that something we think is acceptable could be phenomenal with that extra 10% effort, concentration and desire. One point could be three points with that extra 10% - so let’s focus on that this week, rather than the negatives.  

-- match recap --

Two changes were made by Dempster, one enforced as White replaced the suspended again Matt Preston, whilst Otis Khan replaced Sterling-James in attack – the Stags sticking with the 3-4-3 which was looking so bright, prior to Preston’s red card.

After a sluggish start on a bright afternoon it was the visitors who tested the water first as Cullen stung the palms of Logan on the half volley on nine minutes. The Stags’ keepers’ save sparked life into the Stags, Mal Benning picked out Sweeney with a free kick who saw his header deflect behind for a corner, from which Shaughnessy nodded wide.

Mansfield were on the front foot and grabbed a deserved lead on 14 minutes with neat build up play which saw Hamilton twist, turn and shoot – his shot was saved by Kellan Gordon was on hand to riffle in the rebound, squeezing in from a tight angle.

Three minutes later Mansfield were close to a second as Rose met a cross at the far post, but nodded just over – Bishop had two further efforts for the Stags to double their lead before the break, but a lapse in concentration saw Vale claw one back seconds before the whistle, Cullen converting at the far post as Mansfield failed to clear their lines.

The sucker punch winded the Stags but not enough to stop them going again in the second half, Rose, Gordon and Hamilton all had chances before Rose was fouled inside the box on 75 minutes – there was never any doubt over the outcome, as Rose stood up and ripped the back of the net out with a powerful spot kick to put Mansfield back in front.

CJ Hamilton saw an effort saved by Brown in the Vale goal with a minute to go which would have sealed all three points, alas whilst Mansfield looked certain to seal victory, five minutes added time gave the hosts hope, and ultimately a shot at a point, taken in the fourth minute as Mansfield failed to clear a corner – allowing Smith to smother the ball home and steal a point from the jaws of defeat for Port Vale.

FULL TIME: Port Vale 2-2 Mansfield Town | Attendance 5,109 (679)

STAGS: [3-4-3] Conrad Logan |Hayden White, Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney | Kellan Gordon, Neal Bishop, Conor Shaughnessy, Mal Benning | Otis Khan (Alex MacDonald 86), Danny Rose, CJ Hamilton Unused Subs: Aidan Stone, Alistair Smith, Jacob Mellis Dapo Afolayan, Andy Cook, Omari Sterling-James mu6\

​Written by | Craig Priest
*The views expressed in this article, are solely those of the writer and not those of their associated organisations*