Stags 0-1 Plymouth | Drowning in the puddles

Mansfield Town 0-1 Plymouth Argyle | Sky Bet League Two | Saturday 28th September 2019 | One Call Stadium, Mansfield  

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

No matter what Mansfield Town try, they keep getting bogged down as another defeat marks 25% of the season (well actually it’ll be half-time against Grimsby if you want to be pedantic!) and leaves John Dempster’s men in a pool of negativity in 19th place – the wrong end of the table.

What’s more frustrating is that for the most part, the Stags played OK and we’re perhaps the better side – BUT you can’t squander four opportunities to clear the ball and give the opposition the chance to pop one in from 40 yards, nor can you waste golden chances to score when it’s harder to miss.

The rain seemed like a metaphor for the season so far, as bad luck and misery seemed to pour down upon us – to be honest, it felt like that scene in the Vicar of Dibley where she’s merely skipping along, splashing in the puddles, before wooosh, in she goes into a deep puddle – thoroughly embarrassed, struggling to get out.  

It feels like a broken record at the minute with our poor performances and missed opportunities, I feel for John Dempster because like former boss Stewart Watkiss posted on Facebook – there’ll be nobody hurting more than him right now, nobody more desperate to put it right.

I can’t fault the substitutions yesterday, we needed attacking flair and brought on three strikers – but again couldn’t take opportunities when they came. All we can do is keep working hard and get that little bit of luck – that’s what Plymouth got and had we taken the lead through CJ Hamilton early doors, I feel we may be sitting here talking about a two or three-nil win.

We’re low on confidence, we have to address that period between their goal and half time when we were totally flat and lucky not to be punished further – and we have to go up a gear when it comes to set-plays and our entry’s into the box.

It may seem daft to say after ANOTHER defeat, but over the last three games I’ve seen the glimmer of a flame ready to light the fire and let it rage, we just need it to click and lady luck to smile on us once more.

​Into October we go now, let’s get through this month unbeaten with a minimum of three wins from the five league games – if we achieve that, then we’re in a far better place, failure to do so is another discussion for another time, because right now we need to pull together and be strong enough to get out of the puddle that’s drowning us.   

-- match recap --

John Dempster continued to smash mirrors and run over black cat’s this week as it looked like goalkeeper Bobby Oljenik would be back – a dislocated finger in training prevented his return, whilst Hayden White was admitted to hospital with stomach cramps.

Alex MacDonald took White’s place with Shaughnessy slotting into the back three – the Stags started brightly and should have been ahead on three minutes as Khan and Rose linked up – the latter slotted in Hamilton who went through at pace 1 vs 1 – his touch though was heavy and allowed the visiting keeper to smother, to the sound of angry groans from the Stags’ faithful.

Ten minutes later the visitors took the lead with a sublime effort from Conor Grant, although questions must be asked of the Stags who failed to clear their lines despite having three/four chances to do so, before Grant smashed one in from 40 yards.

Mansfield struggled to get going again after the goal and found themselves penned in for long periods of the half, Conrad Loagn produced a fine save on 35 minutes to deny Grant a second scorcher whilst at the other End, Otis Khan came closest with a free kick which was miles over.

The Stags responded well after the break in their quest to pull themselves level, Danny Rose did well to turn and shoot to win a corner, from which the Stags wasted by delivering straight into the grasp of Palmer.

Khan, Bishop and Gordon all saw efforts blocked by Argyle before Benning’s goal bound effort on 62 minutes was accidently blocked by Shaughnessy. Substitute Afolayan curled one wide after replacing Hamilton, before Cook and Maynard were brought on with the Stags going four up front – in the last minute of normal time, Maynard picked out Cook – but the front man was denied by the legs of Palmer who ultimately, earned his side all three points.  

FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 0-1 Plymouth Argyle | Attendance 4,499 (550)

STAGS: [3-4-3] Conrad Logan | Conor Shaughnessy (Andy Cook 77), Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney | Kellan Gordon, Neal Bishop, Alex MacDonald, Mal Benning | Otis Khan (Nicky Maynard 81), Danny Rose, CJ Hamilton (Dapo Afolayan 66) Unused Subs: Aidan Stone, Alistair Smith, Jacob Mellis, Willem Tomlinson

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