Stags 0-4 Cambridge | The Inferno

Mansfield Town 0-4 Cambridge United | Sky Bet League Two | Tuesday 17th 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*

It’s hard to know where to begin on this summary of a thrashing at the hands of Cambridge United, Football is a game rife with emotion played and supported with a pumping heart of emotion – and often it’s difficult to not explode in anger following such as a disappointing performance, but this afternoon I don’t feel anger or hate – I feel empty, like that pumping heart has been ripped right out.

Not looking at the games in isolation was mentioned heavily on Saturday and is far more prominent now as SOME supporters call for the removal of John Dempster from his post as manager and things, yet again, start to become heated on social media. Actually that’s a good way of looking at the whole situation – there’s an inferno ripping through the heart of the dressing room, and we can’t stop it.

Honestly I’m stuck as to how to tackle this blog, I really want to look at the positive and heap praise on John Dempster for making changes, not just to personnel, but to the system in order to make us more attacking and hungry in the first half, in which I thought we were the best we have been thus far in his tenure.

BUT, I always want to examine the failings – how has a team with 90% the same players, gone so drastically from a promotion form, to what is arguably relegation form.

I’ve read social media posts from many, and had countless conversations with people about the situation and what I find laughable about most of the former, is the number of posts blaming Dempster for last night’s disgraceful defeat, because the fact is he can’t play for the team – it’s the players who have created this horrible feeling.

Did John Dempster get Matt Preston sent off at 0-0 when we were on top? No, only the rashness of said player caused him to collect his second, and deserved, straight red card of the campaign. Did John Dempster tell Andy Cook to take a touch too many when Rose put a goal on a plate at 1-0 down? No, only the inexperience and lack of composure from the 20-goal-a-season striker saw him miss, and Cambridge subsequently go down the other end and score. Key moments change games in live play – and only the players can change that.

I’m not just talking about last night, key moments of not concentrating and making school boy mistakes have cost us defeats against Leyton Orient, Exeter and Crawley this season – whilst 90% of the same mistakes made similar mistakes and errors under David Flitcroft, in failing spectacularly to secure automatic promotion last season.

The red card was a stupid one to pick up and was at the bare minimum going to cost us a goal, to the Stags credit they did enough to battle for the best part of 25 minutes to keep it 0-0.

Again to the managers’ credit changes were made to try and get back into the game and had Cook buried that cast iron goal, I actually think Mansfield might have gone on and nicked a win as mad as it sounds – but another key moment goes astray and within seconds, Cambridge use their advantage to score, fair play to them in getting four easy goals – it’s never nice to be on the receiving end of that.

Supporters are entitled to an opinion, it’s part of the game, I do however feel there is a line – telling the manager to “F off and die” is hardly going to make him want to improve the team, football managers and footballers are PEOPLE, just like you and me.

I watched the post-match interview with a lump in my throat if I’m being honest, I saw a man whose given everything to this club as a player, captain and academy coach look lost, broken and shattered – and that’s not a nice place to be, trust me.

Any comments I make about players, managers, coaches etc past, present or future are my own comments, but are made based solely on football and the decisions they make which effect the result and form – anyone making needless abusive comments like the one referenced by Dempster in his post-match, is a bully and should be ashamed.

Back now to reality, I really want the manager to be successful and I understand that takes time – he and the players need to unite to put out the fire before it is too late, if that means upsetting the apple cart and making radical changes then do it, because SOMETHING has to be done to turn this season around, because if I’m honest – I feel like we’re heading straight for the iceberg without any life boats on board, fortunately it’s further in the distance than many think and with a bit of work, we can steer away from it.

Let’s start that at Port Vale on Saturday, playing the way we did in the first half – with intensity and hunger, which with an added bit if composure and confidence, will see us be on the right end of a 4-0 score line, I honestly deep down believe that, BUT that work and commitment to each other from within the heart of the inferno HAS TO START NOW.

​Hurt. Angry. Defeated. Disappointed – chose whichever feeling you want to, and remember that people will quit and give up on you, you’ve got to wake up every day – and not give up, or quit, on yourself. 

match recap

John Dempster made three changes as Neal Bishop returned to the side after a lay-off, whilst Mal Benning also returned to line-up – replacing Mellis and MacDonald, whilst Omari Sterling-James was handed a start, replacing the injured Nicky Mayanrd.

John Dempster also tweaked the system, going from a 3-1-4-2 to a more attacking 3-4-3 – In summary the first half was the best we’ve  played all season, the second half was a vast contrast following the red card and is 45 minutes of football I never care to whiteness again – click here to read the clubs report if you REALLY want too!

FULL TIME: Mansfield Town 0-4 Cambridge United | Attendance 3,567 (181)

STAGS: [3-4-3] Conrad Logan | Matt Preston [SENT OFF 49], Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney | Kellan Gordon (Otis Khan 86), Neal Bishop, Conor Shaughnessy, Mal Benning (Andy Cook 81) | Omari Sterling-James (Alex MacDonald 75), Danny Rose, CJ Hamilton Unused Subs: Aidan Stone, Alistair Smith, Jacob Mellis Dapo Afolayan

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