Mansfield Musings Newsletter 03/11/2023
Stags march on in the league but come unstuck in the cup
Stags battle past Walsall
Stags were not at their fluent best, but undoubtedly deserved a narrow victory over Walsall at the One Call Stadium, courtesy of a lateish winner from Joran Bowery.
Mansfield were unchanged from the side that won at Harrogate on Tuesday. One change on the bench: Cargill returned from suspension in place of McLaughlin. Former Stags Ryan Stirk and Danny Johnson started for The Saddlers.
There was an early threat from Walsall left back Liam Gordon, slaloming in his into the Stags area from inside his own half, there was a shout for a penalty but nothing given. At the other end, Ollie Clarke chested down and volleyed goalwards from inside the box but it was blocked. Nigel Clough was on top of his players in the early stages, handing out a few tongue lashings to those who were untidy in possession.
Mansfield took the lead after 16 minutes. Maris’s deep corner from the left was headed down by Flint. It hit defender Gordon and looped onto the bar. The keeper flapped it away to Akins who headed it forward, Keillor-Dunn headed goalwards from 3 yards. It was blocked on the line by Gordon, and Flint was first to the loose ball stabbing it into the net from a yard. Flint wheeled away in celebration, whilst Lucas Akins remained on the deck following a clash of heads with Okagbue. Akins eventually continued before being replaced ten minutes later. I tweeted at the time that he still appeared dazed when he was preparing to come back on so it was no surprise. James Gale came on in his place.
After 32 minutes, a free kick into the box from Reed from 32 yards out, was headed up by Gale, Clarke attacked the ball as it dropped down and headed towards goal but Donervon Daniels blocked it on the line.
A run forward from Danny Johnson after 35 minutes. It might have been the first time he touched the ball. He was booed by Stags fans. It was a decent run, but a poor lay off which was easily intercepted by Brunt.
After 36 minutes, a great chance as Macdonald’s low ball across the edge of the box was perfect for Maris, who was completely unmarked for a shot from 17 yards, but it was deflected wide by Liam Gordon.
Within a minute, on 37 minutes, Clarke nicked the ball away from Joe Riley on the touchline, Keillor-Dunn cut in from the left and from a tight angle fired in a good shot which the keeper pushed away. Good effort from Keillor-Dunn. Seconds later, Keillor-Dunn pulled back to Gale, whose shot was blocked.
Walsall had created next to nothing, but on 43 minutes the recovery speed of Jordan Bowery was required to prevent Danny Johnson getting in.
The Stags should have been 2-0 ahead after 45+4 minutes. Gale did brilliantly to win the ball off Daniels on the corner of the area on the right, he elected not to shoot, crossed low for Maris who laid off for Keillor-Dunn whose shot from 10 yards was blocked by Brandon Comley on the edge of the six yard box. Gale’s cross to Maris was behind him in and had too much power for a first time shot.
Mansfield went in to half time deservedly ahead. Lewis Brunt was replaced by Baily Cargill at the start of the second half, having picked up a yellow card in the first period.
The Stags picked up where they left off at the start of the second half. On 47 minutes, DKD showed fantastic footwork before pulling back for Lewis, who fired over the bar from 16 yards. Lewis has sent a few shots over the bar from great positions recently. Keillor-Dunn’s approach play was very similar to the goal he created for Maris at Harrgate. A few mintues later, DKD created time and space for himself inside the area again, but his shot was blocked.
Walsall equalised out of the blue after 52 minutes with their first and only shot on target of the entire game when former Stag Ryan Stirk fired in from 10 yards. Ross Tierney sent Knowles away to the byline on the right, Knowles pulled back across the area. Johnson had a free shot at goal from 9 yards and completely missed it. But it reached Stirk who trapped it and fired into the net from 8 yards. As the Walsall players celebrated in front of their fans in the North Stand, Johnson said something into Stirk’s ear, Johnson went to tie his shoelace, Stirk bent down but didn’t follow suit.
The away side were doing well in midfield, picking up second balls and playing with an intensity that Mansfield were unable to match for a short period.
Gale was booked for diving in the area after 59 minutes. Reed chipped a free kick from 45 yards into the area. Flint headed it across the edge of the area, Keillor-Dunn volleyed goalwards, it was blocked by Joe Riley, it ran loose and Gale went down as Tierney challenged for it. The referee immediately produced a yellow card for Gale. No protests from Stags players, apart from Gale himself, but it looked fair to me. A change from Mansfield after 63 minutes: Swan replaced Maris. Keillor-Dunn dropped back to attacking midfield.
The Stags had lost their way, but sparked back into life on 70 minutes. A great cross from Bowery from the right, it was in front of Gale and he couldn’t get anything on it as he went for it with his outstretched leg. Perhaps Gale could have done better.
Mansfield regained the lead after 71 minutes. Keillor-Dunn sent Swan away on the left towards the byline. Swan pulled it back across the box and Bowery ran on to it, and hit a first time side-footed left foot shot unmarked from 17 yards which seemed initially to be going wide but curled inwards and hit the inside of the left post before crossing the line behind the motionless keeper who must have thought it was going wide. A great finish from Bowery, to get it on target, not blaze over the bar or wide, as so many Stags shots have done this season, even though Bowery didn’t actually strike it as cleanly as he might have done, as he hit it into the ground.
Walsall had a shot a minute later as Stirk found Johnson who turned and shot and it was blocked wide by Flint. After that, the Stags created chances to make it more comfortable while Walsall created little or nothing and never looked like equalising. On 73 minutes, Lewis had a chance to set Keillor-Dunn through on goal but he overhit his pass.
Stirk was subbed after 82 minutes. Nigel Clough gestured to the Stags fans that they should applaud him off. He has always spoken highly or Stirk and it would not be a surprise to see him back here one day.
Fabulous play from Keillor-Dunn after 84 minutes as he ran rings around Comley and brought a good save from the keeper from 20 yards.
A great touch from Boateng to Swan on the left after 87 minutes, Swan surged forward towards the byline and pulled back to Boateng whose shot from 8 yards was blocked by Daniels when it looked a certain goal. Boateng put his head in his hands.
It had been hard fought, but Mansfield registered another win. Walsall were not the most dangerous team in terms of chance creation, but they certainly gave The Stags a fright for a short period in the second half.
Stags v Vale - Written by The Satirical Stag
Tuesday 31st October. Halloween 2023.
As the mist descended upon the hallowed turf of Field Mill, the faint outlines of men could be perceived, marching in unison to their awaiting fate for the evening. Our heroes, in shining Amber. Our foes, cutting a ghoulish figure in Black and White. A fitting palette.
The battle lines had been well and truly etched… An EFL Cup Quarter Final place, or our first defeat of the season?
Time, the wicked mistress that she is, would reveal all. As she always does.
Kick off was upon us.
If my dad had been there, and I had anything to tell him, the time was now long past. He'd be lost in the sight of the game for the next 2 hours. Transfixed. I could tell him I've been selected to be amongst the first to colonize Mars, all I'd hear back is "get a grip, Line-o!"
The early phases of the game bounced back and forth, neither team able to get a foothold on the match as we both sized each other up. We weren’t looking our usual self, perhaps nerves were setting in, but it fed the crowd, and back to the team and back again.
Vale were having the better of it early as Pym was called upon to answer probing questions. And we know our, Pymy... he answers... until he doesn't.
PV man Sang whipped one in from the right, leaving Arblaster to send a blaster against the post. Unmarked and right in front of goal. Our skin was saved, but how long for?
The Stags were riding their luck at times, and unfortunately that ride only had one final destination: "Defeat Town"
Break in play. Quick look over at the Bish. Yep, still there.
Following good play, we whipped in a lovely cross, which has become such a staple of our attacking intents this season, only for DKD to fizz a nasty little volley goalward, very well saved by Vales big pink keeper.
Before you know it we've hit the 40 minute mark. The minute where decisive decisions need to be made, by which I mean, it's time for tipples. To the Pate bar. Try my luck.
Shame everyone else has the same idea at the same time. Bunch of sheep. Can’t complain about traffic if you’re traffic. Baaaaah.
Walk past the queue of tourists and straight into an almost dormant queue to pick up the pints. Relief washes over me in an awesome wave.
Two quick pints later and we’re into the second half. Senses dulling.
Second half early doors and Port Vale advanced into empty space with relative ease and sent off a rocket that found it’s way into the back of the net, like Prime Oates, as Not Prime Oates watched on from his lovely warm bench spot.
StagZ 0
Vale 1
A disappointing goal to concede for The Mighty Stags, as Vale, in their opportunistic arc decided to take a little advantage of.
Given our xG this season (if you believe in that higgeldy piggeldy witch craft) it was a typically “us” goal to concede. Far sight of goal, have a pop, see where it ends up.
Sadly, we’re seeing it hit the back of the net rather than, say, right between the soulful little eyes of an adorable Guinea Pig in Pets At Home. Shame.
The Stags were huffing and puffing but they never quite managed to blow down the resilient house of Pork Vale.
(Yes, that was a “The 3 Little Pigs” reference. This must be how Stephen King feels when he knocks out an entire novel in an evening. You never know what you’re gonna get)
Break in play. Quick look over at the North Stand. Yep, still theirs.
The affair had become Nic Cagey and was at risk of slipping away from our heroes. Something needed to be done. I decided I needed to step up and do my bit. “Come on, lads!” I yelled aloud.
And would you believe it? Come on, they did.
3 subs on 59 minutes. Oates, Boateng and Gale. Good old, Galey, give em a gu, lad!
Had I just single-handedly reversed our fortunes? I felt the power of Gods as we surged forward.
Oatsey didn’t have a great deal of joy but had a try, Boateng is looking more and more like the player we originally signed, Gales doing Gale stuff. We’re badly missing Akins. He’s the thread that holds us all together. The proverbial glue.
We began to come back into it, looking for openings and testing the fences for weaknesses. But dear reader, I hear you ask yourself… “this is Halloween! Where is the spookiness? Where’s the fright? Where’s the horror?”
And, I hear you loud and clear. I really do.
In response to your ponderings I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the officiating of the Referee’s Assistant running the line in front of the West Stand Massive.
We’ve been cursed with some truly dreadful and absolutely criminal officiating in recent years and this evening was no exception. It was comfortably amongst the worst.
Regarding “THAT offside decision" ...
I'll save the hyperbole to someone else. Because let's be honest, absolutely everyone has had their 2 cents to chuck into the mix.
I’m yet to wade through the rage and confusion of it all in social media posts, not that id particularly care to; did the assistant *actually* give an offside? From my memory, their flag waving doesn't suggest so. It also didn't indicate that of a foul being given. The whole situation was quite a farce.
At this point I had been hoping Martin Shaw would have given us his match report so I could copy... no such luck just yet.
If it emerges that it was infact given as an offside. Let the history books on Substack know the truth. It was like, 20 yards on side. The annals of history must be preserved.
Back to the match itself.
As we pushed for that elusive equalizer, Flinty finds himself drifting up top once again, this time potentially... almost certainly for the duration of the match.
Strikers in defence? Defenders in attack? Cats and Dogs living together, mass hysteria! We bloody love it, don't we?
That sweet little spot where other teams and their pundits begin to question the sanity of Cloughy and we just smile and nod, eyes glazed in adoration and anticipation.
However, as it all unfolded, reality began to set in, slipping it's fingers around my neck. But not in a hot way. In like... a crap way.
“it dies today” I said aloud, as the realization of the situation fully set in.
The final whistle blew. And there it goes. Our lovely little record, scattered to the winds like ashes in a blizzard.
I'd summarize further but it's not my blog. Its not my job. I'm not even getting paid. Onto Saturday. Up the Stags.
Cheers MM for asking for the guest piece. I'll put out a new fanzine at some point in the future, I promise.
Wrexham (H) - Fan Preview
Answers this week are provided by Nathan Salt of the RobRyanRed Podcast (@RobRyanRed)
What were your expectations for the season and have they changed since opening day? Most Wrexham fans, if they are being honest, would say finishing in the top seven has long been seen as the target for the season. We both had ourselves in the top 3 and we have not changed our mind on that with what we have seen so far. Yes, there have been ropey moments, Stockport away and MK Dons at home the glaring ones. But there have also been moments of real quality, such as the recent win away to Notts County. It's a marathon not a sprint.
How would you rate your summer business? Phil Parkinson and his staff made a number of very shrewd additions, such as George Evans, James McClean and Arthur Okonkwo, who has been a revelation for us on loan from Arsenal. Steven Fletcher was a shrewd free transfer and has had an impact but knee surgery this week will resign him to the physio table for the foreseeable future. The failed £500,000 pursuit of Luke Armstrong was somewhat embarrassing for the club but it looks to have been a blessing in disguise given Fletcher's contribution to date.
How have you performed so far? It's been mixed in spells but we have only lost two games and are inside the top three at the start of November. The win over Notts County felt like a big step forward and now the test will be how can we deal with Mansfield, having only just faced you. We struggled that night to carve out many opportunities and while rotation is expected, it will be interesting to see how well we size up for round two.
Thoughts on your manager Phil Parkinson? He's been absolutely brilliant for us. It's not easy juggling the size of the squad, egos in the dressing room, the demands of the documentary team while also steering us onto a path for a double promotion. A cool head among the hysteria is exactly the type of manager we need and he's been perfect for that.
What formation should we expect? 3-5-2. It's what Parkinson always uses and that won't change this weekend.
Who will likely catch the eye for Wrexham at the weekend? Sam Dalby is rapidly improving but should he get an opportunity, Jake Bickerstaff is one to watch. The youngster has had to be patient for his opportunities in attack but Fletcher's injury, coupled with rotation, could see him break in. He loves running in behind and is a pest chasing down defenders with his boundless energy. Outside of Bickerstaff, keep your eyes on Jordan Davies. The local lad is a magician with the ball at his feet.
Score Prediction? Mansfield 1-2 Wrexham
Definitely better to lose to the Burslem bandits than Walsall . Boro at home? Wow, not. Same tomorrow v Disney+ FC. An FA Cup run could be nice, but not as nice as Promotion. Lets hope Macca and Oatesy get some minutes into their legs for the league battles ahead Come on you Stags
Always look forward to your Musings. Match results always fair.
Really loved the blog from The Satirical Stag. May well have skipped as have read so much about our 'decline' . So pleased I invested my time.
Views of away fans great feature. I note this week no comment about how we are regarded. Is this significant?
Please keep going