Defensive incapabilities sees Mansfield Town fall to a 3-0 defeat against Cambridge United

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Mansfield Town were defeated for the second time in a matter of four days as the defensively fragile side lost 3-0 at the hands of league leaders, Cambridge United.

Six goals conceded in the space of two matches is simply unacceptable and the amber and blues must lift themselves and begin to get the basics right if they are to get back to winning ways.

In the Stags’ five-match winning run, they only conceded five goals and were able to keep two clean sheets in that time.

Since the break that they have had due to postponements, they have gone four matches without keeping a clean sheet and have only managed two points out of a possible 12 whilst also conceding nine goals.

In the Cambridge match, the defensive unit for the hosts looked good with plenty of communication between the back-line helped them along as they kept compact and resolute against the league leaders.

Mansfield experienced three defensive worries in the first 45 minutes. The first came when Harrison Dunk used his pace against James Perch and was able to breeze past the full-back and cross the ball into the back, but luckily Stephen McLaughlin was fouled and the danger was averted.

The second came when Adam May delivered a ball into the box with Joe Ironaide heading the ball into the back of the net, but it was disallowed due to a foul on Ferrand Rawson.

Finally, Wes Hoolahan was able to have a shot on goal which was saved by Aidan Stone. None of the defenders were marking the veteran midfielder which definitely sent warning signs throughout their minds.

In the second-half, those defensive incapability’s were found out by Cambridge as they made a swift start and proved why they are the League Two leaders.

The U’s found a way through down the right side. The positioning of the back-line for the Stags went out the window as the visitors broke through at speed.

Perch was indecisive whether to trackback or to go and chance Dunk with the full-back delivering the ball to Paul Mullin with the forward tapping the ball into the back of the net as he was wide open in the middle of the penalty area.

Eight minutes later, the defence collapsed once more as Mullin was able to score his second of the afternoon from a tight angle. As the cross came in the striker was not closed down by any of the Stags players and was able to squeeze his shot from a tight angle to double the lead for his side.

The heads went down and nothing went for the Stags when they were going forward. Either shots would get blocked or they were not able to connect with the shots cleanly enough.

In added-time, Harvey Knibbs was able to score the third for Cambridge as they made the Stags pay. The U’s had three shots on target and converted them all as they showed the amber and blues what they need to do whether they want to compete with the leagues best.

With the Stags desperate for a win, they’d be hoping that they can start to get the basics correctly and to put their mistakes behind them.

A match away at Harrogate during midweek will be another test that Mansfield Town need to show their resilience, togetherness and work ethic and prove that these defeats are only a blip in what has been a resurgence since the appointment of Nigel Clough.

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