Mansfield Town fall to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers

Mansfield Town faced Blackburn Rovers with the Stags hoping to continue a strong start at home in all their pre-season friendlies up to now.

There was little to split both sides during the opening stages with both sides looking to retain possession and looked to create a chance to score and it was Blackburn who saw their chance first.

In the tenth minute a low, driven cross made its way to the far post where Preston, unable to do any less, inadvertently turned the ball over the goal line.

Rovers were soon at the hosts’ throats yet again when they broke from a counter through Dan Butterworth who forced Conrad Logan to make a great save.

The Stags wanted a quick response though, and Jacob Mellis could have provided just that when his half-volley arrowed off target.

Alex MacDonald then found himself on the end of a neat passing move; however, his thunderous strike was well blocked by Joe Rankin-Costello.

Heading towards the half-time whistle, Trialist A’s first touch allowed him room for a strike, but his miscued shot went well away from Andy Fisher’s goal.

It meant the Sky Bet Championship side took a narrow one-goal cushion heading into the second period.

Blackburn doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart through Buckley who charged down Pearce, who was unaware of his presence, to retrieve possession in a dangerous area and slotted into the bottom right corner.

The Mansfield skipper, determined to make amends, atoned for his mistake just a minute later.

He swivelled on the spot and lashed a powerful strike beyond the reach of Fisher to halve the deficit in front of the travelling supporters in the North Stand.

Mansfield were soon awarded a set-piece in dangerous territory with Otis Khan beating Fisher, but hitting the post.

With five minutes to go, substitute Armstrong found space behind the Stags’ defence with a clever run, which was finished off as he tucked the ball beyond Aidan Stone.

Mansfield will face Sky Bet Championship opposition once again this Saturday as they take on Hull City at the One Call Stadium.

Mansfield Town First-half XI: Conrad Logan, Matt Preston, Krystian Pearce ©, Ryan Sweeney, Trialist A, Alex MacDonald, Neal Bishop, CJ Hamilton, Jacob Mellis, Nicky Maynard, Andy Cook.

Mansfield Town Second-half XI: Conrad Logan (Aidan Stone 78’), Matt Preston (Alistair Smith 78’), KrystianPearce ©, Ryan Sweeney (Lewis Gibbens 78’), Hayden White, Willem Tomlinson (Omari Sterling-James 76’), Mal Benning, Trialist B, Trialist C, Otis Khan, Danny Rose.

BLACKBURN XI: Andy Fisher (GK), Joe Rankin-Costello, Sam Hart, Richard Smallwood © (Stewart Downing 64’), Joe Rothwell (Adam Armstrong 64’), Lewis Travis, Daniel Butterworth, Joe Grayson, John Buckley, Ben Brereton, Tyler Magloire.