James Perch: Experienced defender leads the Stags to a fantastic point against Forest Green

The ex-Premier League defender showed his class by putting his body on the line and helping Mansfield Town to a very welcome point after a 0-0 draw against Forest Green.

James Perch has had a long and illustrious career ranging from top-flight football to League Two action, spanning 17 years.

Born in Mansfield, the defender/defensive midfielder began his professional career at Nottingham Forest. His first season with the Reds saw them relegated down to League One.

The first season in the third tier saw Perch make 38 appearances for Forest with the club narrowly avoiding the Play-Offs.

Perch played all 46 matches of the 2006/07 campaign but the Reds were unable to get promoted via the Play-Offs after finishing fourth that season.

It would be third time lucky for Forest and for the defensively-minded player as he only managed 30 games but the Nottinghamshire club were promoted as League One Runners-Up.

The then 23-year-old played plenty of matches the season the Reds went back up but the season after in the 2009/10 season his appearances were limited and he had enough as he moved to Newcastle United for £1 million in July 2010.

After impressing in the Reserve League for the Toon, Perch was able to make 15 appearances in the Premier League that season, going onto make a further 53 in the two seasons that followed.

Also to point out, Newcastle made it to the Europa League, in which Perch made nine appearances, with the northern club getting knocked out by Benfica in the Quarter-Final.

A switch in July 2013 followed as Perch replaced Tyne and Wear with Greater Manchester and joined Wigan Athletic for around £700,000.

Two seasons for the Tics followed as he played Europa League football whilst in the Championship due to his side winning the FA Cup the season before he joined.

Another move followed to fellow second division side, Queens Park Rangers, as Perch spent another two year spell before dropping down to League One with Scunthorpe United.

The Iron were relegated down to League Two in the defensive-minded player’s first season as he experienced the fourth division for the first time, meaning he had now played in all four English professional divisions.

This brings us to now as Perch joined the Stags in the summer of 2020 under Graham Coughlan. He would regularly start in midfield, but ever since Nigel Clough has joined the 35-year-old has become a sturdy centre-back.

A fantastic partnership has been formed between Ferrand Rawson and Perch as the experienced player steps into the frame instead of Ryan Sweeney.

In the first-half the Stags were under the cosh as Forest Green attacked and were relentless in their attempts to get the opener.

Odin Bailey had the first chance for the visitors in the opening 10 minutes as his free-kick was hit straight at the wall and one man, in particular, James Perch, as the defender took one for the team.

Rovers looked to create shooting chances but crosses that were put in were cleared away and blocks were made as Perch captained the team and helped the back-line immensely.

The skipper for the match had to make a timely intervention after making a mistake. The Mansfield-born player slid in and clipped his man on the halfway line, having to sprint back to get into position.

Whilst that was happening, the visitors moved the ball forward to Aaron Collins. The forward shaped to shoot but a timely tackle by the centre-half prevented any danger from happening.

Five minutes before the end of the half, Jamille Matt had a chance to direct a header goalwards but the Stags defence, with the leadership of Perch did well to put the forward off.

The second-half was widely in Mansfield’s favour as Clough’s men looked for a winner, but one pivotal moment could have completely changed the complexion of the game.

A cross came in from the wing, Matt rose, the defence looked to battle for the ball with the striker, but he was able to head the ball down and into the ground. The ball then bounced up and forced Aidan Stone to make a fantastic save which denied a goal.

Overall, both sides deserved a point from the fixture, it was a battle of two sides in very different places in the league table but both proved their class on the pitch.

James Perch will be hoping that he can help his side, whether he is the captain or not, to survive in the division and avoid another relegation in his career.

He commands the backline well, always being vocal, lifting morale and boosting confidence as he should being the oldest and most experienced player in the side.

A 0-0 satisfies both sides and with nine games to go for Mansfield Town, and 10 games to go for Forest Green both sides will be looking to take the positives out of this encounter and use them as fuel for the rest of their remaining games in the League Two season.

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