Stags cause cup upset again as they beat Sunderland to advance through to the Second Round of the FA Cup

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Mansfield Town rocked Sunderland again in the FA Cup as Rhys Oates’ early goal saw the amber and blues progress into the next round of the competition.

Nigel Clough’s men held onto their lead for the duration of the 90 minutes as they restricted their hosts and recorded back-to-back victories.

The Stags lined up with Nathan Bishop in goal, a back four of Elliott Hewitt, full debutant John-Joe O’Toole, Oli Hawkins and Stephen McLaughlin. Harry Charsley, Ollie Clarke, Stephen Quinn, George Maris and George Lapslie made up a midfield five with Rhys Oates deployed as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

Mansfield started the game brightly and were already in front after five minutes. Charsley closed down Sunderland goalkeeper Lee Burge as the ball fell to Oates just outside of the box. The forward composed himself before seeing his effort hit the post and end up in the back of the net.

Lee Johnson’s men looked for an immediate response. After a Stags’ penalty was waved away by the referee, Leon Dajaku had a chance in the 15th minute. However, the Union Berlin loanee failed to keep his effort down as his header went over Bishop’s goal.

Just before the half-hour mark, Mansfield had a brilliant chance to double their lead. Lapslie played a brilliant through ball to Charsley who dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post.

A series of free-kick from both sides were unable to trouble either Bishop or Burge as the first half went on and the Stags continued to hold their one-goal advantage.

The hosts had a brilliant chance to draw level after Nathan Broadhead’s header. Dajaku did brilliantly to skip past both McLaughlin and Quinn as he made his way into the box. Sunderland’s number seven found Broadhead in the box but his effort was well saved by Bishop.

Up the other end, Lapslie had an effort deflected over the crossbar with the subsequent corner resulting in Hawkins hitting the bar after a headed effort.

From the restart, Sunderland made four changes as they brought on Carl Winchester, Alex Pritchard, Callum Doyle and Lynden Gooch.

Dan Neil went close to the equaliser for the Black Cats as the hosts looked to pile on the pressure. Gooch picked out the young midfielder who fired his volley wide of the target.

In the 58th minute, Charsley was able to float a cross into Quinn but the midfielder failed to keep his effort down.

The hosts continued to search for an equaliser as they saw another headed opportunity go over the bar and not trouble Bishop.

With eight minutes to go, Corry Evans was left unmarked and had the chance to level the game up. However, Hewitt was there in the nick of time to block the effort from going goalwards and denied Evans a definite goal.

In added time of the second half, Neil connected with another volley, but unfortunately for the midfielder, it cannoned off the crossbar and back into play.

Mansfield were able to hold onto their slender 1-0 lead as they advance into the next round of the FA Cup. The amber and blues now turn their attentions to the Papa John’s Trophy as they take on Newcastle United’s under-21s before their away trip to Stevenage next weekend.

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