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The Stags have turned their season around miraculously with a string of wins firing them into the top half of the League Two table and into the Third Round of the FA Cup.
Mansfield Town’s confidence and swagger has made a welcomed return as they chase down a positive second half of the season and potential promotion to League One.
Three Key Games
Mansfield Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers – August 7th 2021
After a fantastic end to the 2020/21 season, that saw the Stags fend off any threat of relegation, the amber and blues looked to start the new campaign with a victory against Bristol Rovers in front of the home support, who finally returned to the stands at the One Call Stadium.
Nigel Clough’s side broke the deadlock three minutes before the end of the first half. Stephen McLaughlin’s short corner found Ollie Clarke who passed the ball back to the full-back. His brilliant cross found the leaping Oli Hawkins as the forward found the back of the net to give Mansfield the advantage at the interval.
The Gas levelled the game up at 1-1 in the 63rd minute. A poor headed clearance from George Maris floated into the path of Cian Harries, whose first-time volley from outside of the box, sensationally beat Nathan Bishop.
With 13 minutes of the contest to go, Rovers captain Paul Coutts and Stags forward Danny Johnson got into an altercation which saw the former sent off for hitting Mansfield’s number 11 in the face.
The summer signing had the last laugh as the amber and blues were awarded a penalty in the dying embers of the game. Following a McLaughlin corner, goalscorer Hawkins was held back inside the box which saw the referee point to the spot. Johnson stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Anssi Jaakkola the wrong way to seal the win for the Stags.
It was a perfect way to start off the season after dominating large parts of the game. The two summer signings, Johnson and Hawkins, opened their league accounts for the amber and blues and it felt like this could be a new beginning for Mansfield Town.
Mansfield Town 2-0 Tranmere Rovers – October 30th 2021
Following two back-to-back league wins at the start of the season, the Stags went on an abysmal 14-game winless run in all competitions.
However, that run of form would come to an end as the amber and blues comfortably beat Tranmere Rovers 2-0 at the One Call Stadium.
It all started positively for Mansfield as they earned a penalty in the first two minutes of the match. Rhys Oates was brought down and Johnson stepped up to take another spot-kick. However, his effort from 12 yards sailed high and wide with the travelling Tranmere fans celebrating the forward’s miss.
Moments later, the visitors thought they had taken the lead through Sam Foley’s simple tap-in but the midfielder was flagged offside.
On the 18th minute mark, the Stags finally found the breakthrough. A fantastic ball from Stephen Quinn found the on-running Oates who slotted the ball into the back of the net with ease.
The goalscoring forward turned provider in the second half as his brilliant trickery saw him set up Johnson for Mansfield’s second goal.
Clough’s men finally got back to winning ways and did not look back after that fine victory in NG18.
Mansfield Town 3-2 Hartlepool United – December 26th 2021
A Boxing Day comeback against Hartlepool United, amidst a COVID-19 outbreak at the club, capped the year off perfectly for Mansfield Town.
With the Stags pilling on the pressure, it was the Pools who took the lead against the run of play. Matty Daly’s pullback found Luke Molyneux as he side-footed the ball in to give Hartlepool the advantage.
Inside the first five minutes of the second half, the visitors went 2-0 up. A free-kick played into the Stags’ box was caught by shot-stopper Bishop only for him to drop the ball and make a vital save. The subsequent clearance went only as far as Nicky Featherstone whose effort from outside the box hit the back of the net.
It only took the home side four minutes to halve the deficit. A brilliant corner from Maris was nodded in by John-Joe O’Toole to make the home fans believe again.
The leveller came after the hour-mark as Elliott Hewitt’s cross found Jordan Bowery with the forward’s header beating Ben Killip to square the game up at 2-2.
Clough’s men completed the comeback in the 64th minute which sent the home fans crazy. Maris’ corner was cleared away to Jason Law as the youngster passed the ball back to the midfielder. His shot/cross made its way through a sea of bodies and into the goal to put Mansfield into a 3-2 lead.
Hartlepool thought they had equalised in the dying embers of the game through Gavan Holohan but he was adjudged offside by the linesmen.
A win, three more points and a fantastic victory perfectly capped off the Stags’ year as they ended 2021 with a fantastic result at home.
Star Player – John-Joe O’Toole
Since signing in October as a free agent, John-Joe O’Toole has been one of the amber and blues’ best performers so far this season.
On his first start, he scored the equaliser in the game against Newcastle United’s under-21s. The versatile player then notched his first league goal the Stags as he opened the scoring in their 2-1 win against Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium.
Important goals, crucial blocks and giving everything for the 90 minutes have made O’Toole a real fan favourite with the fans.
As his contract comes to an end soon, Clough needs to tie his experienced defender/midfielder to a longer deal with Mansfield’s number 35 simply irreplaceable.
Underperforming Player – Richard Nartey
The ex-Chelsea youth player has only made two appearances for Mansfield Town before picking up an injury that has seen him sidelined for the last few months.
In the two games he played against Harrogate Town and Walsall, the amber and blues conceded a combined total of six goals with the young defender making some simple mistakes.
The loan has not been the best for the 23-year-old, but with the Burnley defender’s loan ending in May, he may well still play a part in a possible promotion push.
What’s Next?
After fending off any relegation threats early on in the season, the Stags are looking up rather than down with the play-off places there for the taking.
Mansfield have also been on fantastic form, winning 10 out of the last 11 games in all competitions. That run needs to continue as victories breed confidence and that has been evident so far this term.
COVID-19, injuries and suspensions have all played a part in the amber and blues’ mixed season so far, but one thing is certain, Clough’s side will fight until the end no matter what.
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