Mansfield Town 1 v Crawley Town 0 - EFL League 2

Tuesday 15th January 2019

SkyBet EFL League Two

at Field Mill (the One Call Stadium)

Mansfield Town (0) 1
Tyler Walker 88

Crawley Town (0) 0
Attendance: 3,739 (inc. 24 away fans)

A rescheduled fixture, after the initial game was called off less than a hour and a half before the scheduled kick off time, on the original date of November 27th, because an absolute deluge of rain had caused the Field Mill pitch to become waterlogged.
Of course, social media and the online forums were soon full of people pouring scorn on the 'excuses (AKA genuine reasons) that the game was being called off and suggesting that it was down to the Stags not having enough fit players to fulfill the game.

But those guesstimated theories, were well wide of the mark; it was the match referee's decision that the game didn't go ahead, after he took the standing water, both on and around the playing surface into consideration, along with the fact that the precipitation was unrelenting and the local weather forecast looked pretty grim for the rest of the night too.
Match officials don't take sick-note's into account when making these sorts of decisions, but tittle-tattle, conspiracy theories and uninformed bullshit gossip are the lifeblood of internet chat-rooms... and blogs!

So, what of tonight's game? Well forgive me if I'm not bouncing around like Tigger the Tiger with excitement about the Stags overall performance, but I reckon that the Field Mill faithful can file this one under the heading: "A win is a win".
Because, without being overly critical, David Flitcroft's side showed a lot of fortitude and strength of character to grind out this result and take all three points, to preserve their place in top three of League 2.

Palmer shoots, Palmer scor... oh hang on. The referee
has blown up for Tom Dallison's foul. Unlucky Ollie!

And regardless of what the purists might say, a win is far more important at this crunch time of the season, than putting on an entertaining and convincing all out attacking display, against seventeenth placed Crawley Town, who proved to be very stubborn opponents over the whole of the ninety minutes... and can be entitled feel to feel aggrieved that they didn't get at least a draw on the night.

However, there were plenty of plus points for Mansfield to draw on, not least the way that the two debutants Nicky Ajose (who was a whisker away from scoring at the start of both halves... and comes in on loan from Charlton Athletic) and Jorge Grant slotted straight into the side, with the latter in particular putting in a man of the match performance, during which he linked up almost telepathically with Neil Bishop time after time and was always keen to add his input to set piece situations, as well as covering a lot of distance for the Stags cause.

Through the medium of social media, Notts County fans have been going into meltdown over the fact that Grant has joined Mansfield on loan from Nottingham Forest), after he had turned out for them last season, while Chesterfield supporters seemed keen to have a dig that only 3,739 (inc. 24 away fans) paying spectators turned out to watch the game. Might I politely suggest, that they should be more concerned with matters pertaining to their own teams and while they are pouring through the stats looking for any minutiae to level at their promotion chasing neighbours, pause for a moment and pay attention to the the league (and non league) tables and results/current form, then go and find a corner to have a good cry in.

Former Stags player Ollie Palmer had a goal ruled out during the first half, after Tom Dallison had fouled both Mal Benning and Krystian Pearce in the build up.

Palmer put in more effort over the course of the game than he had done in total throughout the whole length of his stay at Field Mill... and to be fair the parting of the ways was mutually beneficial to both parties. The player was struggling with his fitness while he was with tonight's home side and his input suffered as a consequence. Crawley is approximately 147 miles from Mansfield, so in retrospect, it's probably the best place for him all told. He does have people who can sympathise with his plight while he was at the Stags, but I can count them on my thumbs... and I'm most certainly not among that number.

It's been announced this week, that Tyler Walker is extending his loan spell from Forest until the end of the season, so it was fitting that he should weigh in with the winning goal late in the game. 

Palmer had a decent chance to win the game for Crawley cleared and the home side counter attacked quickly; Haydn White was flattened out on the right flank but the referee waved 'play on'... however as White got back to his feet the ball rolled towards him, allowing the Stags number two to burst towards the dead ball line and cut the ball back for Walker, who squeezed it in by the near post... the very same post that Mark Connolly had headed against in the first half, when he looked odds on to give Crawley the lead.... fine margins, eh!?

FT: Mansfield Town 1 v Crawley Town 0

The Stags travel to fifth placed Colchester United on Saturday, while Crawley have a home game against struggling Port Vale, which, if they put in as much effort as they did tonight, they ought to win.

The signs were there it times against Crawley that once the newcomers gel properly into David Flitcroft's side, they're potentially looking like very astute signings, as Mansfield look to finish the season on a high note.