County v Mansfield
With Carlisle hosting Stevenage this afternoon, Dave Challinor’s men have got to pick up all three points against the Stags to close the gap on one or possibly both of our automatic promotion rivals
Saturday 18 March 2023
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and any Mansfield supporters joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
If we win today, we’re definitely in the play-offs. There, I’ve said it. Although with Carlisle or Stevenage (or even both) definitely dropping points today, County can put real pressure on the top three with maximum points this afternoon. We’ve lost our last five games against Mansfield though…
Ahead of a must-win game for both sides, I’ve had a chat with Ian Brown, Jonathan Baker and Craig Priest.
Today’s edition is sponsored by SDS Aerials. A big thank you to Dylan and all the team. If you’ve ever thought of installing CCTV at your house, give him a call. Further details below.
Come on County!
Des Junior
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
Fortunately he’s got a number of County correspondents (plus a rival fan) to call upon, with Ian Brown, Jonathan Baker and Craig Priest sharing their thoughts ahead of 5th v 8th this afternoon.
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
County 2 Mansfield 0
What are your best and worst memories from previous games against Mansfield?
Best game and best win for me was the gritty 1-0 triumph at Edgeley Park in 2006-07 that kept Jim Gannon’s team on track for the nine-in-a-row Football League record. But they had a tough as teak Mansfield side to reckon with six games into that run and I recall it being a cracker of a match, one that could have gone either way.
Ashley Williams had a belter but Wayne Hennessey was also in terrific form throughout, keeping the record on the boil with a brilliant save early on as Mansfield set about wrecking County’s party.
But Anthony Elding steadied County nerves scoring a screamer from close range following a corner. We might have nicked another later in the first half when Anthony Pilkington was brought down inside the area but Adam Proudlock’s penalty was saved by the Mansfield keeper, with County hanging on for the rest of the half awaiting a reviving word from Jim at half-time.
Hennessey stepped up big time after the break with a clutch of outstanding saves in a second half fought at breakneck pace by two teams both of whom might easily have scored. Despite much effort, Mansfield didn’t, and the record was still on for County.
The worst was in March 2013 when County lost 4-1 at Field Mill.
The portents were not that good: Mansfield were in top form having rattled off six wins in succession prior to this match whereas for County the triumvirate of Snape, Fearn and McKnight had removed Jim Gannon as County manager earlier that season, thus starting our headlong dash into regional football.
Expectations were low going into this one and events truly matched expectation sadly with Town belying their well-established reputation for irritating muscularity with a thoroughly convincing display of close control and hard work that totally blew County away. Adam Chapman netted a hat-trick on his home debut for the Stags with Matt Green scoring the other.
County’s performance was limp in comparison - the midfield stretched, the defence constantly under pressure and the forwards nowhere!
But, Paul Marshall did score a rather good goal for County (a goal of the season candidate I remember saying) but he, like others, was otherwise absent from proceedings; the goal as good as it was, was too little too late. County had lost and deservedly so.
As for today I see County winning with some to spare. I have gone for 2-0 but would not be surprised if we doubled that tally!
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
County 2 Mansfield 2
I’ve said if we win today, we’re definitely in the play-offs. Am I right or wrong?
I think it's been a curious season this one, Des. If you wanted to, you could reflect there's been plenty to feel slightly underwhelmed by. We've struggled to put a run of decent performances together, even when we've been winning; have endured spells of faltering form featuring goal droughts and disruptive injuries to key individuals; the manager possibly still doesn't know what his best starting XI looks like; and the generally upbeat spirit among a support which began the season in a state of promotion-induced euphoria has been consistently undercut since September by a faint but tangible rolling grumble, bemoaning perceived shortfalls pertaining to everything from the naivety of our transfer window dealings to the range of real ales on sale in the Cheadle End courtyard.
And yet… here we are with the clocks about to go back (or is it forward, I can never remember), sitting pretty in the play-offs and beginning to indulge in talk of a late-campaign assault on the automatic promotion berths that, while clearly optimistic, can hardly be described as fanciful. I look at all of that, and then consider your question: does a win this afternoon make us near-certainties for the play-offs? Being entirely honest with you mate - I haven't got a bleeding clue! If you're going to absolutely demand an answer though... I've felt all along we're good for the play-offs, and that's still where I suspect we'll end up. Ask me again at ten to five this afternoon, and I might tell you something entirely different, of course.
Prediction for the game? We've scored and conceded one goal in the last four games, while Mansfield's results since the turn of the year include a 4-0, a 1-4, a 3-2 and a 2-5. Something's got to give. I'm going to plump for something in the middle of all that lot and predict a highish-scoring draw, 2-2.
Craig Priest, Mansfield Matters
County 1 Mansfield 1
It’s a tasty-looking 5th v 8th today. What’s your prediction?
Usually I’d be "I have to back us" but I’ll be honest, I don't know if we've actually got an 11 to start! We're beyond bare bones and are inconsistent to boot - yes the stats say we're in and around it, but there's been a nagging doubt getting louder and louder. How we didn't get smashed by Northampton in midweek is beyond me. I'll go for a very scrappy 1-1 draw.
Install CCTV at your house
County fans have got a fair bit of travelling to do as the League Two season comes to an end. Carlisle’s the only northern trip we have left. The others are all down south: Swindon, Sutton, Gillingham and Leyton Orient. As you spend hours away from home, give yourself a little extra peace of mind by having CCTV installed at your place.
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Give Dylan a call on 07761 671467 for further details.
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