My wife is taking the next Mansfield Town penalty, jokes Stags boss Steve Evans

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans joked his wife would be the next penalty taker for Mansfield Town after the Stags came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Carlisle United this afternoon '” but again squandered points with their third missed spot-kick of the season.
Carlisle United v Mansfield Town - Mansfield Town Assistant Manager Paul Raynor and Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans - Pic By James WilliamsonCarlisle United v Mansfield Town - Mansfield Town Assistant Manager Paul Raynor and Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans - Pic By James Williamson
Carlisle United v Mansfield Town - Mansfield Town Assistant Manager Paul Raynor and Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans - Pic By James Williamson

“The next penalty taker for Mansfield Town is my missus,” he said. “She has as much chance as any of the other lot. So Mrs Evans, if you are listening tonight, you are on the penalties.

“Basically we need to go back to the training ground for that one.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kane Hemmings was the guilty party on Saturday — seven days after Jimmy Spencer’s poor spot-kick was saved to deny the Stags an injury-time winner at home to Luton Town.

Hemmings’ well-struck penalty was also saved in the 51st minute as the Stags trailed to Hallam Hope’s 15th-minute finish.

Click HERE to read match report

Evans, who had harsh words to say to his players at the interval, added: “I wasn’t best pleased at half-time after we shot ourselves in the foot for their goal. It was very similar to last week and the same players were involved, which is disappointing.

“I will leave my debit card number for the tea cups. That is the first time this season that I have to wake a few up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But we finished the half-time talk with an inspirational talk. I talked about the supporters and how much they would be running about and trying to win if they were fortunate enough to wear the shirt.

“I think to be fair to the players they gave the fans a good second half. They saw a lot of action and a lot of good play.

“We said we would make changes early in the second half and that changed the game for us.

“We got the penalty and we could have died then (when it was missed). But we have got a group of players who are good characters and the substitutes have influenced it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Stags fought back again and were rewarded seven minutes later when deadline day signing Calum Butcher levelled with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, earning the point with a 25-yard strike.

Evans said: “It was a fantastic goal from a very gifted young player.

“We need to get him up to a (fitness) level very quickly. I thought he made a difference.

“After that the game could have gone either way. David Mirfin had a centre half’s attempt to finish when it came off his shin. It was a tap-in from four yards from a well-worked set-play.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We rode our luck a little bit when they had a ricochet that came back off the post and great strike from 30 yards.

“But if you look at the first half and our disappointment with it, it is a point we will take.

“I told (assistant manager) Paul Raynor at the end of the game that if we had beaten Luton last week this would have been a great point. But we don’t think it is tonight because we have not taken care of our home business.

“If it was just the second half we were unfortunate not to win the game. We missed a penalty and David had his big chance, but we will take the point and have a good week on the training ground and get ready for Grimsby.”

15th in League Two third draw just one defeat

deadline day signing

Hallam Hope gave Carlisle a 15th-minute advantage

25-yard

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Calum Butcher 58th-minute levelled with his first touch for the club after coming on as a substitute

51mins

third missed penalty this season and the second in successive Saturdays. A week after Jimmy Spencer’s spot-kick was saved to deny the Stags a last-gasp win against Lutton, Kane Hemmings’ effort was saved to deny the Stags an equaliser at Carlisle.

third draw in five matches