Mansfield Town slip to defeat at Carlisle United

Stags boss Nigel Clough suffered just his second defeat since taking over after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at high-fliers Carlisle United.
Carlisle v Mansfield TownCarlisle v Mansfield Town
Carlisle v Mansfield Town

Omari Patrick scored his first goal since September to end the Stags’ three-game unbeaten run in the league - their longest without a loss this season.

Clough’s charges remained just three points above the relegation zone in their bid to retain their Football League status.

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Chris Beech’s side extended their winning streak to four games and have impressively won eight of their nine league home games at Brunton Park this season.

Experienced manager Nigel Clough name an unchanged starting line-up after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town.

Striker Nicky Maynard, who scored the equalising penalty at the weekend, was replaced on the bench by Aaron O’Driscoll.

The Stags started brightly as Ollie Clarke fired wide from the edge of the box with the first real chance of the evening.

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The high-flying Cumbrians started to up the ante as they found their feet midway through the first half.

Down the other end Ryan Sweeney produced a superb piece of last-ditch defending to claw Joe Riley’s goal-bound effort off the line in the 15th minute.

George Lapslie forced shot-stopper Paul Farman into a super stop to tip his effort over the bar.

The Stags were broken down as Patrick opened the scoring six minutes before the break.

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The striker did well to bring down Jack Armer’s cross before squeezing his finish beneath Marek Stech for only his second goal of the campaign.

After the restart Lapslie saw an early effort blocked before Jordan Bowery’s strike was also thwarted by the hosts’ defence.

Just before the hour former Luton Town keeper Stech easily kept out Riley’s low drive.

Tempers boiled over as both sets of players came together after Clarke chopped down Josh Kayode.

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Patrick came close to a second after he opened up onto his right foot.

Carlisle: Farman, Anderton, Hayden, Armer, Bennett, Riley (Furman, 89), Guy, Mellish, Alessandra (Reilly, 90+4), Patrick (Toure, 79), Kayode.

Unused subs: Obiero, Hunt, Dixon, Dewhurst.

Mansfield: Stech, Benning, Sweeney, Rawson, Gordon, Clarke, Maris (Cook, 68), Lapslie, Charsley, Bowery, Reid (Sinclair, 79).

Unused subs: Stone, O'Keeffe, Menayese, McLaughlin, O'Driscoll.

Referee: Peter Wright (Lancashire)