Mansfield Town slip to defeat at on-form Bradford City

Mansfield Town were beaten 1-0 at Valley Parade.

Returning Danny Rowe bagged the only goal of the game as the hosts made it five wins on the spin.

The Stags have worryingly picked up just five points from a possible 21 after going eight games unbeaten.

And their defeat was compounded by skipper Ollie Clarke being sent off late on at Valley Parade.

Clough kept the same side that got the Stags back to winning ways on Saturday against Morecambe.

Jason Law almost made it the perfect start for the visitors as his curling effort hit the post.

Down the other end, Callum Cooke dragged a shot wide as the hosts started to gain a foothold.

And Rowe marked his return for the Bantams, replacing Mansfield loanee Andy Cook who was ineligible against his parent club, as he fired home after Niall Canavan knocked Elliot Watt’s free-kick into his path in the 32nd minute.

Stags’ stopper Aidan Stone barely had to move to catch Rowe’s free-kick.

The Stags were let off as another delicious Watt delivery was headed over by Paudie O’Connor at the back post on the stroke of half time.

After the break Stone produced a fine save to tip Rowe’s powerful strike over the bar.

Home defender Connor Wood was booked for simulation in the box.

Stephen Quinn had a sight at goal for the visitors, but could only fire tamely at Sam Hornby.

The Stags piled on the pressure, but Mark Trueman’s side fought for their lives to ensure they clung on to all three points.

And Stone kept the visitors in with a chance of nicking a late point when he superbly tipped Cooke’s strike past the post.

Stone was once again called upon to keep out substitute Clayton Donaldson’s header.

Farrend Rawson missed a great chance to steal a point right at the death as he glanced Law’s corner wide at the front post.

And the Stags ended with ten when Clarke caught Wood with an elbow deep in stoppage time.

Bradford: Hornby, P.O'Connor, A.O'Connor, Canavan, Wood, Sutton, Watt, Vernam (Stevens, 77), Cooke (Cousin-Dawson, 90+3), Crankshaw (Clarke, 55), Rowe (Donaldson, 77).

Unused subs: O'Donnell, Scales, Burrell.

Mansfield: Stone, Gordon, Rawson, Sweeney, Benning, Clarke, Maris (Charsley, 20), Quinn (Sinclair, 86), Law, Reid, Bowery.

Unused subs: Stech, O'Keeffe, Clarke, Wright, Perch.

Referee: Paul Howard (London)