MATCH REPORT: Danny Rose the hero as Mansfield Town secure vital points in home win over Newport County

Danny Rose's 11th goal of the season proved enough for struggling Mansfield Town to secure three vital points in today's 1-0 windswept home win over Newport County.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

In a game of few chances, wrecked by the powerful wind of Storm Dennis and a ran-sodden pitch, Rose pounced on 29 minutes and, with Stevenage losing at home home, extended the gap to the drop zone to 13 points.

Newport huffed and puffed in a scrappy second half but failed to test Aidan Stone, who marked his first ever Football league game with a clean sheet.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was only new boss Graham Coughlan's third win in his 13 games in charge and left shot-shy Newport without a goal in 416 minutes of EFL football.

Mansfield's Danny Rose (r) celebrates his goal with Harry CharsleyMansfield's Danny Rose (r) celebrates his goal with Harry Charsley
Mansfield's Danny Rose (r) celebrates his goal with Harry Charsley

The Stags side saw three changes with one enforced as Riley missed out with a strain, White returning to the side.

In goal Stone was given his Football League debut as Olejnik dropped to the bench while Charsley came in for Benning.

Injury-hit Newport were only able to name five subs, which included ex-Stags loanee Howkins.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stags made hard work of clearing a Newport corner in the opening minute in the testing conditions.

Then Demetriou was wide from 30 yards as the visitors kept the pressure on.

Rose needed treatment for taking a high boot to the head in the box, but nothing was given by the referee.

On 10 minutes Green was high and wide on the turn from 20 yards and then Gorman too high from a similar distance from a half-cleared throw.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stags finally forced a couple of corners, the second of which saw Newport break menacingly after Charsley miscued a clearance, but Mansfield survived the scare as men got back quickly.

Mansfield were struggling to get into their stride in the conditions. But they swept ahead on 29 minutes.

Demetriou mis-kicked in the middle of the park and Maynard raced away with the loose ball. His eventual shot was blocked but the ball rolled back to Rose who buried a crisp, low finish from 16 yards.

On 40 minutes Rose fired straight at King from 25 yards as the home side began to enjoy more possession and soon after that he scuffed a first time at the keeper after good work on the right by White.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

King was then down on 45 minutes to grab Maynard's shot on the turn as Stags went into half-time in control.

Inniss saw the game's first yellow card for a late challenge on Tomlinson on 49 minutes, but Tomlinson was well over with the free kick.

When Newport struggled to clear a Tomlinson free kick, Pearce eventually forced King down to make a save on 57 minutes.

On 61 minutes Hamilton swapped passes with Tomlinson to get down the left before crossing for Rose to force King to save at full length to his right.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A minute later the home side had a let-off as Matt fended off defenders back to goal before cueing up Gorman for a low finish wide of the left post.

Charsley was added to the book for a foul on 72 minutes and Dolan followed him on 82 minutes for bringing down Charsley.

Tempers rose on 90 minutes as Bishop went down off the ball after a clash with Labadie, but no cards were shown.

Nerves again jangled with five minutes added and home fans raised the noise level to try to see their side home, Stags surviving a corner in a sixth additional minute before the whistle brought huge celebrations.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

STAGS: Stone; Sweeney, Pearce, Watts; White, Charsley, Tomlinson, Bishop, Hamilton; Maynard, Rose. Subs: Olejnik, Benning, Preston, Davies, Evans, Clarke, Knowles.

NEWPORT: King, Labadie, Gorman (Dolan 78), Willmott, Amond, Abrahams (Collins HT), Bennett, Waters (Matt 58), Inniss, Demetriou, Green. Subs: Howkins, Woodiwiss.

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone of Northamptonshire.

ATTENDANCE: 3,653 (111 away).CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Danny Rose.