Nigel Clough gets off to winning start as Mansfield Town manager

Nigel Clough got off to the perfect start as Mansfield boss with a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe in the EFL Trophy.
Nigel Clough got off to a winning start as Mansfield Town bossNigel Clough got off to a winning start as Mansfield Town boss
Nigel Clough got off to a winning start as Mansfield Town boss

After ending their shocking 14-game winless start to the season in the FA Cup, Clough guided the Stags to a second straight victory.

Ryan Sweeney’s first goal in a year and Jamie Reid’s first goal for the club did the damage to ensure the club didn’t finish bottom of their group.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Olufela Olomola grabbed a late consolation with a stunning strike as sorry Scunthorpe finished bottom after their eighth straight defeat in all competitions.

The first real chance of the game fell to Sweeney as he saw his goal-bound header superbly tipped over the bar by Scunthorpe shot-stopper Rory Watson.

Down the other end Aidan Stone was indebted to the woodwork as Kevin van Veen’s free-kick hit the bar.

Sweeney gave the Stags the lead in the 34th minute as he headed home Tyrese Sinclair’s pinpoint cross.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This time it was the visitor’s turn to be frustrated by the furniture when Aaron O’Driscoll’s powerful strike smashed the crossbar.

Reid made it two on the stroke of half-time as a mistake from Myles Hippolyte left the striker a simple finish.

After the break Mason O’Malley fired a volley wide for the hosts.

The Stags almost went three up when Tyler Cordner came close to comically putting Jason Law’s cross into his own net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reid could have put the game to bed with 12 minutes left but his deflected effort fell kindly for stopper Watson.

Substitute Olomola stunned the Stags with a sublime 30-yard strike to half the deficit in the 79th minute.

Stone made a great reaction stop to deny Olomola a second.

And the Stags’ stopper was at it again to parry Emmanuel Onariase’s volley past the post to hold on to the points late on.

Scunthorpe: Watson, Onariase, Rowe (Hornshaw, 81), Cordner, O'Malley, Hippolyte, Dales, Beestin, Pugh, Loft (Olomola, 66), van Veen (Hallam, 45).Unused subs: Collins, Barks, Shrimpton, Jessop.Mansfield: Stone, J.Clarke, Menayese, Sweeney, O'Keeffe, Sinclair (Gordon, 87), O'Driscoll, Smith (O.Clarke, 73), Law, Cook, Reid (Caine, 88).Unused subs: Campbell, Charsley, Bowery.Referee: Sam Barrott

Related topics: