Mansfield Town 2-3 Bradford City (EFL League Two) 21.08.21

Mansfield Town lost for the first time this season in a thrilling game at the One Call Stadium on Saturday but it was one that very much didn’t go the way that Manager Nigel Clough would have hoped for.

The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes through Paudie O’Connor but Oli Hawkins struck back eight minutes before half time to ensure the two sides went in at the interval all square.

Hawkins then put the Stags in to the lead on 52 minutes with his second of the match and third of the season but Charles Vernam levelled on 61 and when it all looked like heading for a draw, enter former Stags striker Andy Cook who only signed for the Bantams in the summer after an impressive spell on loan, he scored a late winner with just three minutes of normal time remaining, a goal to give the away side all three points.

After the game, Stags boss Nigel Clough was left angry, and frustrated, saying “We didn’t defend well enough. We’ve scored two goals at home, so we’re entitled to get something from the game and we didn’t.

“In the previous games, two goals have been enough, but they weren’t today as we defended so ineptly at times.”

One player to come out of the game with some credit, was forward Oli Hawkin’s who’s two volley’s were his second and third goals of the season since signing from Ipswich Town. Hawkins said after “I’m happy that I got two goals for myself but disappointed that those two goals didn’t contribute to three points.”

Fourth placed Stags next face Swindon on Saturday in a tricky away tie against a side third in the table, but level on points with Mansfield having seven from four matches played.

Mansfield Town: Bishop, Hewitt, Rawson, Perch, McLaughlin, Clarke (Sinclair 88), Maris (Stirk 50), Oates (Lapslie 72), Quinn, Johnson, Hawkins.

Bradford City: O’Donnell, Cousin-Dawson, O’Connor, Canavan, Ridehalgh, Watt (Evans 67), Songo’o, Vernam, Cooke (Crankshaw 83), Gillead, Cook.

Venue: Field Mill (6,058)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc a disappointing result against tough opposition for Mansfield.