Stags Held By Bradford

Mansfield Town 0-0 Bradford City (EFL League Two) 02.09.23

Nigel Clough’s Stags stretched their unbeaten start to the 2023/23 campaign to eight games at the weekend, following a dour, goalless draw at home to Bradford City.

The point, the hosts’ fifth draw of the season to date, sees the Stags sitting in seventh places in table, just three points behind current leaders, Notts County, and two behind the joint-second pairing of MK Dons and Gillingham.

Goal-scoring opportunities were few-and-far between in the opening 45 minutes as Christy Pym (Mansfield) and his opposite number, Harry Lewis (Bradford) registered no saves of real note.

Clarke Odour gave Pym a routine inside twenty minutes, whilst at the other end a last-ditch challenge on Lewis Brunt prevented the on-loan player firing at Lewis, which was perhaps about it good as it got until the opening exchanges of the first.

Upon the restart however, Pym found himself immediately called into action when Tyler Smith snapped a half-volley goal-bound, the home shot-stopper getting down well to his right for the save; the opposing ‘keeper was finally called into action a little over ten minutes into the second period when saving well to his right, from Davis Keillor-Dunn, the Stags creative star looking for his sixth of the season.

The hosts had several chances in the closing, half-hour, in which to break the deadlock, but to no avail, Ollie Clarke firing wide, and Lucas Akins, looking for his fourth of the season, seeing his glancing header clip the base of the upright.

Meanwhile, at the other end, the visitors saw chances from Brad Halliday’s blocked effort, and Matt Derbyshire, who headed over twice in the closing stages, come to nothing; neither side able to produce a match-winning moment as they ‘settled’ for a goalless draw.

After consecutive draws, the Stags now face consecutive away games in the league when they travel first, to eighth place Accrington Stanley (9 September), then to third bottom Colchester United (16 September).

Scoring–wise, Davis Keillor-Dunn leads the way in the opening throes of the season, registering five goals and an assist in the opening eight outings; he’s followed, jointly, by Rhys Oates with three goals and two assists, and Lucas Akins with three goals.

Stags: Christy Pym, Jordan Bowery, Aden Flint, Lewis Brunt, Calum Macdonald, George Maris (Baily Cargill 89), Louis Reed, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Ollie Clarke (George Williams 80), Lucas Akins, Will Swan (Jason Gale 72).