Northampton Town 2-0 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 16.10.21

It was a load of old cobblers again for the sorry Stags of the moment as Nigel Clough’s men lost their sixth match of the season at Sixfields to stay dangerously close to the League Two relegation zone.

A bright start by Mansfield was dented by a goal for the home side on 23 minutes as full back Aaron McGowan struck his first Northampton goal since signing from Kilmarnock in the summer.

Mansfield tested Liam Roberts in the home team net as Hawkin’s headed straight at the former Walsall and Rainworth Miners Welfare goalkeeper.

In the second half Mansfield’s best opportunity came when Ollie Clarke was stopped by a superb challenge from McGowan.

On the hour, Cobblers striker Etete hit the crossbar for the homeside before Horsfall made it 2-0 with sixteen minutes remaining, in the dying minutes Mansfield thought they had a penalty after Lapslie was brought down, only for the decision to be overturned by the Referee’s assistant who adjudged the incident to have taken place outside the box, it seemed another of those days for Mansfield, of late there have been far too many.

No win in twelve now for Clough’s side in league and cup competition, the Manager saying after “The performance was bitterly disappointing and our endeavour to get a goal at any point during the game, we had the odd skirmish in their penalty area but nothing sustained.”

Clough continuing “I don’t think we got the hard sprinting and closing down, which is our bottom line.

“We’re extremely low on confidence and we’re losing games. We’re absolutely on the floor. It’s just confidence.”

The Stags will look to pick themselves up now at home to Port Vale on Tuesday night. A tough ask however as Vale are currently third in the division, midst the automatic promotion places.

Northampton Town: Roberts, McGowan, Horsfall, Guthrie, Koiki (Harriman 90), Sowerby, McWilliams, Hoskins, Lewis, Pinnock, Etete (Rose 79).

Mansfield Town: Bishop, J. Clarke, Rawson, Hewitt, McLaughlin (Burke 67), Charsley (Ward 46), Lapslie, O. Clarke, Bowery, Hawkins, Johnson (Oates 79).

Venue: Sixfields (6,034)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action from Sixfields as the Stags are beaten again.