Stags Suffer Opening Day Defeat

Burton Albion 2-1 Mansfield Town (EFL League One) 02.08.2025

Decked in their new third strip, it was pretty much a new-look Stags side that feel to a narrow, opening day defeat, away to Burton Albion, on Saturday afternoon.

Six new signings started at the Pirelli Stadium, with two more coming on late in the second half as Nigel Clough’s charges fell to a narrow, 2-1 reverse, against his former, the hosts thankful for former Chelsea youngster, Charlie Webster, grabbing a brace.

The visitors could easily have been in-front inside the first minute, which no doubt would have changed the trajectory of the contest, Will Evans however seeing his scuffed effort claimed by home ‘keeper, Jordan Amissah.

That mishap buoyed the hosts and, midway through the half, it would be they who took the lead after some nice play from Kyran Lofthouse was played onto Webster, he proceeding to unleash a 25-yarder past Liam Roberts for the opener.

The same player doubled the hosts’ lead early in the second period when, following a lovely interchange with his teammate, Fabio Tavares, Webster again let fly, this time from the edge of the box and into Roberts’ bottom corner for a 2-0 lead.

Clough’s Stags had chances to reduce the deficit before they did so, the best chance falling to Rhys Oates, but his effort lopped onto the roof of the home goal; Stephen McLaughlin came on for Kyle McAdam just before the hour mark and it would be he who had a hand in Town’s goal.

With a little over ten minutes remaining McLaughlin put a teasing ball into the Albion box for Baily Cargill to head home at the back post, from close-range; another second half substitute, George Maris, headed over late on as the Stags failed to muster an equaliser.

It’s a home game next for Clough’s side, they welcoming Doncaster Rovers to the One Call Stadium on Saturday 9 August, before the League Cup kicks into action a week on Tuesday (12 August) as the Stags travel to Chesterfield.

Mansfield Town – Liam Roberts, Kyle Knowles, Regan Sweeney, Baily Cargill, Elliott Hewitt (Luke Bolton, 74), Louis Reed, Jamie McDonnell (Nathan Moriah-Welsh, 73), Regan Hendr\y (George Maris, 56), Kyle McAdam (Stephen McLaughlin, 56), Will Evans (Dom Dwyer, 73), Rhys Oates

Some standout results from the opening day in League One was Huddersfield Town’s 3-0 win at home to Leyton Orient, Barnsley winning 3-1 at Plymouth Argyle (Davis Keillor-Dunn with the decisive third) and Wigan Athletic seeing off visiting Northampton Town 3-1 (Fraser Murray with a debut double), whilst Stevenage won 3-2 at Blackpool (Jamie Reid at the double).