Early Christmas Present For The Stags As They Cruise To A Comfortable 2-0 Win Over Strrugling Sutton United
Mansfield Town were once again successful on the road as a dominant display from the Stags saw them achieve a 2-0 win against Sutton United, their first victory over the Us since their promotion to the EFL in 2021.
Nigel Clough’s Stags looked to get another away win on the board heading into the Christmas period as they chased down the top three with only a point separating Barrow in second, Wrexham in third and Mansfield Town in fourth.
A quarter-of-an-hour into the game, the Stags, who were playing in their red away kit, broke the deadlock as Stephen Quinn netted his first goal of the season.
A brilliant cross from Callum Johnson made its way to the back post for the midfielder to fire his header home from a tight angle.
With 15 minutes to go, Mansfield Town doubled their advantage as Lucas Akins was on hand to fire an emphatic finish past Dean Bouzanis in the Sutton goal.
George Maris played a brilliant through ball for the Stags’ number seven who took a touch and smashed the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Ahead of the League Two encounter, Sutton United’s interim manager Jason Goodliffe made three changes from the side that got battered 8-0 by league leaders Stockport County which ultimately cost ex-manager Matt Gray his job.
Dion Pereira and Aiden O’Brien dropped to the bench whilst Omar Sowunmi missed out completely with Robert Milsom, Craig Clay and Omari Patrick coming into the starting XI.
Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough made one change to the side that beat Crawley Town 3-1 last weekend. Experienced midfielder Stephen Quinn came into the squad in place of forward Rhys Oates who dropped to the bench.
The first 10 minutes of the game saw the Stags control possession as they looked to break the Sutton United defence down and find a clear-cut opportunity. Jordan Bowery had the first chance of the afternoon as he volleyed a shot over the bar from 18 yards.
Akins turned his man wonderfully before firing a left-footed shot at goal which Bouzanis was able to claim with ease.
However, the Sutton United goalkeeper was picking the ball up from the back of his net five minutes later as Johnson’s cross found Quinn at the back post with the midfielder heading the ball home from a tight angle.
The Stags had two chances within the space of 60 seconds to extend their lead as Maris found Clarke who riffled his shot over the bar and Davis Keillor-Dunn curled an effort onto the crossbar from 25 yards out.
Christy Pym made a fantastic save to deny Harry Smith from close range as a free-kick was headed across by Clay with the forward’s effort tipped onto the crossbar and over by the re-adjusting Stags shot-stopper.
In the second-half, Mansfield Town had the first chance of the half as Keillor-Dunn was unable to find the target, curling his effort wide of Bouzanis’ goal.
Smith had another fantastic chance for Sutton five minutes into the second interval, however, he fired his shot over from close range.
Baily Cargill looked to get in on the act as he controlled the ball following Keillor-Dunn’s corner but the defender’s audacious effort missed the target.
Stags’ number 40 continued to cause problems for the Sutton defence as he looked to either get a goal or assist one of his teammates, however, the hosts’ defence stood firm.
With 15 minutes to go in the game, Mansfield Town doubled their lead as Maris’ fine through ball found Akins who ran into the box and smashed his effort off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
The Stags were able to hold onto their two-goal lead until the end of the match as they dominated the game and earned another valuable three points in their chase for promotion to League One.
The victory kept Mansfield Town in fourth, just one point away from Barrow and Wrexham in second and third respectively. Meanwhile, Sutton United stay rooted to the bottom of the League Two table and are now nine points away from safety at the midway point of the season.
Both sides are in action on Boxing Day as the Stags welcome Grimsby Town to the One Call Stadium whilst the Us travel to the Cherry Red Records Stadium to face AFC Wimbledon.
Sutton United’s XI: Bouzanis, Jackson, Kizzi, Hart, Milsom (Fadahunsi 78′), Coley (Pereira 46′), N’Guessan (O’Brien 46′), Beautyman, Clay (Angol 78′), Patrick, Smith
Mansfield Town’s XI: Pym, Johnson (Swan 88′), Flint, Cargill, Bowery, Brunt, Clarke (Williams 88′), Quinn (McLaughlin 70′), Maris, Keillor-Dunn (Reed 70′), Akins (Oates 77′)
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