Brighton & Hove Albion
Saturday 7th August 1999
Brighton 6 - 0 Mansfield
Mansfield line-up: Umm, Peacock. Loanee in goal, new bloke in midfield. Etc.
What a start ! The hastily assembled misfits of Mansfield Town FC gave a clear indication of the struggle that is likely to befall the club this season after a fairly catastrophic few months of off-the-field activity. Now lets not blame the players or manager here, it all lies fairly and squarely with one man. I'm not going to name him, it's that obvious.
The sending off of Kerr in the 12th minute led to one of the more embarrassing collapses of recent times. It brings to mind the Darlington game last season, where Mansfield capitulated as soon as a player left the pitch. Barely anyone in the side deserved much credit from this game, and it is to be hoped that Billy Dearden is still in the process of building a side rather than this being a finished product. On this form the game against Forest could result in a cricket score and I'm going to shut my eyes for most of it. After Brentford trounced us on the opening day of last season I wasn't overly worried, predicting (correctly) that we'd be in the thick of it as regards the league position. I am worried now, though, and can already see the Cheltenham game becoming a 'six-pointer' and yardstick for the coming season.
Sorry this has little or nothing to do with the Brighton game. They scored six, by the way. Mansfield had embarrassingly little to offer and Cowling in particular had a nightmare. Richardson in goal seemed to only know how to pump long balls up to the human turbocharger that is Tony Lormor. It can only improve from here. So, next time out I shall do a bit of reporting as opposed to spleen venting.