Nottingham Forest
25th August 1999
Mansfield Town 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest
Mansfield finally both won a match and scored a goal at Field Mill on Wednesday night. Although the aggregate score of 1-3 puts them out of the Worthington Cup there were several positives for Billy Dearden to take from the game. First was the emergence of Mark Blake in midfield who really helped elevate Stags on the night and surely must be offered a deal to keep him at Mansfield. Second was the drive and enthusiasm with which Stags went about their task. Playing an adventurous 4-4-2 formation they were frequently the better side, and with goalie Richardson pulling off a series of great saves Mansfield were always a match for their more illustrious rivals.
Of course it was the goal that brought the enormous sigh of relief from both players and fans just after the restart. Boulding pulled a ball back into the penalty area and Peacock slid it home from about ten yards. The delight and relief on the players faces was obvious and it is to be hoped that the enormous lift this result provides can be carried forward into the Bank Holiday programme and finally get some points on the board and lift Mansfield from the foot of the table.
11th August 1999
Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 Mansfield
Mansfield: Richardson, Hassell, Roscoe, Kerr,
Richardson, Linighan, Roscoe, Sisson, Lormor, Peacock, Tallon.
Subs: Allardyce, Boulding, Tye, Disley, Asher.
Mansfield Town recovered some of their pride against David Platts Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last night.
Mansfield named just about every fit player in the squad as they faced a Forest side just relegated from the Premiership and looking to bounce back at the first attempt. Mansfield failed to really produce anything in the first half, battling gamely but producing nothing of real quality and threatening only once through Peacock who shot over from close range. Forest didn't fare much better, looking disjointed but still managing to create and squander several chances. It was left to Chris Bart-Williams to break the deadlock with a well-taken free-kick right on half time which ended Stags' stubborn resistance.
In the first period of the second half Stags looked a little more composed but still created little. Forest continued to create chances but were not making their superiority count in front of goal. Stags did manage to produce the odd assault on the Forest goal but it was Forest who took control and killed the game in the latter stages through Quashie (68) and Allou (81). Lormor just missed out on a consolation for the Stags right at the death.
Better, then, but still meaning that the tie is over as a contest and leaving Stags with the need to concentrate on getting results of some sort in the next few league games with a win a must on Saturday against Cheltenham. As it stands it's For: 0 Against: 9 with two games played and defensive frailties and lack of attacking punch threaten to derail Stags season before it starts. Dearden certainly has his work cut out.