Shearer on spot to save the Stags
MANSFIELD Town boss Adam Murray paid tribute to keeper Scott Shearer and club analyst Sean O’Callaghan after the shot-stopper saved two penalties to clinch the Stags’ second 2-1 comeback win over Morecambe in 12 days.
The spot-kicks came towards the end of each half with the Stags leading 2-1 after conceding a goal after just 58 seconds – the fifth time they had fallen behind to an early goal in their last six home matches.
Murray, ordered from the dugout for protesting at the second penalty, said: “Excellent credit to Scott, but credit also has to go to Sean and his team.
“Morecambe have had something like 11 penalties and Sean had done his homework and told Scott the patterns and trends that have been happening. It worked. I keep going on about the one per cents and today it gave us a win.
“I reacted in the way you react when you get a second penalty awarded against you. I didn’t say anything offensive. My body language told the story, but do people expect me to be happy?
“I felt all game we had little things that didn’t go our way.We were a bit frustrated with the inconsistency of the decisions but you take it on the chin.”
Shearer dived to parry Shaun Miller’s penalty ten minutes before half-time when Ryan Tafazolli hauled back Andrew Fleming. Then six minutes from time Jack Thomas was controversially judged to have handled a Jamie Devitt cross and Shearer blocked substitute Paul Mullin’s penalty with his legs.
Kevin Ellison fired Morecambe ahead when Lee Collins’ defensive header bounced off centre-half Krystian Pearce into the path of the striker.
Matty Blair’s 20-yard drive was deflected into the top corner by the unlucky Ryan Edwards for Mansfield’s 15th-minute equaliser and nine minutes later the unmarked Pearce headed in a Mal Benning corner.
Frustrated Morecambe boss Jim Bentley said:“We have had plenty of penalties this season and to be fair we have done alright with Mullin and Miller, who have usually dispatched them.
“But if you can’t put it away from the penalty spot on two occasions you are going to lose. That’s the type of thing we are up against at the minute.
“We are in a sticky spell, but we didn’t deserve to lose.
“It’s frustrating.We wanted a little bit of revenge and got a good start.We also had a goal disallowed for offside, which we are being told looked onside.
“It was Ellison again who probably has had six or seven goals ruled out for offside this season.”