FLITCROFT ENVIES STANLEY SPIRIT
WINLESS Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft says he wants to replicate Accrington Stanley’s team spirit at the One Call Stadium.
Seamus Conneely hit the only goal of the game as Stanley opened up a threepoint gap on Luton Town at the top of League Two.
And Flitcroft, who has failed to win any of his six games since taking charge of the Stags, is eager to replicate the spirit of the league’s surprise package.
“It was difficult listening to the reaction of Accrington in the dressing room and what it means to them and the team spirit they have,” he said.
“We put in a good performance, the players were fighting for each other and the supporters.
“I am determined to bring it all together here and get that sort of team spirit going.”
The Stags had started brightly with Lee Angol going close with a rasping shot inside the first two minutes.
But their hopes were dealt a massive blow when Mal Benning was red-carded for a reckless late challenge on former Mansfield striker Billy Kee.
It was a decision which left Flitcroft disappointed at his side’s lack of discipline.
“The tackle did not look great and it is a nailed on sending off,” he added.
“To go down to ten men in a game like this after 15 minutes makes things very difficult.
“You have to have discipline and that is our second red card in five games.”
Conrad Logan produced a superb save to tip over Scott Brown’s close-range effort on seven minutes.
Rhys Bennett headed just wide four minutes later following Alex MacDonald’s corner.
And the Mansfield defender also went close to putting his side ahead when his header was tipped over by Aaron Chapman on 33 minutes.
Kane Hemmings could only fire wide on 50 minutes when he should have put Mansfield ahead.
It was a costly miss as high-flying Stanley hit the front ten minutes later when Conneely powerfully headed home Sean McConville’s cross.
Kayden Jackson should have made the game safe with five minutes to go, but was denied by another fine Logan stop.
It left Stanley boss John Coleman content with his side’s professionalism.
“Mansfield forced us back and got the crowd behind them. But we restricted their chances and thankfully got the goal,” he said. “After the goal I thought we saw it out very professionally and could have added one or two more.
“We defended a lot of balls into the box and defended them well.
“I do think we looked a little bit rusty for having a couple of weeks off. “But we now have a massive game coming up on Monday at home against Notts County and we have to give it our all.”
MANSFIELD: (4-4-2): Logan 8, White 6, Diamond 7, Bennett 4, Benning 7, Atkinson 7, Mellis 6, MacDonald 7, Hamilton 6, Hemmings 5 (Miller 66 6), Angol 6 Subs not used: Olejnik, Digby, Anderson, Hunt, Thomas, Byrom
ACCRINGTON STANLEY: (4-4-2): Chapman 7, Dunne 7, Hughes 7, Richards-Everton 6, Clark 7, Brown 6, Jackson 7, McConville 7, Johnson 5, Conneely 8, Kee 6 Subs not used: Maxted, Nolan, Zanzala, Williams, Sousa, Rowan, Rodgers