WALKER’S OFF AFTER NETTING WINNER
MANSFIELD Town manager David Flitcroft was delighted with his players’ response in the crucial home win over promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers after two successive defeats.
The Stags were poor in last weekend’s derby-day defeat at bottom club Notts County, but Tyler Walker’s 69th-minute header kept them firmly in the top three, though Walker was red-carded in stoppage time, possibly for dissent. “The fans could have come in here a little bit peeved and upset with what happened last week,” he said.
“But there was no overspill from Saturday’s poor, poor performance.
“The players produced a display that was high-energy, high-octane that our supporters have been used to us playing against one of the best teams in the league, certainly away from home.
“In the first half I thought we were outstanding and second half we showed the other side with our resolve. We were steadfast and it was a full team performance.
“I thought first half that was one of the best we’ve played.
“Bad results come and go. Work hard and the results come back as we have been consistent all season.
“That’s because you have been doing the right things for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Rovers boss Mark Cooper was left regretting some of his side’s wasted opportunities.
“We missed some brilliant chances and if you come to a team as good as Mansfield and don’t score gilt-edged chances then you are asking for trouble,” he said.
“I thought Mansfield were better than us in the first half. We didn’t get to grips with it, but I thought second half we were really good.
“I thought we were in the ascendancy, but you can’t come here and miss that many chances.
“There was a bit of controversy around the goal but, for me, the keeper should deal with it. It wasn’t a foul.
“I said to the players I can’t be too hard on them. Not many teams come here and create the clear-cut chances we did second half.”
Mansfield started well and CJ Hamilton forced an early save from Lewis Ward, while Krystian Pearce poked a good chance wide.
After Junior Mondal had forced Jordan Smith into a near-post save for the visitors, Ward also tipped over a Walker’s dipping effort and saw a deflected Mal Benning shot pass wide.
After the break he denied Walker with his legs, before pushing a Hamilton blast into the air after 69 minutes, only to be beaten to the dropping ball by the head of Walker.
But Rovers piled on the pressure and Christian Doidge missed two late chances, while Mondal fired just over as Stags clung on.