28/01/2008 - Mansfield Town 0 Middlesbrough 2
FACING a team littered with international players and assembled at a cost of millions, there was never going to be any disgrace in Mansfield bowing out of the FA Cup to Premier League Middlesbrough.
But what will have bitterly disappoint the Stags squad when sitting back to review their performance is the manner they were consigned to defeat.
So often in these situations, the lower league underdogs are undone by a cultured finish or an outrageous piece of skill that highlights the chasm in class and quality between the two teams.
Yet frustratingly, Middlesbrough’s progression was largely thanks to Mansfield’s self-destruction.
Over the course of the 90 minutes against a side 78 places above them in the football pyramid, the Stags put in a display full of whole-hearted effort and determination.
The way the hosts were clapped off the pitch by their fans and congratulated by the Boro players illustrated how the match had been a welcome contest rather than the walk-over some might have feared.
At the same time, though, it also highlighted why they are struggling to avoid relegation from League Two.
To post good results on a consistent basis, a side must, first and foremost, keep it tight at the back and make their opposition work to create openings.
But time and again, Mansfield concede goals they could easily prevent – and this was just another example of that.
The goal that gave the visitors a 17th-minute lead came from Adam Johnson’s right-wing corner and was down to a simple lack of communication.
With the ball heading towards the hands of Carl Muggleton, midfielder Lee Bell also went to head clear, with the result that the keeper only got a weak fist on it.
Even then, Johnny Mullins might have cleared but a ricochet took the ball into the path of Dong Gook Lee and he swept it past Matt Hamshaw on the line.
The second goal, which came in the dying minutes as the Stags pushed for an equaliser, was no less their own fault.
Dan Martin had a host of players to aim for in the box with a left-sided free-kick but hit the first man, a Middlesbrough defender.
Gareth Southgate’s man swept up the field and with players queuing up at the far post, skipper Jake Buxton could only put through his own goal in attempting to clear substitute George Boateng’s far post cross.
It was a situation that could have been avoided in the first place by a better cross into the box from Stags’ free-kick. In fact, poor delivery from set pieces hampered Mansfield’s progress all afternoon.
Another problem regularly plaguing Mansfield is their lack of punch to capitalise on good spells in games.
Particularly in the second period, they had plenty of possession, as they had against Darlington in their last match, but lacked the killer instinct.
As ever, top scorer Michael Boulding was a threat and went closest for the Stags on three occasions.
But his two partners in attack, first Simon Brown and then substitute John McAliskey, did not pose the Boro defence the same questions.
If Boulding fails to score, then so, frequently, do Mansfield.
And it is for that very reason that boss Billy Dearden has said on a number of occasions he is keen to bring in another striker.
Knowing their best chance would be to go at Boro from the off, Mansfield pressed forward in the early stages, but Hamshaw scuffed his shot from the edge of the box.
It did not take Middlesbrough long to come back into it and Luke Young would have had a clear strike on goal had he managed to control a crossfield pass.
It was then, from the second of two successive Johnson corners that the visitors forged ahead through Lee.
Fortunately, for the crowd and television viewers, it did not spark a collapse as Mansfield kept going and were twice denied by the excellence of Mark Schwarzer – both from Boulding efforts.
First the striker took a throw in from Hamshaw, cut in past Huth and struck a dipping shot that the Australian keeper turned on to the bar and out for a corner.
Then, as the flag kick came in, Boulding worked in a looping header that seemed destined for the net until Schwarzer clawed the ball away at full stretch.
Those close shaves followed a karate-style kick from Robert Huth on Boulding that saw the big defender escape with a yellow card.
The hosts could have been dead and buried at the end of the first-half when Lee spurned the opportunity of a second, heading wide of a near-empty goal after Jeremie Aliadiere’s cut back from the right byline had taken Muggleton out of the equation.
After the break, Mansfield played better than they had in the first period, but their opportunities were severely limited.
Perhaps the closest they came was when Boulding shot wide at the near post under pressure from Huth after running on to Hamshaw’s low centre.
The Stags also had a shout for a penalty when Simon Brown was caught by Julio Arca, but the referee appeared to rule the player was already on his way down.
Inevitably gaps opened up in the closing stages and Arca messed up a three-on-one by over-hitting his pass to Aliadiere.
Bit when a similar chance arose three minutes from time, the Premier League side did not make the same mistake, even if Buxton got the final touch.
As enjoyable as it was for everyone connected with the club to be involved in such a game – and financially rewarding too – the important thing now is for it to be quickly forgotten.
With Wrexham earning a point against Bradford on Saturday, only goal difference separates the Stags from the bottom of League Two and the situation is becoming ever-more critical.
Tomorrow night Mansfield travel to fellow strugglers Lincoln in what could be one of their most important games of the season.
Dearden insists the Imps clash is not a must-win, but he does acknowledge time is fast running out.
So many times after a big game, or a victory, Mansfield have faltered and flattered to deceive in their very next fixture. It would be most welcome for Stags fans if they could buck that trend this time.
With only league games left to play between now and the end of the season, at least there are no more distractions.
Only one goal is left – to stay in the League – and a win at Sincil Bank would be the perfect way to start that survival bid.