Mansfield boss Nigel Clough acknowledged an “unbelievable” free-kick as Jake Young’s powerful set-piece ended their ‘ five-game winning streak and gave Stevenage a 1-0 away victory.
Young hammered an unstoppable 22-yard free-kick into the top corner to decide the Sky Bet League One contest.
Clough said: “It was a very disappointing way to give up our unbeaten run. Ultimately we were beaten by an unbelievable free-kick.
“It was high quality and probably as good as any free-kick you would see at any level in the country.
“I was a bit disappointed with the free-kick being given, but when he puts it in like that there’s nothing you can do about it. That would have beaten any keeper in the country.
“I was incredibly disappointed how we played in the first half. We are at a loss to explain it. But it happens.
“Training had been so good all week, so I asked the players where that came from at half-time.
“Second half we were much improved. We dominated the last 30-40 minutes but they got some good blocks in and defended well and we didn’t get a break in the penalty area.”
Stevenage dominated the first half with Christy Pym having to make a fine save to deny Kane Smith as well as being beaten by Young’s thunderbolt.
The hosts went up a gear after the break and Murphy Cooper made saves from Stephen Quinn, Lee Gregory and Keanu Baccus as Stevenage soaked up pressure, although Pym also had to deny Elliot List 13 minutes from time.
It was a first away win of the campaign for Stevenage and boss Alex Revell said: “The performances have been there and we have not made a big thing about it with the players as that can make it greater than it really is.
“We knew wins would come if we maintained our standards and today’s performance had everything.
“It was a tremendous effort and that’s what you have to do to win games.
“I thought we completely dominated the first half and should have been out of sight.
“You knew Mansfield were not going to be the same team in the second half as you know the manager and what they are about. That’s why they were five unbeaten.
“We had a golden chance to go further ahead and didn’t take it and we then had to make sure we held on – and the effort they put in to do that was incredible.
“We have struggled here over the years, so to come here and put in a performance like that first half and the effort, energy and togetherness second half, this is a serious result.”
On Young’s free-kick, Revell added: “We lost a few balls yesterday while he was practising them, but we don’t mind him missing them in training if he delivers that.
“I thought his performance deserved it, he is growing in confidence as a player. It was a special goal and one he will savour for a long time.”
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
- 1 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 2 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 3 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 4 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 5 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 6 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 7 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 8 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 9 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 10 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs