Mansfield boss Nigel Clough is unsure if the Stags will recall striker Danny Johnson from Walsall despite bemoaning his side’s finishing in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Saddlers.Johnson, ineligible to play against his parent club, has scored 13 times during his loan spell, which runs out on January 15 and he is out of contract at Mansfield this summer.The Stags were set to sell Johnson t...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson urged his Bristol City players to use their performance in the 0-0 draw at Millwall as a benchmark for the rest of the season.The visitors grabbed a crucial point at The Den to bounce back from their 2-0 Boxing Day defeat against West Brom but have now won just once in nine Championship matches.Captain Andreas Weimann should have snatched a late winner after Millwall’s Andrea...Full Story »

Nigel Clough was pleased to see Mansfield avoid any late slip-ups to secure another three points in the promotion race at struggling Hartlepool.The Stags boss was satisfied to see his players turn the game on its head by scoring two second-half goals to beat Pools at the Suit Direct Stadium.Jack Hamilton had headed Hartlepool ahead in the 19th minute to give the home side hope of a third straigh...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson was in no mood to throw in the towel after disgruntled Bristol City fans chanted for his dismissal during the Robins’ 2-0 home defeat to West Brom.The experienced manger was already under intense pressure before a goal in each half from Matt Phillips and substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante gave Albion a deserved victory which leaves City two points above the Championship drop zo...Full Story »

Bristol City fans chanted for the dismissal of manager Nigel Pearson after a goal in each half from Matt Phillips and Brandon Thomas-Asante gave West Brom a 2-0 Championship win at Ashton Gate.The visitors took a ninth-minute lead when Phillips got behind Zak Vyner to run onto a Conor Townsend through ball and confidently clipped a shot past advancing goalkeeper Max O’Leary.Substitute Thom...Full Story »

Nigel Clough lauded his side’s defensive performance as Mansfield became the first side to stop Stevenage from scoring this season in an attritional 0-0 draw.The Stags reduced the hosts to almost nothing in front of goal, Luke Norris’s late effort at the death the first time Boro truly looked like troubling the visitors.A game between two promotion rivals promised much yet turned int...Full Story »

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson was pleased to see his team win 3-1 against what he feels is a “good home side” in Rotherham.The Robins ended a hoodoo at Rotherham that had seen them winless there since 1995.Victory also saw them go above the Millers in the Championship table and get their first win in the league since mid-October.The Robins went ahead on 14 minutes when Wes Harding ...Full Story »

Nigel Clough admitted Mansfield match-winner Lucas Akins was only on the pitch because injury forced his hand.Substitute Akins struck a last-gasp winner, his 100th senior goal, to earn the Stags a 2-1 win over Colchester.But manager Clough revealed he only brought him off the bench because Will Swan, who had earlier cancelled out Alex Newby’s free-kick for the visitors, had to come off wit...Full Story »

Nigel Clough was delighted to see Mansfield end their winless run in Sky Bet League Two and reclaim a place among the play-off contenders with a 1-0 win at Rochdale.Substitute George Maris scored the only goal of the game after 66 minutes when he connected with a sublime Hiram Boateng delivery, poking home from five yards to end a five-match run in the league without a win.Stags manager Clough n...Full Story »

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson is still without key players for the visit of his former club Watford.Full-back George Tanner, sent off against Sheffield United earlier this month, completes a three-match ban in the Sky Bet Championship fixture.Defenders Kal Naismith (calf) and Tomas Kalas (knee) will not return until after the World Cup break.Midfielder Ayman Benarous and right-back Kane Wilson...Full Story »

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson will assess his illness-hit squad before naming his side to face Sheffield United.A number of players missed the draw against Swansea with ‘flu-like symptoms, with Rob Atkinson forced out during Saturday’s warm-up.Andreas Weimann was also left out of the squad and it remains to be seen if he, Atkinson or Timm Klose can feature against the Blades.Tom...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson was justly proud of his illness-hit Bristol City side after they had the better of a 1-1 Championship draw with high-flying Swansea.Tommy Conway fired the hosts in front in the midday kick-off with his eighth goal of the season on 24 minutes, a low drive from Nahki Wells’ perfectly-paced pass.But other chances went begging and the Swans levelled on 76 minutes, substitute Oliv...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough admitted he was ready to makes changes after his promotion-chasing side suffered their first League Two defeat in seven games in a 3-2 loss at improving Crawley.The Stags arrived at the Broadfield Stadium having won their previous four away matches in the league but they found themselves 2-0 down after only 13 minutes after strikes by Ashley Nadesan and Tom Nichols.A ...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough was delighted to see his promotion-chasing side “find a way to win” as a late header from Will Swan secured a 2-1 home victory over battling Walsall.George Lapslie’s 15th-minute opener was wiped out by Liam Bennett’s first goal for the Saddlers after 35 minutes, only for substitute Swan to win it in the 82nd minute.“We are under no illusi...Full Story »

Anthony Hartigan could be in line to return for Nigel Clough’s Mansfield as they prepare to face Walsall on Saturday.The 22-year-old midfielder sustained a dislocated shoulder in the Stags’ 2-0 loss to Grimsby in last month’s Papa Johns Trophy tie but may feature at the weekend.The trio of Stephen McLaughlin, Riley Harbottle and George Maris will all be assessed ahead of kick-o...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson praised the character of two-goal hero Rob Atkinson after his second-half strikes ended Bristol City’s five-match winless streak.The manager had accused his team of lacking spirit and application in last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Birmingham and the centre-back did not escape his anger.Atkinson’s response was to head the Robins in front from Mark Sykes’ 54th-m...Full Story »

Nigel Clough admits he will take an ugly 1-0 win away from home any day of the week after that is exactly what Mansfield took away from Barrow.The Stags snatched a narrow victory through Jordan Bowery’s winner five minutes into the second half, and Clough could barely care less that it was a case of substance over style.“It was dogged and dour and we came to a team that has had a rea...Full Story »

Nigel Clough hailed the role of his substitutes as Mansfield came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at Crewe.The Stags were trailing to a fine finish from Courtney Baker-Richardson in the 70th minute despite having enjoyed a stranglehold on the game.However, Will Swan took a pass from fellow substitute Jason Law and, despite appearing to handle the ball in the build-up, the Nottingham Forest l...Full Story »

Nigel Clough lauded his Mansfield side’s 2-0 win at Gillingham as their best away performance in recent memory as they surged into the Sky Bet League Two play-off places.The Stags put in a dominant display, taking the lead through Lucas Akins and although he then missed a spot-kick, Clough’s men went into the break with a two-goal advantage thanks to George Lapslie’s effort fro...Full Story »

Nigel Pearson praised “infectious” Nahki Wells and his all-round performance after his brace helped Bristol City to a 3-2 win at Blackburn.The 32-year-old marksman ultimately made the difference, scoring the second and third goals – both different types of finishes – as City held off a Blackburn fightback to rise to third in the table.They were well worth their win, with ...Full Story »