Mansfield return to winning ways with much-needed victory over Bradford

Posted Sunday, January 26, 2020 by PA

Mansfield recorded only their third home Sky Bet League Two win of the season and their first since October 12 with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bradford.

The result ended a dismal run of one win in 13 in all competitions for the hosts and was also new manager Graham Coughlan’s first clean sheet at the eighth attempt.

Mansfield were sitting pretty 2-0 up at half-time after fine headed goals by Danny Rose and Nicky Maynard crowned a dominant first 45 minutes.

Rose headed home from Alex MacDonald’s seventh-minute cross and – after Ryan Sweeney had poked a sitter wide from close range and Luke McGee had superbly saved from a Krystian Pearce header – Stags doubled the lead two minutes before the break.

Mal Benning sent in a corner from the right and Maynard was on hand to nod in his 13th goal of the season from close range.

After 63 minutes Bradford were awarded a free-kick seven yards from goal after Bobby Olejnik handled a backpass, but Eoin Doyle’s shot was blocked.

Substitute Andy Cook made the points safe after 77 minutes, just three minutes after coming on, as he swept home a low 16-yard shot from Benning’s throw from the left.