Graham Coughlan urges Mansfield to build on Bradford victory

Posted Sunday, January 26, 2020 by PA

Mansfield boss Graham Coughlan demanded his side now build on their first Sky Bet League Two home win since October 12 after they comfortably beat Bradford 3-0.

It was only their second win in 13 league games and Coughlan’s first clean sheet in his eight games in charge.

“I am delighted. The lads have worked their socks off,” he smiled after the third home league win of the season.

“But I’ve told them one swallow doesn’t make a summer. You have set your standards now, now you need to maintain it. Now we’re looking for consistency.

“Let’s not get carried away. Inconsistency has been a problem at this club. Today they showed what it means to play for Mansfield Town Football Club.

“They have been hurting the last few weeks. I’ve been hurting and the fans were hurting.

“They have had a bit of negativity chucked at them this season and rightly so, they’ve not performed to the best of their ability. Today we set the standard and I want us to continue in that vain.

“It was about time those lads in the changing room got what they deserved.

“From start to finish the fans were absolutely magnificent. So that victory has to be dedicated to the thousands that turned out today.”

After Mal Benning’s block denied Dylan Connolly from a great position after five minutes, Stags then swept ahead two minutes later as Danny Rose’s head guided home an Alex MacDonald cross.

Luke McGee saved superbly from Krystian Pearce and Ryan Sweeney put a close-range chance wide before Nicky Maynard nodded in from a Mal Benning corner two minutes before the break.

Substitute Andy Cook netted within four minutes of coming on as he fired the ball in from a Benning throw after 77 minutes as City.

The result saw the visitors move to five games without victory as they dropped two places, though stay in the top seven.

Bradford boss Gary Bowyer was given plenty of stick by the travelling fans as City sank and he said: “I totally understand it. It’s football and I’m responsible for the picking of the team and the performances.

“Today I can’t say anything other than an apology for the way we performed.

“Credit to Mansfield. We obviously watched them when we played them and we’ve watched them since then and we knew what they were going to be about.

“We told the players that and prepared properly so they knew what to expect.

“But I think this is the first time I can say we were second best for the full 90 minutes. We have to accept that.

“We had a great early opportunity with Dylan, but after that we were second best all over. There are no excuses today.”