Andy Garner says free-scoring Stags could have had eight goals against Salford
Posted Sunday, February 25, 2024 by PA
Free-scoring Mansfield demolished 10-man Salford 5-1 to go top of Sky Bet League Two and first team coach Andy Garner believes they should have netted even more.
Stags have now scored 19 goals in four games and Garner said: “We should have scored a few more today, to be honest. That’s not being over the top.
“It was an absolutely fantastic win and we’re just disappointed to concede one.
“We’ve won 5-1 but with the chances we had we should have had eight in all honesty, no disrespect to the opposition.
“But we did score five fantastic goals so we are delighted. There was no sitting back, even at 4-1. We want to score goals.
“We won’t get carried away going top, that’s for sure. This club will never do that. This management and our staff won’t allow that to happen – and the players won’t either.
“We have 13 games left so there is still a long way to go. But we are enjoying it at the moment.
Will Swan headed Mansfield in front in the 18th minute from Aaron Lewis’ cross.
Salford, unbeaten in eight games going into this match, levelled through a superb solo goal by Junior Luamba in the 42nd minute, only to see Baily Cargill restore the Stags’ advantage in first half added-time as he diverted a Davis Keillor-Dunn corner in off a defender at the far post.
In the 57th minute Stephen Quinn set up a tap-in for Keillor-Dunn on a breakaway and City hopes nosedived further when Theo Vassell was sent off as last man for bringing down Lucas Akins in the 73rd minute.
Akins made it 4-1 as he raced clear with nine minutes remaining, before Hiram Boateng poked home the fifth deep into stoppage time.
Salford boss Karl Robinson was left fuming over the red card and a string of decisions by the officials.
“It was shambolic at times and that’s not the team, that’s the officiating again,” he said.
“Referees don’t come to me and speak about things being fair. I don’t think some of the actions today were fair for my team.
“I had a go at them once and was booked – he just couldn’t wait.
“Matt Smith’s shirt is ripped. He was dragged about left, right and centre but the referee didn’t give a thing.
“We even had Theo Vassell’s shirt actually over his head and the referee gave it to them.
“For the sending-off the lad has stood in front of Theo and you will see there is no contact.”
He added: “We were good first half and went toe to toe with a side that is now top of the league.
“We got beaten 5-1 in the end, but that’s football. Sometimes it falls for you and sometimes against you, that’s the way we play.
“But I am baffled by some of the things that have gone on on that pitch today.”
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