Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into Field Mill and give Lincoln City a game, Stags sink without a trace.

It was a dire performance by the players and a field day for the Moaning Minnies.

Thankfully the players had already proved what they can do and set their standards high at Brentford. So we know this was below the set standard.

If this had been the first game it would have been a frighteningly low standard (in the second half)  that simply won’t be good enough.

But we already know they are capable of much more.

Certain players need to have a hard look in the mirror and ask themselves what more they could have done.

Then they have to go out and do it at Morecambe.

Looking back at my first half notes, there is no doubt the Stags should have been comfortably in charge by half time.

But, as always seems to happen when Lincoln visit, it all went wrong.

Even so, at half-time Stags were still well in the contest.

Yet when the killer third goal flew in (what a great finish by Mark Stallard) with over half an hour still left, suddenly home players went AWOL and there was no fight.

I find it very hard to defend the side from their critics on this occasion (to be fair, the players were not too good at defending on the day either) but I did think the first half treatment of Jason White was diabolical.

Exactly what did he do to deserve those jeers and cat-calls?

Five of his team mates allowed Louis Dodds to get into a position to stab the ball past him for the first goal and, for the second, Dany N’Gussen whipped it in so firmly it had flown in past White off the legs of team mate Martin McIntosh from close range.

He had no chance with the third either, but as the game wore on he naturally started to look drained of confidence and started punching balls he might have caught earlier on.

Jason is a young lad desperate to do well for Mansfield Town. As a professional, yes, he must accept that if he throws a couple in (if you watched the Arsenal game on TV you’ll know it happens to the best of em) then he will get some stick.

But it seemed on Saturday that the Moaning Minnies just couldn’t wait to get at him as we were losing and, if that meant barracking him before he even made an error, then so be it.

He was bound to make one sooner or later so let’s get in there first. Unbelievable.

That aside, though, I would not criticise anyone for their reaction at the end. It was a bitter disappointment and hardly the way to get fans back through the gates, whether the club is sold or not.

With a trip to title favourites Peterborough, followed by a home clash with the old enemy imminent, the week ahead is crucial to how the season unfolds with a game at new boys Morecambe followed by a home clash with Stockport.

If you are heading for Christie Park, enjoy your Bank Holiday at the seaside.

Let’s hope for sunshine, decent beer and three points.

Scoreline hides an encouraging start

SO no Carling Cup adventure for the Stags this season.

But the 4-1 final scoreline flattered a decent Oldham Athletic last night and Stags fans can be encouraged by the majority of the performance.

There is no way Mansfield will come up against someone of the quality of Craig Davies every week.

The Welsh international was a real handful and, being Welsh, would probably appreciate the ‘rugby-like’ challenge Martin McIntosh had to perform on him to halt him at one stage! Or maybe not.

But Stags know, with a bit of cup luck they could have been ahead before Oldham stung them with two quick goals. It just wasn’t to be this year.

John Mullins’ reply at least gave the score some rightful respectability as Carl Muggleton had hardly been under siege all night.

Credit to Mansfield, they pushed forward in search of an equaliser and credit to Oldham they expolited that with two late goals on the break.

But the 213 diehard Stags fans who braved the miserable Lancashire rain to watch this game to the end will have returned home with a different view on it to those who have just seen the score in the newspaper.

All the ‘Moaning Minnies’ out there (you know who you are) who predicted an opening day drubbing at Brentford, must have been really frustrated by the excellent showing in London.

I know everyone gets passionate about their football and if the side deserve to be criticised then so be it.

However, a small but vociferous number of Stags fan seem to enjoy doom and gloom and are only happy when things are bad.

I am not saying this side is going to get promoted this year – far from it. Putting our squad and budget against the Milton Keynes, Peterboroughs and Darlingtons of this division, Stags have no divine  right to be in the mix whatsoever.

But let’s put a few points on the board to avoid the wrong end of the table and then see what happens.

Billy Dearden is a shrewd operator and will quietly get on with his job and I have been impressed with what I have seen so far of John McAliskey, Lee Bell and Martin McIntosh.

Dan Martin has yet to show what he can do but has not yet been fully fit so I am sure it will come soon.

After conceding eight goals in their first two games, Lincoln City must surely be ripe for the taking at Field Mill on Saturday.

Stags certainly owe them one (or two) after the Imps became a bogey side in recent seasons.

It would be nice to chalk up one derby win before the visit of Chesterfield.

And, hopefully, the day will be completed by a lifting of the Safety Advisory group capacity restriction after Les Norman and his new team of stewards prove they can treat supporters like valued customers and rid Field Mill of its dreadful reputation.

Roll on Saturday!

Summer is over (did it ever happen?) – bring on the football!

Three more days to go and the big kick-off will be here.

And what a tough first week for the Stags.

Brentford away first game, a side only just relegated from a division higher and with a new manager and 10 new players – a real step into the unknown. Then it’s League One Oldham Athletic away in the Carling Cup on Tuesday – a game which Stags start as firm underdogs with all the pressure on the Latics to do the business.

I can remember seeing Stags get well and truly stuffed on their last visit there with Clyde Wijnhard scoring four in a 6-1 win five years ago – painful memories.

We stayed in a pub B&B in Manchester that night after drowning our sorrows and found ourselves locked in the bedroom area the next morning as the cook had got drunk the night before and failed to show up for breakfast the next morning. We were eventually let out when she arrived but got no breakfast at the pub – summed the weekend up really!

However, Mansfield have done well in the Carling Cup in the last couple of years and went away to higher league opposition in Huddersfield Town last season and came away with an unexpected but deserved victory.

Then it’s the first home game of the season on Saturday week when Lincoln City visit the Mill. That should be a cracker!

I noticed on the BBC web site yesterday that the Imps are their favourites to finally go up as champions after so many near misses in the Play-offs in recent seasons.

It is tough but a mouthwatering first week and anything Mansfield can achieve will have to be earned the hard way.

Let’s hope the three injured players – Dan Martin, Michael Boulding and Martin McIntosh – plus the ill pair of Alex John-Baptiste and Ashley Kitchen recover in time.

Sounds like the injured trio will more than likely make it but there are worries over Bappa. The good thing is that he has been playing at right back pre-season and John Mullins, last season’s regular right back, was in fine form as a centre half at Matlock on Monday.

Off the field the rumours continue about bids for the club and a deal being sorted out. But I am not holding my breath as it has been dragging on for so long now. It must be very unsettling for everyone who works at Field Mill.

Stags fans will barely have cleared out their cars from Saturday’s day out in London before they have to whizz up north for the trip to Boundary Park on Tuesday night. A few miles on the clock within the first four days!

Having just found out I will be getting the Setanta Sports channels for free with my Virgin XL cable TV package, it seems there is a feast of football ahead.

Let’s hope it starts with at least a point for Mansfield.

All right, summer is officially over (did it ever start?) – let battle commence!

Bring on the Spireites!

It’s almost here and the suspense is killing me.

It seems an eternity since the Stags last took on Chesterfield in a local derby and everyone is brimming over with anticipation for what is ahead of us on Saturday.

There seems to be quite a few with a feeling of dread too – just because they have had a better start over the Derbyshire border. So what?

All that has gone before this season will mean absolutely nothing when those sides cross that white line on Saturday for their high noon showdown.

It will be all about who can handle the atmosphere and the pressure best on the big day.

So to that end, a message to EVERY Stags fan – get down there and be noisy from before kick-off to the final whistle.

Even if you are one of those staying away from Field Mill until there is a change of ownership – and I respect your opinion – on this occasion just come down for a one-off match.

The team need every true Stags fan pulling together for this one.

And if things are not going Mansfield’s way, stay behind them.

Despite injuries and personnel changes, Mansfield are not playing too badly at all right now and they will be pumped up for this one big-time.

Billy Dearden is hoping Alex John-Baptiste will be fit again and available for selection.

But, if he is, it would be a tough call who to drop – despite the side conceding too many goals recently.

Skipper Jake Buxton – as a local lad who understands what this game means – is the ideal choice to lead them into battle.

Martin McIntosh’s power in the air and years of experience will also be invaluable. And at right back or centre back John Mullins has been one of the club’s most outstanding players in recent games. Good luck Bill!

One thing if for certain, there will be a few pints sunk on Saturday night – one way or the other!