City never really looked in the game, as Mansfield, high on the success of this season cruised to a comfortable win. The City players seemed a world apart as the efficient Mansfield midfield won the ball time and again and sprung counter-attacks as The imps sought to make amends for their horrific defending. The Stags first goal scored by livewire Wayne Corden seemed to catch Alan Marriott unawares, and even Corden himself will probably admit that his shot was supposed to be a cross. Nothing could mark out the other 3 goals as anything other than class, as Mansfield carved out chance after chance. The best goal of the three was probably Pemberton's snap shot in the Second Half which left Marriott again clutching for thin air. The 1'700(?) fans who travelled the short distance over the Nottinghamshire border were jubilant at the fluency of their teams performance, whereas the City faithful were served up another serving of tripe, which made even the diehards among us baulk.
The booing from large sections of the Co-op Community Stand rang around and certain fans stood and clapped Mansfield's fourth goal as any chance of a revival after Lee Thorpe's 46th minute goals vanished quicker than a East End Spiv when faced with the arrival of The Met's finest. The arrival of fan's favourite Dave Cameron could do nothing, but he nonetheless worked hard and gained the free kick from which Thorpe scored.
Certain sections of the fans at Sincil Bank, so long starved of success were heard to make the murmurs of dissatisfaction, and some have even gone so far as to suggest a change of management - surely this is a mistake.
One thing is certain however, that the intransigent attitudes of certain players on the pitch are becoming increasingly frustrating.