Mansfield Town 3-0 Rochdale
- Published
Mansfield stunned title-chasing Rochdale and boosted their own play-off hopes with victory at the One Call Stadium.
Scott Hogan went close for the visitors, forcing a good low save from Lewis Price.
Martin Riley and Matt Rhead both headed in from James Jennings corners to give the Stags a two-goal lead late on.
And Dale were undone from a set-piece again as Ryan Tafazolli headed in Chris Clements' free-kick in stoppage time.
Mansfield now lie in 10th, six points behind seventh-placed Oxford. Rochdale are second, a single point behind Scunthorpe in the race for the League Two title.
Mansfield manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"I think we are playing well at the minute and without shouting from the roof tops, I think we can beat anyone when we are playing like this.
We've come up against a very good side who will get promotion.
"But its what we've been doing over the last couple of months and we are enjoying our football at the minute."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill told BBC Radio Manchester:
"We knew we were going to endure a direct style of play but they've got good players once they get the ball into that final third.
"I have to be able to forgive the players and I will do. We're in a great position and I'm really looking forward to the remainder of the season.
"Arguably the game was always going to hinge on the first goal, but when we concede one we shouldn't be conceding two more after that."
- Published11 April 2014
- Published7 June 2019