EFL Cup: Bolton 1-1 (5-4 Pens) Mansfield

We have been drawn at home against Mansfield Town and they play tonight at 19:45.

Anyone interested yet? It could be the only thing we could win this season!

The Big Match Preview

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By his own admission, Keanu Baccus was left upset by the circumstances that led to his abandoned move to Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2023.

The Australia international midfielder was poised to make a £250,000 move from St Mirren, only for the deal to collapse over the course of a weekend.

Different reasons were offered at either end of negotiations for why Baccus stayed in Scotland for another season – concerns over a medical, a change in demands, or the fact Bolton shifted their sights to a couple of loan players in shape of West Brom’s Zac Ashworth and Brentford’s Paris Maghoma.

Either way, Baccus could run out at the Toughsheet Stadium in the League Cup tonight with something of a point to prove to the club which – to paraphrase his words 12 months ago – did not “really want” him, when push came to shove.

Mansfield made the 26-year-old one of their first signings of the summer after returning to the third tier. And Baccus showed his quality in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Barnsley, creating the second goal of the day for Lee Gregory.

Nigel Clough’s side finished third behind Stockport County and Wrexham in League Two last season, ending a two-decade-long run in the basement division, wrapped around a five-season spell in the National League.

Whilst Ian Evatt may look at tomorrow night’s League Cup clash as a chance to bring on the fitness of players like Chris Forino, Luke Southwood and George Johnston, or give crucial game time to Aaron Morley and Dan Nlundulu, the Stags do not have the depth of squad to consider major changes and will be asking the team which performed so well at Oakwell to go again.

Few will be more motivated than Baccus, who had been one of the more exotic targets of last summer.

Born in South Africa, he moved to Western Sydney before his first birthday and went on to become a bona fide hometown hero, making more than 100 A League appearances for the Warriors before deciding to move to Europe.

He enjoyed a strong start in the Scottish Premiership and was selected for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup finals, making four appearances and attracting more interest from around Europe during the winter window, reportedly including Greek giants AEK Athens and Belgian side Gent.

No bids materialised in January but reports north of the border were unequivocal in their view that Wanderers had beaten a clutch of English clubs to sign Baccus last June. Closer to home, there had been confirmation that talks had occurred but a firm stress on the fact no deal had been finalised.

News that the midfielder definitely would not be on his way dropped at exactly the same time that Bolton shelved their interest in another long-term target, wing-back Kane Wilson, who eventually signed for Derby County from Bristol City.

In both cases Evatt and Wanderers held their silence but reading between the lines, Baccus had missed the end of the previous season with a knee problem and all signs pointed to this being the issue that cooled their interest. Common consensus was that Bolton had erred on the side of caution.

Speaking last summer as he prepared to make his playing return, Baccus said: “The move didn’t really go too smoothly and I’ve learned from situations in the past when things go smoothly that’s where you’re meant to be and vice versa.

“Nothing against Bolton at all, but I’ve learned when a team really wants you they’ll do most things to make it happen.

“I was upset for a week but I’m over that now and I’m grateful to be at St Mirren and for the way the club have treated me.

“I’m keen to just keep going here now for however long that might be.

“We’ll see what the future holds and I’m sure the right opportunity will present itself at some stage.

“But for now I’m happy to be settled here and back playing injury-free.”

Baccus started 21 of 45 games in all competitions for St Mirren last season, scoring three times. He did make 48 appearances in total for club and country but, counting league games only, he featured for just 54 per cent of the total playing time, a total bettered by nine other team-mates.

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Seems the unused players will be in the team tonight.

Mansfield who were promoted under Nigel Clough last season won their first match back against Barnsley on Sunday.

One of their players that day was Keanu Baccus who we were after in the summer of 2023 but seemingly we wouldn't match his wage demand and/or his clubs valuation of him - he moved on a free to Mansfield this summer.

Apparently Aden Flit, their 35 year old 6ft 6inch centre back won their player of the year last season.

On paper we should win but who knows.

What do you think?

Hard earned for the Wanderers, Toughsheet for Mansfield!

Highlights including ALL the penalties!

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Ian Evatt on Mansfield Town shoot-out win

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Ian Evatt was pleased to get valuable minutes in the legs as Wanderers booked their place in the Carabao Cup second round.

There was nothing to separate the sides after 90 minutes, with Davis Keillor-Dunn cancelling out George Thomason’s superb opener.

Luke Southwood was the hero in the shoot-out on his full debut, denying Aaron Lewis and Will Swan from 12 yards.

“We made nine changes from Saturday and a lot of these lads are new to us,” said Evatt after the final whistle. I thought first half, we lacked fluidity.

“Obviously, these players are getting used to each other and the way we do things. There were clear signs that everybody wasn’t on the same page, but that will come with time. This is why these games are crucial.

“Second half was a lot more like it, I thought we were in control. I don’t think they had many opportunities at all apart from the goal they scored.

“We just weren’t clinical enough with our opportunities. Then you get to penalties and anything can happen.

“The goalkeeper has pulled off, the last one in particular, a brilliant save and we managed to take our penalties apart from the two who missed.

“George picked his spot and the goalkeeper made the save. Randell missed the target but that is football. Fortunately for us, Luke managed to get us through.”

Chris Forino, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Jay Matete and John McAtee also made their first start for the Whites, while George Johnston and Randell Williams started in the backline.

“Tonight was crucial to get people minutes and up to speed,” the manager continued. “As I said, we have had new signings who joined us really late and probably had two or three training sessions.

“We can’t expect them to come onto the pitch together – it wasn’t like we changed one or two, we changed everything and everyone pretty much.

“It is understandable that some of those relationships aren’t going to be as fluid as they will be in a couple of weeks’ time.

“The most important thing is we stayed injury free, people have had game practice and managed to improve their fitness, and we managed to win. It is all positive really.”

Evatt was booked for his protests in the second half after Hiram Boateng took a wild swipe at Matete.

“I am so frustrated,” he admitted. “Saturday, we missed a clear red card and it has been confirmed by the PGMOL that it was a red card.

“We lose a player (Klaidi Lolos) for a significant period of time. How long, we don’t know but it will be a minimum of six weeks.

“But for a player who can’t get near the ball, to volley a player from behind - above the ankle – and not be punished for it is just baffling really.

“I think it is a really poor decision and poor from the player, I told him that after. There is a way to tactical foul, it is part of the game and we have to deal with it, but not like that.

“That is how players get injured and I am really grateful we didn’t get any more injuries tonight.”

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Mansfield boss on 'cruel' defeat and 'brilliant' Thomason strike

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Nigel Clough felt his Mansfield side “more than held our own” against Wanderers and were unlucky to lose out on penalties.

George Thomason’s moment of magic appeared to have put the Whites on course for victory, but Davis Keillor-Dunn got the visitors back on level terms eight minutes from time.

Clough says there was plenty of quality on show despite both sides making plenty of changes from the weekend.

“Very pleased with it from start to finish,” he said after the final whistle. “A different sort of shape, different personnel but the principles stayed the same.

“I thought we knocked it about well. We didn’t create as much as we would have liked, a lack of conviction in the final third in the first half.

“It is a cruel way to lose on penalties but I didn’t think we deserved to lose.”

Clough added: “I thought they all did well, it showed the strength of the squad. Bolton did similar, as we thought they would.

“It’s early in the season and you have two league games which are important, it is a good opportunity to give the squad a game.

“It shouldn’t result in a lack of quality, which I didn’t think it did in the game tonight.”

The Mansfield boss admitted Thomason’s goal was a special strike but felt his side could have done more in the build-up.

“I’m not too happy with the goal we conceded,” he added. “It was a brilliant finish in the end but we shouldn’t have given the free kick away, and then Lee Gregory should have cleared it.

“We got back into it and had a brilliant chance with Lee, it wouldn’t quite come down for him.

“Then we needed one of two penalties to win it, the opportunities were there throughout the evening but it didn’t quite go our way.”

“That is the most encouraging thing from tonight, we have gone to Barnsley and Bolton now.

“They weren’t quite at full strength, but neither were we, and I think we have more than held our own in both games and could have come away with two victories.”

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It was a good workout for both the new players and those returning from injury but it was clear that our players were strangers and they played like it.
Evatt was pleased with the work out and for us it was a chance to see what we've signed in closer detail. My thoughts on the newbies were: 
Osei-Tutu undoubtedly has great pace, but his positional sense and passing need work. Could improve when we he gets more used to his teammates and the system. Thought his first instinct was defensive rather than getting forward so was surprised when JDC was brought on behind rather than ahead of him and the uncertainty that created was a key factor in their goal - neither went to challenge Keillor Dunn. 6/10 but with raw talent to improve. Still think he'll struggle to take JDC's place.
Southwood was nervy and his distribution was pants compared to Baxter. He looked a liability for most of the game so it was ironic that his penalty saves won the tie for us. 6/10 but will be on the bench for most of the season unless Baxter is ill or sold.
Forino showed some classy touches and some "no-nonsense" defending but slipped up a couple of times and put a couple of passes astray. Again he has talent and room to improve but is likely to be another bench warmer for now. 6/10
McAtee was a bit of a problem for me. Obviously a classy player, and I have no problem with a bit of arrogant skill - providing it works - but nothing worked for him. Came across as one of those who fancy themselves a bit so he was trying (too hard) to impress instead of making easy passes to his teammates to keep the move going. He's a good player but he's no Jay Jay so he needs to start focusing on his team role rather than trying to be clever all the time. 6/10 but get his head right and he could be excellent.
Matete was my MOTM. Rock solid in midfield, gave nothing away, kept it simple, involved his team mates - exactly what we've been missing for some time now. 8/10 no problem and probably why Boateng lost the plot. When George came on to join him we took the game by the balls - although I thought George could have worked harder to get across to Keillor Dunn when he scored. But overall they look like a very strong midfield pairing.
Which raises the Sheehan question - which 2 of those 3 will Evatt pair in midfield? A lot of folk are suggesting Sheehan is undroppable - but in a 343 variant system I think he is, especially after he has been targeted/man-marked since January, his productivity has dried up a bit and the deep-lying role has been sacked off. We'll see, but as it stands my starting X1 would be:
Baxter
Toal Santos Johnston

JDC Matete Tommo Schon

Collins Dion McAtee

Won't happen, but that's what I'd go with.

Thanks for those interesting reflections, Lusty. 

Not much to disagree with there, though Santos is a continuing worry imo

I’m quite surprised that Evatt didn’t get rid of him if I’m honest.