Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Mansfield Town 2.
Crewe Alexandra 2-2 Mansfield Town
- From the section Football
League Two title favourites Mansfield had to come from behind to earn a draw at Crewe thanks to second-half goals from Danny Rose and Dave Mirfin.
The Stags struggled to impose themselves on a lively Crewe side, who twice led through powerful headers from Chris Porter.
Early on, Chris Dagnall's fierce drive could not be held by Conrad Logan, who was rather fortunate when the Crewe striker clipped a tame shot into his arms.
Lee Angol went close for the visitors with a dipping free kick, but the hosts went even closer when Callum Ainley's angled drive was kept out by Logan.
The Railwaymen deserved their half-time lead when Porter headed in after George Cooper's corner was directed back across goal by Michael Raynes.
Steve Evans' side were level when Rose headed Mal Benning's cross into the far corner in the 54th minute.
Porter conjured an eye-catching finish when he glanced Cooper's delivery beyond Logan into the far corner in the 63rd minute, but Mansfield were level again three minutes later when defender Mirfin ghosted in at the far post to bundle in Joel Byrom's long free kick.
Mansfield could have won it but Ben Garratt kept out a late effort from Paul Anderson.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Crewe
- 1Garratt
- 2Ng
- 4WalkerBooked at 62mins
- 6RaynesBooked at 66mins
- 12NolanBooked at 25mins
- 14AinleyBooked at 75minsSubstituted forBoweryat 80'minutes
- 15Wintle
- 16Lowery
- 11Cooper
- 7Porter
- 9Dagnall
Substitutes
- 10Bowery
- 13Richards
- 18Pickering
- 19Dale
- 20Kirk
- 21Finney
- 25Sass-Davies
Mansfield
- 1Logan
- 16WhiteBooked at 76mins
- 6Diamond
- 18Mirfin
- 3Benning
- 11Atkinson
- 8MellisBooked at 34minsSubstituted forDigbyat 77'minutes
- 26ByromBooked at 70mins
- 10Anderson
- 9AngolSubstituted forSterling-Jamesat 71'minutesBooked at 79mins
- 32RoseBooked at 45minsSubstituted forHamiltonat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bennett
- 4Digby
- 5Pearce
- 12Olejnik
- 17Potter
- 21Sterling-James
- 22Hamilton
- Referee:
- Graham Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 4,933
Match Stats
Home TeamCreweAway TeamMansfield
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 2, Mansfield Town 2.
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by David Mirfin.
Attempt missed. Michael Raynes (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Chris Porter (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Zander Diamond (Mansfield Town).
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Paul Digby.
Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Hayden White.
Attempt saved. Chris Dagnall (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Michael Raynes.
Attempt blocked. CJ Hamilton (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Will Atkinson (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. CJ Hamilton replaces Danny Rose.
Attempt missed. Zander Diamond (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Chris Porter (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Hayden White (Mansfield Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Jordan Bowery replaces Callum Ainley.
Attempt missed. Paul Anderson (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Booking
Omari Sterling-James (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Brad Walker (Crewe Alexandra).
Omari Sterling-James (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Paul Anderson (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Paul Digby replaces Jacob Mellis.
Booking
Hayden White (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
George Cooper (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Hayden White (Mansfield Town).
Booking
Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Callum Ainley (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Hayden White (Mansfield Town).
Foul by Chris Porter (Crewe Alexandra).
Joel Byrom (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Mansfield Town. Omari Sterling-James replaces Lee Angol.
Booking
Joel Byrom (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Brad Walker (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Joel Byrom (Mansfield Town).
Hand ball by Tommy Lowery (Crewe Alexandra).
Goal!
Goal! Crewe Alexandra 2, Mansfield Town 2. David Mirfin (Mansfield Town) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Joel Byrom.
Booking
Michael Raynes (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Michael Raynes (Crewe Alexandra).
Lee Angol (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
