Eaves on the spot as Cobblers fight back to stun Stags at Sixfields

It was the same old story for Cobblers in the first half.

They started reasonably well and looked promising in moments but their attacking play was devoid of any craft or guile, and when opportunities did come their way, they were not taken.

By contrast, Mansfield were dynamic, fluid and a consistent threat and those qualities were no better underlined than by Rhys Oates’ sweetly-taken 19th-minute opener.

Up until Perkins equalised in the 53rd minute, Town struggled for momentum and quality, but once the wing-back had superbly fired home at the back post, they were by far and away the better team and deserved their victory.

Eaves made a big difference off the bench and he proved the match-winner, calmly converting from the penalty spot after the excellent Ethan Wheatley had been tripped in the box.

The win stops the rot and took Cobblers up to ninth in Sky Bet League One ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs.

Jack Burroughs and Conor McCarthy both came straight back into the team after recovering from injury and Tyrese Fornah also returned in three changes from last weekend’s FA Cup defeat.

Michael Forbes and Nesta Guinness-Walker missed out altogether due to injury and Michael Jacobs dropped to the bench.

Cobblers almost struck inside the first minute when Jordan Thorniley headed just wide after rising well to meet Terry Taylor’s corner before Tyrese Fornah delivered a superb cross and Cameron McGeehan looked certain to score, only for ex-Town goalkeeper Liam Roberts to pull off a smart reaction stop.

The hosts had started well and were playing with energy and purpose, but they were sucker-punched when Mansfield took their first chance of the game on 19 minutes.

A Cobblers attack broke down and the visitors charged up the other end where Oates was too quick and strong for Perkins, cutting inside and lashing a fantastic finish into the bottom corner.

That knocked Town off their stride and their early intensity and threat dissipated somewhat, while Mansfield continually posed problems on the break through the pace and movement of Oates, Will Evans and Tyler Roberts.

Roberts did go off with injury shortly before half-time but the Stags very nearly doubled their advantage late in the first half when Stephen McLaughlin’s near post header went right across the face of goal and dropped wide.

Nolan made a change at the break, replacing Kyle Edwards with Eaves, but it was all Mansfield in the early stages of the second half as they looked to extend their lead.

However, just like in the first half, a goal came against the run of play when Cobblers levelled out of the blue.

McCarthy delivered a cross from the right, McGeehan flicked on and Perkins arrived at the back post where he cracked home a fabulous first-time finish into the roof of the net.

That lifted Sixfields and now it was game on.

Cobblers were playing with two up top and that gave Mansfield’s defence more to think about but it also left them open going the other way and George Maris almost restored the away side’s lead on the break.

But the turnaround was completed with 16 minutes to go when fine work by Taylor set Wheatley away on the break and his driving run into the box was brought to an illegal end.

Eaves stuck away the spot-kick, coolly sending Roberts the wrong way.

Lucas Akins headed a big chance straight at Fitzsimons in response before generally Cobblers managed their lead well and if anything they were the more likely team to score another goal.

Wheatley so nearly sealed it in the first of nine minutes of stoppage-time when side-footing Elliott List’s cross just wide, while List himself was then denied by Roberts, but the hosts saw it out to register an important victory.

Match facts

Cobblers: Fitzsimons, McCarthy (Swyer 71), Willis, Thorniley, Burroughs (List 81), Perkins, Taylor, Fornah, McGeehan ©, Edwards (Eaves 45), Wheatley. Subs not used: Burge, Guthrie, Tomlinson, Jacobs

Mansfield Town: L Roberts, Knoyle (Dwyer 82), Oshilaja, Blake-Tracy, McLaughlin ©, McDonnell, Lewis, Moriah-Welsh (Akins 64), T Roberts (Maris 39), Evans (Bowery 82), Oates. Subs not used: Mason, Sweeney, Dickov

Referee: Elliot Bell

Attendance: 6,871

Mansfield fans: 1,471