Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United

S24SU · OFFICIAL MATCHDAY EDITION · 2026/27 · No.1

9th August 2026 - Kick-off 16:00
Mansfield Town v Sheffield United
Carabao Cup – Round 1 - One Call Stadium, Mansfield

Carabao Cup Round 1 – Sunday 9 August 2026, 16:00 – One Call Stadium, Mansfield
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Match Info

Competition: Carabao Cup, Round 1

Kick-off: Sunday 9 August 2026, 16:00

Venue: One Call Stadium, Mansfield

Player Ratings: CLICK HERE (will open shortly after full time)

Officials

Referee: Stephen Martin

Assistants: Alex James and Hristo Karaivanov

Fourth Official: Matthew Mcquillan

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Keep it on-topic and within the rules – see the forum rules if unsure.​

 

[Stretch]

Good performance that.

Dominated every aspect of the game and most of the lads looked settled.

 

[Sydney Blade]

A good result and a solid second half. Well done Blades!!

A few observations from me:

- Typical first game of the season but got the job done and played some nice stuff in the second half.

- Rothwell was poor in the first half but much better in the second half.

- Really like COH but needs to shoot more, as others have said. Think he’ll do well agin this season.

- RND needs to move on.

- Enjoyed watching Hamer but think we look more balanced without him (although will
miss his magic moments).

- Donovan looks like he has something to offer (shame about Chong).

- Tin hat on… I think Cannon will come good. Almost getting Ched vibes (for the good reasons).

- Don’t sell Peck!!!

Agree overall but thought Rothwell looked solid first half and willing to shoot which then setup Bamford.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

I was just happy we out out a team that actually looked like they had trained together!! Maybe CW is onto something with this playing football tactic!! We'll see Saturday

 

[Nick Jansky]

Thank god for that because with Peck and Blaster its about to get dicey in midfield.

The midfield improved.

 

[Snowflake]

Already got the feeling this Donovan loan is gonna be the typical wilder attacking player loan where he just gets them in and never plays them.

There are a string of if these over the years where he just doesn’t fancy them.

There Will be a large loan fee and probably decent wages it’s costing us.

…but he looks good ?

 

[Hamer's Right Peg]

The midfield improved.

Pleasantly surprised given how Arblaster and Peck played together last season.

 

[Champagneblade]

Totally professions job.

Cooper made an excellent save at the end of the first half; one of those he would have conceded last season but saved the season before. I hope he is back.

Fair shout to McGuinness who scored and had a decent game. Tanganga also fine. Seriki was a threat going forwards, in the right place defensively to block a shot though took a booking after some Didzy skills. Doherty came on and was steady, not much of a challenge for him. Norrington-Davies was fine, but not so front footed as Burrows in the second half.

Peck was probably my MoTM. Thought he was everywhere. Those thinking it’s ok if we cash in to West Ham I.e. I was one of them! We need a rethink. We’re far better when he starts. Rothwell needs to improve his shooting and should have scored. He’s not the quickest but tidy and looked to play forward. Arblaster came on and played a lovely ball for the third.

Chong was encouraging and I hope his injury isn’t anything significant. Donovan had a number of instances where he didn’t make the right decision or miscontrolled but then showed his quality with a good cross for the third. O’Hare was busy and involved and seemed to take an extra touch each time he could have shot. Good to see him score.

Bamford such a clever player and took his goal really well. Retains possession very well high up the pitch. Another blank for Cannon, wasn’t a threat first half, had a couple of chances second half but missed. He looks bigger than last season, kept running but not his day. Oné came on for Bamford and was a handful. Set up Cannon and also cleverly made a cushion header for O’Hare’s goal.

Decent effort and some nice goals. Third one was very well worked.

 

[espoo blade]

Job done, some positive signs. Gaps are there for all to see in the squad though e.g. desperate for 2 starting wingers. Good to see Cooper back and fit as well, makes a huge difference

Cooper looking a lot more confident than last season. One great save, some commanding claims and came out well to sweep up some through-balls. Can't really fault him today at all.

 

[Back post bob]

Was a decent performance all things considered.

Thought Rothwell did well in the first half but ran out of gas.

This should be O'Hare's team now from an attacking POV. Just wish he would shoot every now and then instead of looking to pass every time and a 4 yard tap in doesn't change that.

Few pieces needed but its a decent floor at least.

Rothwell did do well kept it simple and moved the ball quickly and then always took a position for a return ball if needed.
Michael Brown on sky before the game more or less confirmed that we would be having incoming players and loans.
I cannot belive the negativity of some people on here.
I agree upgrades in certain areas are required but you would think we didn't have a squad.

 

[ben1987]

The midfield improved.

Arblaster looks to have regained a bit of mobility over pre season to me.

His quality showed at times too with some nice one touch interlink passing and he played some of our better through balls. Now Gus has gone, Arblaster is probably our best passer of the ball and he can weight a nice pass between the lines.

Peck and Arblaster are unlikely to work in a 4231 type system but in todays 442 they worked quite well next to each other.

I’d quite like to see them either side of a deep sitting Jairo in a 433.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

3 in one lucky game. Are you serious? Return average of 6 goals a season for a championship striker. FFS. Didzy did better and he wasn’t a striker. Give it up mate. It’s shite.

He's only 23 though, that's my point.

When he first played at this level for Preston he'd only just turned twenty and he scored 8 goals for them in just 20 games which was quite impressive.

He then had a decent loan at Stoke.

He's scored about the same amount of goals in the Championship as Billy Sharp had at the same age.

And no, I'm not saying he's going to be the next Billy Sharp but his goalscoring record isn't terrible, far from it.

 

[Hamer's Right Peg]

Rothwell did do well kept it simple and moved the ball quickly and then always took a position for a return ball if needed.
Michael Brown on sky before the game more or less confirmed that we would be having incoming players and loans.
I cannot belive the negativity of some people on here.
I agree upgrades in certain areas are required but you would think we didn't have a squad.

Its been a bit of a car crash off the pitch and with the recruitment so I think a few needed to vent which is fine.

Be boring if we all agreed lol.

 

[bakeblade]

I was trying to be kind, but I do see your point.

So was I, that's why I said team and not squad

 

[Kevin Arnott]

I was more pleased today that were no instances of passing it 20 times centre half / full back centre half midfield player centre half etc. However patchy the forward passes were at least we looked to get forward.

 

[Pawk Patrol]

Amused by Bamford interview where he said he anticipated Rothwell’s left foot shank

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Solid performance

One did more in 15 mins than Cannon did in 90.

Can’t we use Cannon as part of the Souttar deal and send him back to Leicester! He’s showed zero improvement in 18 months with us, truly an awful footballer. The Oates fella for Mansfield is a far better footballer and striker than Cannon.

Arblaster looked sharp and provided more control in midfield when he came on.

Fair play to McGuinness for his professionalism and attitude.

Donovan looks interesting!

Lastly - we look more solid defensively as a team without Gus… solid units and tracking back.

 

[Addison]

Credit to CW for playing Mcguiness whose goal settled the team down. He provided the much needed aerial cover and threat that we lack. Yes it was a League 1 team but they were big and physical as are many championship sides. We lack height at the back and looked flakey again when defending corners. Mcg provides that until we bring in better alternatives. So he starts against Brum for me.

Rothwell Serki Peck and Tanganga the better performers imo. Canon lacks the strength that One provided in his little cameo today. OHare was mobile as ever but needs to be told to put his foot through the ball in the penalty area. Still too many attempts to walk the ball into the net. The third goal was everything I want to see from SUFC quick counter attack first time passing with a decent cross and young One showing his strength to get on the end of it.

Overall its a win away from home that will boost confidence.

 

[blader]

Solid performance

One did more in 15 mins than Cannon did in 90.

Can’t we use Cannon as part of the Souttar deal and send him back to Leicester! He’s showed zero improvement in 18 months with us, truly an awful footballer. The Oates fella for Mansfield is a far better footballer and striker than Cannon.

Arblaster looked sharp and provided more control in midfield when he came on.

Fair play to McGuinness for his professionalism and attitude.

Donovan looks interesting!

Lastly - we look more solid defensively as a team without Gus… solid units and tracking back.

What’s he supposed to do if he doesn’t get any service???

















This post is tongue in cheek. He’s shit. But that’s the go to defence of poor strikers, even when the other strikers are scoring….

 

[SB_90]

1st was dicey. very scrappy goal & Mansfield the better team last 15 mins. 2nd half was a very encouraging display. I thought we played great. the positivity we needed after this summer.

believe only the 2nd league cup win for sheffield united since aug 2022. & the 1st away from home since Morecambe August 2015

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Get knocked out of cup onto the league
Lost before a balls been kicked can’t see where a goals coming from

Love your positivity. Please keep it up for every match this season.

 

[Æthelstan]

Even though it's only Mansfield and there are things to work on, a 3-0 win is a great start to build morale and get some momentum going. Hopefully it builds confidence amongst some of the lower skill players so they can step up and do more.

 

[William Large]

Decent display today. Some actual cohesion and attacking intent, particularly 2nd half.
Peck for some reason will always be a scapegoat so nice to see him get MOTM. He’s a much better player in oppositions half.
Cannon was….. Cannon.
Some optimism for the season tho, if only a glimmer.

 

[AWetFlannel]

3 in one lucky game. Are you serious? Return average of 6 goals a season for a championship striker. FFS. Didzy did better and he wasn’t a striker. Give it up mate. It’s shite.

When was Didzy not a striker, you're utterly clueless

 

[Sean Thornton]

Credit to CW for playing Mcguiness whose goal settled the team down. He provided the much needed aerial cover and threat that we lack. Yes it was a League 1 team but they were big and physical as are many championship sides. We lack height at the back and looked flakey again when defending corners. Mcg provides that until we bring in better alternatives. So he starts against Brum for me.

Rothwell Serki Peck and Tanganga the better performers imo. Canon lacks the strength that One provided in his little cameo today. OHare was mobile as ever but needs to be told to put his foot through the ball in the penalty area. Still too many attempts to walk the ball into the net. The third goal was everything I want to see from SUFC quick counter attack first time passing with a decent cross and young One showing his strength to get on the end of it.

Overall its a win away from home that will boost confidence.

Agree with that, McGuinness very professional but can’t see Rothwell getting as much space in league games. Or do more than an hour. Cannon has very little physically for his size. Easily shouldered off the ball. Can’t see him being the answer. Seems slow of thought.

Some decent performances though. Peck MOM.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

 

[Gimli]

Decent enough performance, glad they’ve moved the league cup to before the league season kicks off, allows us to play a proper side and gives us an idea of what to expect for next week.

Clearly Brum will be a bigger test than Mansfield but it wasn’t a bad performance, considering it’s the first competitive game of the season, yes things to work on of course but happy enough with how we played.

 

[Belvedere Blade]

 

[Sean Thornton]

View attachment 241696

That’s the next pick three lotto numbers sorted!

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Pleased with that result, I really didn't know what to expect, good effort all round

 

[Belvedere Blade]