Football VAVEL

Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield Town: Lapslie header secures shock victory

Mansfield progressed to the second round of the FA Cup after a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield Town: Lapslie header secures shock victory

George Lapslie's second-half header saw Mansfield progress to the second round of the FA Cup (Ian Horrocks
 / Getty Images)
dave_cgr
By Dave Crowther-Green

A second-half header from George Lapslie helped Mansfield Town to a shock 1-0 win over Sunderland in the first round of the FA Cup.

The Stags midfielder struck against the run of play at the Stadium of Light to give the visitors their first win of the season.

  • Story of the match

Woodwork denies Sunderland twice early on

An energetic start saw the hosts denied twice by the woodwork within a matter of minutes.

After seeing his first effort from Will Grigg's lay off hit the post, forward Danny Graham was left frustrated again as he latched onto to debutant Callum McFadzean's cross and sent his header crashing against the underside of the crossbar on 10 minutes.

A half of missed opportunities

Sunderland continued to pressure the Stags' defence throughout the first half, going close on 35 minutes as McFadzean found space on the edge of the area and forced a good save out of goalkeeper Marek Stech.

Lapslie heads Stags in front

However, the visitors took advantage of those missed chances and went in front early into the second half as Lapslie grabbed his second goal of the season.

Connecting with Kellan Gordon's cross on 49 minutes, the on-loan midfielder powered his header past Remi Matthews and into the top corner to give the Stags an unlikely lead.

Visitors survive late pressure

The hosts piled on the pressure and pushed for an equaliser late on, going close on 71 minutes when Jack Diamond was played in by substitute Charlie Wyke but he could only find the side-netting.

Wyke then had a golden chance of his own with five minutes to go but he headed straight at Stech to cap off a frustrating afternoon for the Black Cats.

  • Match Stats

Sunderland 0-1 Mansfield Town

Matthews: McLaughlin, Flanagan, Sanderson, Diamond, McFadzean (O'Brien, 75'), Power, Dobson, Maguire (Embleton, 65') Graham (Wyke, 65'), Grigg

Unused subs: Burge; Willis, Leadbitter, Neil

Stech; Gordon, Rawson, Perch, Benning, Charsley, Lapslie, Maris, McLaughlin, Bowery, Maynard (O'Keeffe, 81')

Unused subs: Stone; Menayese, Cook, O'Driscoll, Reid, Sinclair

  • Takeaways

Missed chances cost Sunderland

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson will certainly be feeling frustrated with the number of missed chances from his side.

Failing to capitalise on a dominant first half against opposition a division below, the Black Cats ultimately caused their own downfall and will want to bounce back against Fleetwood Town in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. 

Mansfield grab important first win

Although he was absent from the dugout at the Stadium of Light, new Mansfield manager Nigel Clough will be delighted with his new side's performance this afternoon.

A first win in all competitions for the Stags this season, who will now look to do the same against Scunthorpe United in midweek.