If Wednesday night was one small step forwards, this felt like five steps back.
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Angry Scott Parker reacts to Burnley's FA Cup shock at the hands of Mansfield To...](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/angry-scott-parker-reacts-to-burnleys-fa-cup-shock-at-the-hands-of-mansfield-town-5598485 "Angry Scott Parker reacts to Burnley's FA Cup shock at the hands of Mansfield Town")
For three days, three whole days, we were treated, nay spoiled, to an injection of positivity. The cloud of toxicity had briefly abated following that remarkable midweek win at Crystal Palace.
After tasting three points for the first time in 108 days, you’d think Scott Parker and Burnley would want that newfound hope and optimism to stretch out for as long as possible. Even if it's just for a week and a half.
A home tie against League One opposition provided a perfect platform, surely, for another comfortable win – a la the 5-1 thrashing of Millwall in the last round – to take into next week’s trip to Chelsea.
Burnley fans weren’t necessarily expecting another heavy victory, a Valentine’s Day Massacre, you could say, but a comfortable enough passage through to the next round – the last 16 of the greatest cup competition in the world, let’s not forget – wouldn’t go amiss.
It was crying out for Burnley to name a strong side. It didn’t even have to be unchanged, some of the alternations made complete sense (like Max Weiss continuing his cup run, for example), but nine? Did it really have to be nine? It felt like it was asking for trouble.
In an ideal world, you’d go as close to the starting XI that produced that comeback win in the capital on Wednesday night. But speaking realistically here, would five or six changes really have made that much of a difference?
Loum Tchanouna has his head in his hands after a bad miss. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Loum Tchanouna has his head in his hands after a bad miss. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
Now of course, Parker is right to say the Clarets still had more than enough on the field of play to get the job done. It was still a strong XI and they still created more than enough chances to win the game (producing an xG of 3.82 to Mansfield’s 0.90).
But this was a case of managing PR and the mood more than anything. Minimise the risk, play as strong a team as you can and just go and win the game.
Even for Parker on a personal level and his job security, why bring up the danger of more question marks over your role?
If everything goes accordingly, get a two or three-goal lead and take off four or five of your best players on the hourmark, if needed. This isn’t said with the benefit of hindsight, either. Many were relaying similar comments prior.
Josh Laurent celebrates scoring against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup with Loum Tchanouna and Ashley Barnes.. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Josh Laurent celebrates scoring against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup with Loum Tchanouna and Ashley Barnes.. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
But here we are, it feels like we’re back to square one. That all-too-brief positivity has evaporated before our very eyes, with boos and some verbals greeting Parker and his players at the full-time whistle for the second home game running.
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In a season full of lows, this felt like a new one.
In a campaign where Burnley didn’t win for 16 league games, they’ve also managed to lose not once, but twice to League One opposition. That’s unforgivable.
Marcus Edwards leaves the field following the 2-1 defeat to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Marcus Edwards leaves the field following the 2-1 defeat to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
The most frustrating thing is, as touched upon above, this was self-inflicted. It was brought upon by themselves.
There’s one thing losing to Brighton and Sunderland in pitiful fashion, but at least they’re top Premier League outfits who are able to compete with the very best this country has to offer.
But to be unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by a third tier side? Fair play to the Stags by the way, they were excellent and deserved their victory – especially for their second-half display. Their 3,500 travelling fans were superb all game too. But for Burnley, there can be no excuse.
The Clarets performed well enough during the first-half, well enough to hold more than a one-goal lead anyway. But it was only Josh Laurent’s well-taken goal that separated the two sides at half-time.
Perhaps the game would have gone differently had Ashley Barnes steered into the back of the net, rather than wide of the post, as early as the fourth minute from just a few yards out.
Loum Tchaouna, who delivered another underwhelming display, somehow managed to blaze high and wide after space opened up for him inside the Mansfield box.
Under-pressure Burnley boss Scott Parker during his post-match press conference. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Under-pressure Burnley boss Scott Parker during his post-match press conference. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
Jacob Bruun Larsen, who also failed to take his chance, could and perhaps should have done better with a scooped effort over the onrushing keeper, which didn’t have the power nor precision to find its way into the back of the net.
Even though the hosts appeared comfortable for the most part, there were still one or two moments where Mansfield caused some anxiety among the Burnley backline. You could sense they were a little edgy.
While Burnley’s advantage remained a slender one, Mansfield’s confidence and belief levels only grew. They emerged with a much more front-footed approach in the second-half and decided to ‘have a go’, for want of a better phrase, and it paid off.
Rhys Oates levelled matters just eight minutes after the break with a well-placed header, having climbed high above Laurent, playing out of position at right-back.
Fair play, you thought. It’s nice for the lower league side to have a moment and to be able to dream of an upset. But you assumed Burnley would soon put things right.
But…it just didn’t happen? They huffed and they puffed but the quality just wasn’t there. There was no cutting edge. Even the changes off a strong bench failed to have the desired effect.
It looked for all intents and purposes this cup tie would be heading for extra-time, but Burnley’s worst nightmares came true when Louis Reed stuck a James Ward-Prowse-esque free-kick into the top corner to the delight of those flailing limbs in the away end.
The Clarets had no riposte, albeit substitute Zian Flemming squandered another gilt-edged chance, inexcusably failing to hit the target from all of seven or eight yards out.
For Reed and the Stags, this was the perfect day. For Burnley, it was yet another damaging, depressing walk on the wild side.
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