Mansfield Town striker Rhys Oates found himself in the thick of all the main moments as Stags pulled off a historic 2-1 away win at Premier League Burnley in Saturday's thrilling FA Cup fourth round clash.
Oates had an effort disallowed, missed a sitter, scored a superb equaliser and then took a kick in the face that cut his forehead and earned Stags the free kick from which Louis Reed won the tie.
“It was amazing for the club, the players and the fans and we all relished the occasion,” he said.
“I think we showed a battling character to come back from 1-0 down at half-time against a Premier League club.
Rhys Oates in full flight at Burnley. Photo by Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.mediaplaceholder image
Rhys Oates in full flight at Burnley. Photo by Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media
“We had nothing to lose so we just gave it our all.
“To come back and win it, everyone was just buzzing afterwards.
“We tried to press high first half when they were probably expecting us to sit in more of a low block and them have much more possession.
“But we were a bit wasteful when we did get the ball and not as clinical as we know we can be in the final third.
“That changed in the second half and we were a bit more on the front foot and created more chances.
“Burnley had chances in the first half but did not put them away, so we were still in the game and we knew we could create chances. We just had to concentrate more on the end product which we did in the second half.”
Oates had the ball in the net at 1-0 down in the first half, but said: “I knew I had clipped his heels and was just hoping I would get away with it and tried to put it away.
“But I heard the whistle before I shot, so knew it wasn't going to count. But it was promising knowing we were getting opportunities like that.”
He then went through one on one just after the break, but missed the target.
“That was a really good chance. I probably had too much time to think about it,” he said.
“I made my decision and tried to bend it round the keeper, but it ended up going straight and wide.
“Looking back maybe I could have gone round him and slotted it away. But in that moment you just have to make your mind up and go with it.”
But it was third time lucky as he netted a far post header to equalise and said: “It was a great ball from Knoyley (Kyle Knoyle).
“He put it in first time with great whip on it and I just tried to get up early, managed to get above him and guide it into the corner.
“I don't think I have scored many for Mansfield with my head, though I did get one against Bolton with a very different type of header.
“So it was nice to score a header, especially against a Premier League club – it was a good feeling.”
Oates then took a kick to the head from Florentina to win a free kick.
“I thought if I managed to get my head on it I might be through one on one and he has just caught me in the face. You just have to put your head in where it hurts,” he said.
“I am not sure if anyone was covering him. It could have potentially been a red card, I'm not too sure.
“But then Reedy did what he did, so it didn't make a difference in the end.
“It was an unbelievable free kick. But he does that day in, day out.
“He practices his free kicks most days after training and he can get it up and down and get the movement on it.
“Thankfully for him and us it has come off in a game and it was a worldie.”
Oates was off the field at the time getting the blood cleaned up from the cut on his forehead but made sure he ran over to join the celebration pile-on with team mates.
“I am not sure if I was supposed to run down there, but I wasn't missing out on the opportunity to get involved in the celebrations,” he smiled.
“Being away at a Premier League club I just wanted to enjoy the moment with the lads.
“I had family and friends in the stand behind the goal so they had a perfect view of both the goals and really enjoyed the day too.
“We knew they would put some pressure on us after that and we needed to be in a good low block and more defence-minded and I think we showed in that last 15 minutes how good we can be as a team defensively.”
Oates had high praise for the travelling army of fans who out-sung home fans throughout.
“The supporters were amazing from the first minute,” he said.
“We could hear them during the warm up and throughout the game they were the loudest stand in the stadium.
“They have been amazing every away game. Sheffield United was the same, just bouncing.
“Just to see how happy they all were after the game, it's what you play football for.
“You are there to enjoy it yourself, but also to entertain.
“I think we did that and the fans had a good day out.
“These games have been a good chance to test ourselves against higher opposition teams from higher leagues. It is nice to put yourself about and just work as hard as you can.”
Stags were first game on BBC flagship show Match of the Day with Oates even getting a section of analysis to himself,
“It was nice to get picked out and seeing a few clips of me showing my work rate off the ball as well as on it,” he said.
“I will always put 100 per cent in whatever game I play, whether that's in the league or the cup against teams above us or below us.
“Everybody loves the FA Cup, it has been the best cup for years and years and that may give you that extra couple of per cent to prove you can perform against teams at a higher level.”
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