Mansfield Town v Sheffield United
Pre-season friendly
Saturday 10th July, kick-off 3.00pm

The Blades lost their opening pre-season friendly of the campaign but Kevin Blackwell got the chance to see his new signings and a number of triallists in action.

All five summer captures - Steve Simonsen, Simon Walton, Daniel Bogdanovic, Johnny Ertl and Leon Britton - were in action, although Walton was stretchered off in the first half.

As well as new signings Blackwell also included a number of triallists, all defenders. They were Athletic Bilbao's Ander Murillo, Greek Theo Berios, former Swansea and Peterborough full-back Tom Williams, Frenchman William Edjenguele and Belgian Jason Vandelannoite.

Murillo was positioned at right back, Williams at left and Berios alongside Morgan in the starting line-up whilst youngster Chapell, a product of the Academy, also started.
With the new faces taking time to bed in, United made a slow start and the first three chances all went to the home side but Stonehouse, Sandwith and Smith all failed to find the target.

United's first effort was the result of the front two - Bogdanovic and Evans - linking up but the latter's half-volley, on 20 minutes, was pushed away by Mansfield goalkeeper, Marriott.

The home side's Nix, a former Blade, curled a free-kick over the United wall but into the arms of Simonsen and the visitors began to get a foothold. Chapell had a shot saved by Marriott and Walton, just before limping off, had an effort blocked from a Yeates corner.

Chapell failed to convert when a Yeates pass put him in the clear, whilst on 37 minutes Simonsen was forced into his first save, keeping out from Istead after a pass by substitute James had been intercepted.

Just before the break, Mansfield had a better chance to open the scoring, this time Berios failed to cut out an Istead pass and Simonsen was forced to save with his feet to deny Gregory.

Wholesale changes ensued at half-time with only Berios remaining from the first half team. Vandelannoite and Edjenguele took up full-back positions with Taylor as a makeshift central defender.

It was one of Mansfield's substitutes, however, that made the first impression, opening the scoring on 50 minutes. From a hopeful forward pass, BRISCOE squeezed between Edjenguele and Taylor and slotted the ball between the legs of Aksalu.

The second half was disjointed with the Stags also making a glut of changes. Homegrown James re-appeared for the second half, replaced Berios, and tested the palms of substitute Mansfield goalkeeper Collett, whilst Cresswell was finding little joy in the penalty area, although he did head over a Reid corner and watched as Collett tipped over another effort.

Mansfield survived Michael Boulding's handball in the penalty area and Collett made another save, this time denying Foster, as United exerted pressure late on. Foster also fired wide in the final five minutes.

The home side were also a threat in the final moments and, on the break, Aksalu denied Higginson and then Boulding.

The final chance fell to United when Britton's cross evaded a number of heads and then bounced against the far post before the home side gratefully cleared.

Mansfield: Marriott, Silk, Sandwith, Foster, Duffy, Nix, Smith, Naylor, Stonehouse, Istead, Gregory. Subs: Collett, Mills, Smith, Briscoe, Somner, Williams, Higginson, Turner, O'Rafferty, M. Boulding, R. Boulding, Caines, Leonard, Mitchley, Abnett, Francis.

Blades:
first half: Simonsen, Murillo, Williams, Berios, Morgan, Chapell, Montgomery, Walton (James 30), Yeates, Evans, Bogdanovic.
second half: Aksalu, Vandelannoite, Edjenguele, Berios (James 65), Taylor, Lowton, Ertl, Britton, Reid, Foster, Cresswell.
Unused: Roe, Brown.

Attendance 1,797 (826 away fans)