Mansfield 0-1 Bolton
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:37, UK
Injury-hit Mansfield suffered a fourth successive league defeat after Rhys Oates was sent off after just 12 minutes in a 1-0 home reversal to classy Bolton.
With several key players already out, depleted Mansfield were even more up against it when forward Oates was red-carded after jumping into a dangerous tackle on Ethan Erhahon and leaving the referee with little option.
But Stags protected Liam Roberts well as Bolton tried to make their numerical advantage pay and Jamie McDonnell was inches wide of the Bolton net from 25 yards on 23 minutes.
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However, home resistance was broken on 40 minutes.
George Johnston lifted a testing high ball into the home box where Baily Cargill half-cleared with an outstretched leg only to see Jordi Osei-Tutu reach the loose ball and smash it home from seven yards.
Bolton patiently controlled possession after the break but found the Stags a tough nut to crack, Cyrus Christie unable to direct a far-post finish on target on 73 minutes from a Thierry Gale cross and Gale firing straight at Roberts near the end.
Mansfield had last-minute shouts for a penalty for handball against Christie waved away as Bolton went a sixth league game unbeaten with a good response to their weekend FA Cup exit at Swindon.
