Mansfield’s Rhys Oates scores winner against Bolton on return from suspension

Rhys Oates made a scoring return from suspension as Mansfield ended Bolton’s 17-match unbeaten home run with a 1-0 Sky Bet League One victory at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Oates, controversially sent off when Wanderers won 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Field Mill on December 9, scored the only goal after 43 minutes from close range after keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe flapped at Nathan Moriah-Welsh’s corner.

Bolton had had the best of it until that point, winning 10 corners and dominating possession.

Sam Dalby was denied by a superb early stop from Liam Roberts, who also saved from Josh Sheehan, with Bolton’s two-goal Boxing Day hero firing narrowly over from 30 yards as well.

Sheehan’s sublime pass set-up Max Conway after 49 minutes, but Roberts would not be beaten.

Bolton also saw two late penalty appeals waved away as they dropped from fourth to sixth.

Mansfield’s backs-to-the-wall win was their second straight triumph on the road and their first at Bolton since 1987.