Infamy to fan-favourite - how Roberts began afresh

Goalkeeper Liam Roberts has found a fresh start at Mansfield Town after his time at Millwall ended in infamy, says Stags boss Nigel Clough.

Roberts was banned for six games after he was sent off in the Lions' FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Crystal Palace in March for kicking Eagles forward Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head as he rushed out of goal.

Mateta required 25 stitches for a severe laceration to his ear, while the goalkeeper went on to receive death threats and endured online abuse in the aftermath.

Clough says the 30-year-old spoke to him candidly about the incident, the "rough time" that followed and how it impacted him before joining the League One club.

"He brought it up and was saying how tough a period it was for him but, having come through it, it made him stronger to deal with things," Clough told BBC Sport.

"Ultimately it was a bad challenge, he knows that, but it was an accident and he got the ban for it and everything."

While more than six months have passed, and Roberts has put 180 miles between him and the south London derby, Tuesday's meeting between Millwall and Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup has refocused attention on the sickening collision.

Asked if his hour-long first meeting with Roberts included talk of finding a clean slate in Mansfield, Clough replied: "Yep. I think he wanted to get out of London.

"Living in London is a testing thing, especially when you are not from there, so I think he wanted to get back north and it felt like a perfect fit for him.

"He had been a number two for a majority of the time at Millwall, and I think at 29, 30, he wanted to be a number one and play his 46-50 games a season."

Clough said Roberts was Mansfield's "number one choice" to replace Christy Pym, the Stags' promotion-winning goalkeeper who then helped keep them in League One last season before being released.

Roberts has delivered with a number of fine displays so far, which also included setting up Saturday's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Stevenage.

The goalkeeper's quick thinking to collect the ball from a corner and throw it out to Joe Gardner allowed the on-loan Nottingham Forest forward to race away to score a spectacular solo effort.

"What you see is an all-round, very good goalkeeper," Clough said.

"Some of his saves against Chesterfield in the Carabao Cup the other week were outstanding, and then you see the other side, his distribution.

"He is a favourite with the fans and whenever the back four turn around and see him, I think he gives them a great deal of reassurance."