Archived News from January 2012
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COX, DYER, SMITH AND NAS BASHIR REACTION
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video interviews with Paul Cox, Ross Dyer ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2584431,00.html audio interviews with Paul Cox, Ross Dyer and Adam Smith ---> http://soundcloud.com/mansfield-103-2-sport/sets/21-01-2012-mansfield-town-3 audio interview with Paul Cox from BBC Radio Nottm ---> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16559331.stm VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I think when the penalty came, I thought we'd probably missed our chance with some of the chances we'd missed throughout the game. "(Ben Hutchinson) Hutcho, to be fair, has come on and done well throughout the game and he's stuck his penalty away, like we know he can. "I think for 70 minutes we weren't the team we were in the last 20. In that last 20 we played some real fluid football in tough conditions and created some great chances." Mansfield Town striker Ross Dyer told BBC Radio Nottingham: "Ben Hutchinson [new signing] has been up there and done it and been in the Premier League. He's very confident and his ability is there to be seen. "He does great things in training as well and he's a very good footballer. If he gets his head down there is no doubt he will do good things for us as he showed against Hayes & Yeading. "My place is under threat but in a way that is a nice things as a footballer. You always want a bit of competition because it pushes you on. "It can only mean good things for Mansfield Town because we can keep strikers playing who are in form." -------------------- Hayes & Yeading boss Nas Bashir told the Non-League Paper: "It was an even game which Mansfield just nicked at the end. I think a draw would have been a fair result. They just got the rub of the green at the end. It was a good effort from the players, but a silly challenge in the last minute has cost us." ------------------------------ Praise for fans as they help Stags 'get out of jail' against Hayes chad.co.uk PAUL Cox thanked Stags fans for sticking behind his side on Saturday as they twice had to come from behind against struggling Hayes and Yeading before snatching a 3-2 win with Ben Hutchinson's last minute penalty. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/praise_for_fans_as_they_help_stags_get_out_of_jail_against_hayes_1_4169586 “I sound like a scratched record but I thought the crowd were really amazing today,” he said. “At 2-1 down they went a bit quiet but kickstarted themselves again and had an immense effect on our performance, roaring us on late in the game. I am chuffed for them today. “The conditions were worse than the Forest Green game, especially in the first half, and I didn't think we did enough with the wind at out backs or had enough shots on target. Then we were hit by a sucker punch. “It wasn't the greatest performance, apart from the last 20-25 minutes when we came alive and started to get the ball out wide and get crosses into the box. “I thought overall we deserved to win it. Like Forest Green it was more about the result than the performance.” He added: “At half-time I felt we were not at full throttle and one or two minds might have been taken it a bit lightly, which has been our downfall this season. And we missed so many chances. “Their second goal was a bit of a wake-up call. Then we started playing without any fear. “Hutchinson's introduction was a major factor. There might have been a question mark over who took the penalty. But he stepped up and he is a confident bugger. “Our two central midfielders covered every blade of grass out there against a three. They were both immense throughout the game. Size-wise they look like two midgets but are both quality players. “Credit to Adam Smith. His end product balls into the box were absolutely amazing.” Ross Dyer, who netted one and later missed a sitter, said: “It was a relief to win it. “To go 2-1 down was a bit disheartening. But, we made a few changes and got back into it. I thought we played really well for the last 20 minutes. “Hayes didn't seem to have have any other shots yet were 1-0 up. But we clawed out way back into it, showed great character, and I hope we can push on now.” On his goal he said: “I got a bit of space and took a shot which I was pleased to see go into the bottom corner. I knew I had to keep it low. “Even though I scored, it was the one I missed I will remember. It just glanced off me. But the boys got us out of jail. “Matt Green normally takes the penalties but he helped Ben Hutchinson to get off the mark.” Hayes boss Nas Bashir said: “Overall it was an even game which Mansfield just nicked at the end. I think a draw would have been a fair result. “I don't think Mansfield were any better than us. We scored twice and hit the post. They just got the rub of the green at the end. That's football. “Our last three games have been like that. It was a good effort from the players, but a silly challenge in the last minute has cost us. “If Mansfield are a top 10 side then we are moving forwards and I am pleased with our performances of late, even though the results are not following.” ------------------- Cox: The pressure was on us to win Nottingham Post PAUL Cox was delighted to see his Stags side show character and twice come from behind to beat struggling Hayes and Yeading. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15010395-detail/story.html Their opponents are in the relegation zone, but twice took the lead against Mansfield, before Ben Hutchinson's penalty won it for Mansfield in added time from the penalty spot. And the Stags boss said: "To be fair, in the last 25 minutes our play was excellent. We got the ball down and played. We put some quality into the box and fair play to Adam Smith on his return, he has whipped some great balls in and how we did not win the game by a greater margin I don't know. "Our central midfielders were out of this world and they are not the biggest up against giants and from start to finish they were excellent. They have a strong desire to win. "We knew we had to win the game and there was pressure on us. "In the first half, we were not great with the wind behind our backs and did not really affect the game. We played better into the wind. "It was a pressurised game due to the expectations because of where they are in the table and the onus was on us getting three points. "We did well and showed character to come back twice and win. "Their second goal was a wake-up call and we started playing without fear and won the game. "We go to Luton on Wednesday night and hopefully we can replicate the result." ------------------- Hutchinson class delight for Stags Nottingham Post PAUL Cox is ready to hand Ben Hutchinson his first start for Mansfield Town after his instant impact from the bench and match-winning goal in the dramatic last-gasp victory against Hayes and Yeading. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15010394-detail/story.html The former Middlesbrough and Celtic striker came off the bench in the 65th minute with the Stags trailing 2-1 at Field Mill. And, after displaying flashes of why he once graced the top stage in the game, he netted the penalty in stoppage time for Stags to win 3-2. Now Cox is ready to start him on Wednesday at Luton. He said: "When I brought Ben in and Gary (Roberts) people questioned some of the ethics, but I said we have two good footballers. Ben played in the Champions League a few years ago and you could tell because everything he does is sheer class. "What I mean by that is his touch, his awareness, his thought. "If somebody was going to pick up the ball and put it down (for the penalty) then Hutcho has nerves of steel. "The way he did it, gave the eyes, then went the other way was immense. He showed a lot of sophistication under a lot of pressure and that is what we brought to the club. "Everything about it, the way he brings the ball down, he is a great player. He has come in, worked hard on his fitness and match sharpness. "In his behind-closed-door game, when you might think he would not want to play, he has worked hard and now, after this, has put himself in contention to start at Luton." Despite the dramatic nature of the win, Cox felt his side should have won more comfortably. He added: "At 2-2 we rode our luck but sometimes you put performances to one side to get the results." -------------------------- Chapman Returns To Oxford mansfield103.co.uk Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox says midfielder Adam Chapman has returned back to Oxford United - but it does not mean he has ended his interest in him. http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/sport.php?n=1618 The youngster came on a short-term trial but there were not enough chances to check out his fitness. The Stags manager says he will keep an eye on the Northern Irishman, saying: "We will go and monitor him in a couple of reserve games at Oxford and see what his fitness is like. "I want to make sure that players I bring in are fully fit and chomping at the bit to perform in our first team, not just getting fit at our expense. "But, if I'm honest, he looks one hell of a player and I'd like to see him when he's 100% fit because I think he would be an acquisition to any club at this level." -------------------- |
Latest | January 2012