Archived News from April 2012
|
EBBSFLEET PREVIEWS + ADAM MURRAY BLOG
|
 |
|
VIDEO: Trio preview Ebbsfleet clash http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2701983,00.html Posted on: Thu 29 Mar 2012 Hear from manager Paul Cox along with Martin Riley and Danny Andrew ahead of this Saturday's match at home to Ebbsfleet. The trio were speaking to Mansfield 103.2's Jason Harrison at this morning's press meeting ------------------- Mansfield Town might need three more wins to seal play-off place, says boss Paul Cox Thursday, March 29, 2012, Nottingham Post MANSFIELD Town might need at least three more wins to seal a place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs, says boss Paul Cox. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15654666-detail/story.html The Stags have swept up to third place by winning seven of their last nine games and have 71 points with six games left. Cox believes they could clinch a place in the top-five with 80 points. Stags' next four games are against teams in the bottom-half of the table – Ebbsfleet, Kettering, Stockport and Hayes – which presents a great opportunity for them before they face second-placed Wrexham and Kidderminster, who are eighth. "We're in a good position in the play-offs and we've got six massive games coming up," said Cox. "I believe in my players and I've tried to instil that into them. Any team that finishes on 80 or 82 points at the end of the season will be disappointed if they're not in the play-offs. "We are competing with teams who have been together and have had everything in place to challenge for promotion for a lot longer. "There is not as much pressure or expectation on us because it's our first season together. "The only pressure we are under comes from ourselves because we all want to be successful. If we do it, it will be a fantastic achievement." --------------- Play-off chase will go to the wire says Stags manager Cox chad.co.uk, Thursday 29 March 2012 MANSFIELD tackle the first of several potential play-off banana skins when Ebbsfleet United visit Field Mill on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/play-off-chase-will-go-to-the-wire-says-stags-manager-cox-1-4398743 And boss Paul Cox still reckons the play-off chase will go down to the wire in the last game at Kidderminster on 28th April. Third-placed Stags are expected to win and complete a double over a mid-table Ebbsfleet side that are now not going up or down this season. However, Cox, who gave his first team players two days off to rest up this week after their eight-game unbeaten run was halted at Fleetwood, said: “We know Ebbsfleet won't be easy. Liam (Daish) has done an absolutely fantastic job down there and we are expecting a really tough match. “There are no easy games in this league – York only just scraped a 1-0 win at bottom club Bath on Tuesday night. “It is more about us getting ourselves back on track after losing at Fleetwood and refocussing for the last six games. “We know we need to be bang-on on Saturday. It is now probably our biggest game of the season psychologically. “If we start to believe the hype or think about summer, it could all go sour and it is a very slippery slope.” He added: “It is going to be fine margins and I think it will go down to the wire. “I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking at other team's fixtures. I know the big boys have to play each other still and we would love to cement our place in the play-offs early if we could. But I have never been that lucky in my football career and I am preparing for it to go all the way to us needing something from Kidderminster. “I will make sure we prepare for every eventuality. If we got to the end of the season and didn't make it, I want it to be that we'd still given our all and not because we got sloppy. “We are just enjoying it. The players seem to have a spring in their step and we are in a nice position with everything to play for which is excellent for the club, the supporters and everyone associated with Mansfield Town.” -------------------- ADAM MURRAY BLOG: IF... mansfieldtown.net, Thu 29 Mar 2012 http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/CaptainBlog/0,,10325~2698980,00.html IF you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:... you'll be a man my son What a great verse. A very good friend of mine, who I admire greatly, sent me this the other day when I was having a bad day. It really got me thinking and instantly made me feel good. I just want to clear a few things up from my interview after the game Saturday because I have heard a few things that are rubbish. At no point did I have a go at any of the boys and when asked about the gaffer's situation, I answered honestly. In my opinion I'd like to see both the gaffer and Micky tied down on long term contracts. Simple. If people don't agree with my opinion then that's fine, but producing something that they think is betwen the lines is not cool. I also stated that standards need to be raised again and people cannot get carried away with the moment. I include everybody in this, including myself. When things are going really well it's easy for us ALL to take a step back. Even if I dont hit the standards I set myself, as captain of this football club if you expect me not to push other people to reach their both standards and potential then you are massively wrong. Anybody that really knows me knows that I am my own biggest judge in everything which I do. I want to be the best in everything I do. Painfully this is impossible but it will not stop me demanding from myself and others. Now that's off my chest, we have had a couple of big games since the last time we I wrote. Firstly Alfreton. Wow. Where do I start?.15 mins before kick off there was a question mark as to whether I was starting or not because the Doc couldn't park up so I couldn't get an injection. Then 20 minutes later it was like World War 3 was going off. I haven't experienced a tempo like that in a long time, it was like everybody had six red bulls before the game. It wasn't the most beautiful game but it hasn't been about that for a while. It's about three points and getting them in any way we can. The support was fantastic. You really are doing us proud. When we walked out of the tunnel to see the sea of support behind the goal I think we all kind of knew we couldn't let you down. We got what we went for and then it was out of there and off to the sea side. Although we didn't get the result we wanted at Fleetwood, I feel for the majority of the game we gave a good account of ourselves and again lessons were learnt. Again, the support was immense and I hope you guys enjoyed your mini break. How good is it going in to the last few weeks with it all to play for? It's like waking up every morning at Christmas like a big kid - that buzz of excitment of what could be. There's a lot of hard work to be done but to have our destiny in our own hands is a bonus. At one point of the season I thought it was flying by but lately it seems to be getting slower and slower. I'm not sure if I prefer this or not. It's been an enjoyable season so far for me personally and one I am learning from all the time. I have had to re invent myself a little to fit in to the way the team wants to play and it's made me realise how important each component is to make a effective machine. The power of WE instead of ME is incredible. One time in my career if it wasn't all about me and I wasn't getting the ball everywhere doing 50 yard passes then I'd kick up a fuss and probably move on. Looking back, it probably explains the 800 clubs I've had. Seriously though, this season has helped me realise that sometimes you have to give up some of your things to benefit the bigger picture. If you really understand football, you know where I'm coming from. The great thing about our squad right now is the honesty we have. Nobody wants to let anybody down. There are disagreements every now and then but purely because everybody wants to win. What a good atmosphere to be in. After a tough couple of games we have had this week to get our legs back and re-focus for the final assault. Teams around us have been at war and I feel so far we have come out ok. There's another big one on Friday when Luton clash with York. I'm looking forward to seeing that, it could be very interesting. Right guys I'm off. Again, I'd ask you to bring everyone you know to the game on Saturday and give us everything again and we will do our best to get you the three points. Together let's make a real mark in those play-off places!! --------------- Ross Dyer: Stags are now the team to fear in race for the play-offs Friday, March 30, 2012 Nottingham Post ROSS Dyer believes Mansfield Town are the team to be feared when it comes to the Blue Square Bet Premier. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15667251-detail/story.html A superb run of seven wins and a draw saw the Stags rocket into third place in the table. And despite a setback last Saturday when they lost 2-0 at league leaders Fleetwood Town, they still remain third with six games to play. Mansfield entertain Ebbsfleet United at Field Mill tomorrow and Dyer is looking to get back to winning ways as they aim to cement a top-five place as soon as possible. And the 23-year-old striker says the Stags should remain confident given their solid form. He said: "The gaffer has instilled a solid mentality within the squad. We are very strong and to be fair, we should not fear anybody, other teams should fear us. "We want to secure a place in the top-five and then let everybody else worry about us. "We are the confident and form team going into the last few games of the season and goals are coming from all over the park. "Matt Green has been scoring them all season and now I am getting a few, Louis (Briscoe) is chipping in and even from the back with big Exodus (Geohaghon), so it looks good. "We are getting a blend of scorers and we are a force going forward. "Earlier in the season, some games cost us but we have started to turn those draws into wins and hopefully nine or 12 points out of the next four games should see us claim that play-off spot." ----------------------- Stags can reap the rewards of gruelling run Friday, March 30, 2012 Nottingham Post IT HAS been a gruelling run of games but a busy period that has reaped its rewards as far as Mansfield Town are concerned. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15667254-detail/story.html Seven wins and a draw in the space of eight games saw Paul Cox's free-scoring side rise through the pack and into the play-off reckoning. The play-offs and a shot at getting back into the Football League is now a real possibility. After finally tasting defeat at league leaders Fleetwood Town last Saturday, you could forgive a feeling of disappointment, a dip in morale. But the Stags have taken a more philosophical view and after being given a few days off in the sun this week to recharge their batteries, striker Ross Dyer says they are ready to embark on a similar run again – this time taking them all the way to Wembley. Mansfield face Ebbsfleet at home tomorrow before meeting Kettering and Stockport over Easter. Hayes and Yeading, Wrexham and Kidderminster make up the final run-in, in which the Stags will look to secure a top-five berth as soon as possible. And Dyer is confident that will be the case. "Fleetwood was a game we went into believing we could win," he said. "We have been on a class run and I think we were mentally on top going into that game. "Whether it is because we have had quite a busy schedule, I don't know, but maybe we looked a little jaded. "For the first 30 minutes I felt we were the stronger side, but maybe then the run we have had caught up with us. "The gaffer has given us a couple of days off this week. We came in on Monday to get the rubbish out of our legs and the gaffer recognised we were a bit tired, needed a rest and it has allowed us to switch off and refresh ourselves. "It means you can go off and do your own thing. In a normal job you would get a little time off, a few days together and refresh yourself and that is what we have done. We will come back twice as good. "I have just been chilling. Not many of my mates are off work at the same time so I have just relaxed for a couple of days because it is not often we get two days off on the spin." Dyer acknowledges it has been a superb run, one which has seen them remain unbeaten at home in 2012, winning six and drawing once. And he feels that can continue tomorrow when Ebbsfleet pay a visit. "At the turn of the year if you would have said to a Stags fan your team is going to be third in the league with six games to go, they would have ripped your hand off. So all credit to the lads, to everyone involved," he said. "It has been an unbelievable run to get us to where we are and it is in our own hands now, it is for us to finish it off. "We meet teams in the next four games who we might have stumbled against earlier in the season, but we feel we have shown in the last ten to 12 games we know how to win those games. "It has been a complete turnaround at home and those fans behind the goal have been class – they have been all around the ground. "The whole atmosphere is great and that transfers onto the pitch and we produce the performances that keep them happy and their backing keeps us happy so it works both ways. "This is a big club that should be in the Football League but we have to deal with where we are at present, in the Blue Square Bet Premier. "This season we are giving the supporters something to shout about and we have something to play for so I'm sure they will continue to get behind us." ----------------------- Andrew getting into the Stags' spirit chad.co.uk Friday 30 March 2012 AS an outsider looking in, Cheltenham Town loanee full back Danny Andrew is convinced Stags have got the spirit to make the end-of-season promotion play-offs. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/andrew-getting-into-the-stags-spirit-1-4398779 Andrew, on loan until the end of the season but yet to make a start, said: “You can tell there is a great team spirit in the dressing room. “Everyone is laughing and joking with each other and no one is falling out – it's great to be in there. “The lads have welcomed me with open arms which is all good on my part. “I can see us getting into the play-offs to be fair. And hopefully I can play a part in it. “But the lads have been on a good run recently so if that goes on and I have to wait that's fine by me.” Andrew has another year to run on his Cheltenham contract, but said: “If my future is there, then my future is there. We will have to see what happens. But right now all I am concentrating on is trying to get promotion with Mansfield. “My loan deal runs to the final so it would be great to get to Wembley. “We know Ebbsfleet will be difficult on Saturday as they are not fearful of relegation or pushing to get promotion. They will be playing with open minds and teams play their best when they just go out and enjoy it.” ---------------------- Liam Daish has sights on Ebbsfleet United reaching 50-point landmark in Blue Square Bet Premier kentonline.co.uk, March 29, 2012 Ebbsfleet manager Liam Daish says reaching 50 points in the Blue Square Bet Premier will be a landmark the club can be proud of. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend_messenger/sport/2012/march/28/liam_daish.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Fleet are still one point short of the 'magic number' after suffering their ninth home defeat of the season, losing 2-1 against improving Alfreton at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday night. Daish said: "Getting to 50 points will be an achievement in itself and a good landmark for the season. It will be a boost for everyone at the club but I don't want to get involved in talking about whether we are safe or targets. "I just want to keep on pushing and see where we are at the end of the season, not now with eight games left." In-form Mansfield host Fleet on Saturday, having hit 13 goals in successive wins against Barrow and Alfreton. Daish (pictured) said: "They have been scoring a lot of goals and are one of the strongest sides up there. We gifted them a couple of goals when they beat us (3-0) at home but we have to go there on Saturday, defend from front to back and give us the platform to do something." Keeper Preston Edwards tweeted on Tuesday morning that he had undergone surgery on his troublesome ankle injury on Tuesday which has ended his season early. Daish also confirmed Charlton defender Yado Mambo won't be returning this season. The popular centre-half suffered a hamstring injury against Southport last month --------------------- |
Latest | April 2012