Archived News from August 2012
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COX, SPEIGHT, EDINBURGH REACTION
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Reaction from the manager mansfieldtown.net Paul Cox has spoken to the press following this afternoon's disappointing home defeat to Newport County. http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2878494,00.html The Stags recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit, but second-half strikes from Aaron O'Connor and Jefferson Louis handed the Exiles a closely fought victory. "We can't defend set pieces like we did today," said Cox who was speaking after the game. "All Newport have done is put the ball in the box three times and they've got three goals from it. It's as simple as that. It is a very disappointing start to the season, but the book stops with me and I'll make changes to the team if I have to." Ross Dyer was taken off on a stretcher midway through the first half, and the manager is still unsure of the extent of the striker's injury. "I've not spoken to the medical staff yet. We're all just hoping and have our fingers crossed that he is going to be okay." Dyer's replacement, Jake Speight, grabbed two goals to take his tally for the campaign to five goals (including pre-season) and Cox also revealed that he had considered naming the former Wrexham striker in his starting line-up. "To be honest with Jake, it was in my mind to start him today but I thought he'd missed just a little bit too much of pre-season. "He did well when he came on, but that isn't my main concern today. "When you score three goals at home and don't win the game, it isn't good and we have to improve in this area." The Stags are next in action on Tuesday night when we travel to Gateshead for our first Blue Square Bet Premier away match of the season --------------------- Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: audio interview ---> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19123976 "They were schoolboy errors. I don't think Newport have had to work hard to score goals against us, which is very untypical of my sides. "It happened and we have to take it on the chin but I am not happy at all. "I just think it was a lack of discipline. We conceded goals that were uncharacteristic of us." ---------------------- Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox furious with defending after home defeat by Newport chad.co.uk MANSFIELD manager Paul Cox delivered his first verbal volley of the new season at his under-performing team as they slumped 4-3 at home to Newport County in today's opener. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield-town-manager-paul-cox-furious-with-defending-after-home-defeat-by-newport-1-4826118 “You can't concede four goals at home and expect to win a football match,” he said. “If we can't defend set pieces it's going to be a long, long season. But the buck stops with me and I am going to do something about it. “We have not been pulled apart or opened up. They were just balls into our box. A few home truths have been said. “We have performed over pre-season and our fitness levels are good. That just wasn't us today. It wasn't what we are about and there were no positives. “If you score three goals at home, you don't expect to lose the game. Goalscoring is not going to be a problem for us. It's just keeping them out at the other end. The standards were not there.” Two-goal Stag Jake Speight added: “It was a good start for me personally but it's more about the team and today we were disappointed with the result. “We must defend better from set pieces. We need to get things nailed down and everyone knowing what job they are doing. “I thought the referee and officials were poor today but I don't blame them for the result. “They missed a lot of decisions. I was booked for diving but I got my touch and his leg was out so I don't think that was a dive. “I was disappointed with my first half finish but scored two after that. I scored 21 last season so I am looking to better that this season if I can.” Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh said: “We had fantastic support today. They lifted the boys in our time of need and got us over the finishing line. “We will enjoy this as we didn't win many away games last season. We are excited as this is a new era at the club and we need to keep this momentum going. “From being in control at half-time, at 2-2, to be rocked as quickly as we were, you do wonder if you will fold. “But as manager I am learning about this group of players and today I learned we can show a bit of character and togetherness. “I though Ismail Yakubu and Tony James held us together at the back. “I did think Mansfield's first goal was well offside and that gave them a real lift. But what pleased me most was some of the football we played and how we stuck to our task.” ------------------ Stags boss Cox: The buck stops with me to sort it out Nottingham Post PAUL Cox today told his Mansfield Town players they are facing a tough season if they cannot learn to defend set-pieces and warned: "We have to do the basics right." http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16700161-detail/story.html The Stags boss was furious after seeing his side condemned to a 4-3 defeat by Newport, who netted three of their four goals as a result of set-piece deliveries. Cox refused to take any positives from the game, which also saw Jake Speight net twice after coming off the bench. And he warned he will consider making changes ahead of the trip to Gateshead tomorrow night. "Defending set-pieces and winning the second balls are the basics of a football match. If you do not do the basics, we do not have anything to build on. There are no positives to take from this game," he said. "I will have a good think, I will watch the game again. That is not what we are about and it is up to me to sort this out. "We lost 4-3 at home and, if we cannot defend set-pieces, it is going to be a long, hard season for us. "The buck stops with me, I will do something about it. It was a bad start, there were a few elementary mistakes. "So it is back to the drawing board before tomorrow. It is a massive concern that three of the goals came from set-pieces. "We have not been pulled apart or opened up by their football. If we cannot defend set-pieces, we are not going to win football matches." Cox had harsh words with his players at half-time and at the full-time whistle. "The standards were not there," he said. "But, as I said, the buck stops with me and it is down to me to sort it out. We scored three goals at home and still lost. "Goal-scoring is not going to be a problem for us. But we need to work on keeping them out at the other end. We had a few harsh words at half-time. I should not have to motivate players to work hard when it comes to sticking their head in." ------------------ Stags can bounce back - Speight http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2879786,00.html Striker Jake Speight believes we have what it takes to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing result against Newport County. We recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit, before strikes from Aaron O'Connor and Jefferson Louis ensured the three points went to the side from South Wales. "Saturday was a very disappointing day for us," said Speight. "The manager had a few choice words to say in the dressing room afterwards and rightly so, because it wasn't just one or two of us who didn't do well, we were all off our best form. "But we've got to learn a few things and move forwards. We've got a very big squad, which everyone wants to be a part of, and we've all got to do our best collectively." The Stags travel to Tyneside tomorrow night to face a Gateshead team who recorded an impressive victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. Speight says that he is expecting a tough encounter at the ground where we suffered our heaviest league defeat last season. "Gateshead are a very good side with some talented individuals in their team." "It will be a tough match, but we have got a lot of winners in our squad and personal pride will now take over after what happened at the weekend. He added: "We don't like losing and we'll want to put things right when we go to Gateshead." Saturday also proved to be a day of contrasting fortunes for the 26-year-old, who came off the bench to claim two goals on what was his second home debut for the club. "On a personal level, it was definitely a good start for me," Speight continued. "As a striker you've always got to score at least 20 goals per season. Last year I scored 21 goals for Wrexham and I'm definitely looking to better that figure this term." -------------------------------------- Jake Speight setting his sights high at Mansfield Town Nottingham Post MANSFIELD Town's Jake Speight is setting his sights high when it comes to his goalscoring tally this season. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16705096-detail/story.html The striker came off the bench to net twice in the opening day 4-3 defeat to Newport at the weekend. Despite the wrong result, it was a great start for Speight after rejoining the Stags in the summer, moving from Wrexham where he netted 21 times. And now the 26-year-old is hoping to start against Gateshead tonight, with Mansfield hitting the road in search of their first Blue Square Bet Premier points of the season. Speight said: "On a personal level, it was definitely a good start for me. "As a striker you've always got to score at least 20 goals per season. Last year I scored 21 goals for Wrexham and I'm definitely looking to better that figure this term." Speight said the Stags were bitterly disappointed to get their campaign off to a losing start on home soil. But he is confident three points can be secured at Gateshead. He said: "Saturday was a very disappointing day for us. We don't like losing and we'll want to put things right when we go to Gateshead. "It will be a tough match but we have got a lot of winners in our squad and personal pride will now take over after what happened at the weekend." ---------------- PRE-MATCH: Pilkington announced as captain Posted on: Sat 11 Aug 2012 Paul Cox has confirmed that George Pilkington will be his new club captain for the forthcoming campaign. The 30-year old, who arrived at the club from Luton Town this summer, will don the captain's armband in today's Blue Square Bet Premier fixture against Newport County. Pilkington is no stranger to the captaincy role, having skippered his former employers in each of the past three seasons. Regarded as one of the finest central-defender's in non-league football, he made well over 150 appearances during his four-year stint with the Hatters http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2878304,00.html ----------------- |
Latest | August 2012