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Archived News from December 2012

HYDE PREVIEWS - PITCH INSPECTION 10am
28th December 2012 22:14


Pitch inspection at Hyde
mansfieldtown.net

We have been informed that a pitch inspection will take place at Hyde's Ewen Fields ground at 10.00am tomorrow morning.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/pitch-inspection-at-hyde-555883.aspx

Due to the forecast of heavy overnight rain, the Ewen Fields surface will be inspected by a qualified official to deem whether our scheduled match can go ahead.

As soon as we know the decision, we will relay this information to supporters

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Mansfield Town's match at Hyde faces early morning pitch inspection
chad.co.uk, By Tim Morriss
Friday 21 December 2012

THE Stags' first match of the busy Christmas and New Year programme is in doubt.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield-town-s-match-at-hyde-faces-early-morning-pitch-inspection-1-5249360

The Blue Square Bet Premier fixture at Hyde is now subject to a 10am pitch inspection on Saturday.

The Ewen Fields pitch has had to withstand the heavy rain which enveloped the country on Wednesday and Thursday - and with more heavy rain forecast tonight and into Saturday, a putch inspection has been arranged.

The match will be followed by home and away clashes with Alfreton (home on Boxing Day and away on New Year's Day) and a visit of Grimsby on Saturday 29th December as the Stags face a programme of four matches in 11 days.

And, of course, that will all be followed by the big FA Cup clash with Liverpool at the One Call Stadium on Sunday 6th January

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Cox: League is our focus
mansfieldtown.net, 21st December 2012

Manager Paul Cox insists that he won't tolerate any members of his squad 'looking beyond' our hectic festive schedule, which begins with a trip to mid-table Hyde tomorrow.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-league-is-our-focus-555437.aspx

The Stags defeated Lincoln City over a week ago to set-up a mouth-watering FA Cup Third Round clash against Liverpool, but have four league games before our clash with Brendan Rodgers' side on Sunday 06 January.

Nicky Law's Alfreton Town and high-flying Grimsby Town are both set to visit One Call Stadium after Christmas, before our festive schedule concludes with a trip to Alfreton's Impact Arena on New Year's Day.

“We've got to make sure we're properly focussed, because I'm not going to tolerate people looking beyond these next few league games,” said our boss.

“I think we've got some massive games coming up. If players want to relax and think that the Liverpool game is just there for them, then they'll find themselves out in the cold.

“We now need to level out and get back now to being focussed and concentrating on the league games, which is the most important aspect of our season.
He continued: “The gap [between our last game and the next one] has given the lads a little bit of time to level out, and I think that's been a real positive thing.

“We've got [Ryan] Tafazolli who should be due back soon. Ross Dyer should also be running soon as well and Adam Murray looks as if he's getting stronger after his viral infection.”

Despite enduring a sluggish start to the campaign, Scott McNiven's Hyde have won six of their last nine games, and will provide a stern test for our side at Ewen Fields tomorrow.

Cox added: “They've got some good players and have a lad [Phil Jevons] sitting near the top of the goalscoring charts, so it will be a real tough game.”

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Mansfield Town back down to earth as they prepare for trip to Hyde
Friday, December 21, 2012
Nottingham Post

WHAT a difference a fortnight makes.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17647070-detail/story.html

Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox faced the downside of management at Matlock Town, when his side lost out to a last-gasp goal in the FA Trophy, as a few angry Stags fans jumped on the visiting dugout, making their displeasure known to Cox.

Then, just two weeks later, the Mansfield fans came racing onto the pitch at the One Call Stadium, this time hugging the players and manager, after victory against Lincoln set up a dream third round FA Cup tie against Liverpool on home soil, a fixture that sold out yesterday.

But, with nine days now gone since that night and with no game last weekend, Cox says everything has levelled itself out in north Nottinghamshire.

The players were given a couple of days off to celebrate at the end of last week and got stuck into a few beers and extra food.

But it has been business as usual this week and Cox has made it clear that the league is the priority, with four tough games coming up before they face Liverpool.

It starts with a trip to Hyde tomorrow before two games with Alfreton, which sandwich a home game with Grimsby over the festive period.

Cox said: "We have some massive games coming up, starting with Hyde.

"The lads have had a couple of days off and they had an invite to the chairman's Christmas do and had a few mince pies and sherries.

"The days off for the lads were a reward for what they had done but Liverpool is done now until January 6.

"After that little break, with no game last weekend, it was back to the hard work.

"The break from action gave them a little bit of time to level out but there is a real positivity about the place now.

"We all knew there was a lot of pressure on us to get through and set up this tie and they did the job. Now it is about being focused and concentrating on the league."

The Stags are ten points off the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier with two games in hand on leaders Newport and four points off the play-offs.

Because of FA Cup and FA Trophy commitments, remarkably they have played just one league fixture in just over four weeks, beating Ebbsfleet 4-1 at home.

The Stags have lost just once in their last 11 matches in all competitions, and that was in the FA Trophy replay at Matlock Town.

In the league, they have won their last two games and Cox wants them to make that a hat-trick tomorrow.

"Hyde have had some great results of late and have a lad up front who is near the top of the scoring charts so we have to be properly focused," said Cox.

"I am not going to tolerate people looking beyond these league games. If players want to relax and think the Liverpool game is there for them, they will be straight out in the cold.

"We have got into the right mind-set building up to these games because there are 12 points to play for that can make a big, big difference.

"The lads are back down to earth now and ready to go to Hyde."

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Spotlight on Hyde v Mansfield Town
Friday, December 21, 2012
Nottingham Post

Hyde: Carnell, Griffin, Dennis, Brizell, Lomax, Ashworth, Brown, Poole, Crowther, Sedgwick, Tomsett, Blinkhorn, Moses, Spencer, Cox, Harris.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17647079-detail/story.html

Team news: Hyde hope to have star striker Phil Jevons back in the side after missing the last match through injury and also have Fleetwood winger Ryan Crowther in their ranks, as he is on loan until January.

Mansfield: Marriott, Beevers, Thompson, Sutton, Dempster, Geohaghon, Clements, Howell, Briscoe, Green, Hutchinson, Rhead, Meikle, Murray, Wright, Stevenson, Daniel, Speight, Redmond.

Team news: Mansfield Town have no fresh injury concerns going into this game, with Adam Murray fully over his virus. Defender Ryan Tafazolli is nearing a return from injury but tomorrow could come too soon. Paul Cox is likely to once again go without a goalkeeper on the bench.

One to watch: Phil Jevons. The striker has already been highlight as a major threat by Stags boss Paul Cox and he has scored 14 goals in 20 appearances this season, including seven in his last four appearances. Jevons joined in the summer from Morecambe but has played for the likes of Grimsby, Yeovil, Huddersfield and Bury during his career

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