Archived News from February 2013
|
COX AND SCOTT MCNIVEN REACTION
|
 |
|
Scott McNiven is happy for Hyde to be written off
Defiant Hyde manager Scott McNiven is ignoring the critics writing off his team's hopes of avoiding relegation. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hyde-manager-scott-mcniven-happy-1337020 Defiant Hyde manager Scott McNiven is ignoring the critics writing off his team's hopes of avoiding relegation. After what the Tigers boss described as a 'horrible' game, Hyde were left injury-ridden and disappointed as they fell 1-0 to a dominant Mansfield Town on Tuesday. It means Hyde have slipped to 18th in the Blue Square Premier, with 14 games left to scramble enough points to avoid the drop. “It's going to be tough, but we knew that at the beginning of the season,” said McNiven. “We've got to keep doing what we're doing, keep believing we can do it and, hopefully, it will be all right.” The Tigers are the only semi-professional side in the league after their promotion from the Blue Square North last season. But their manager remained defiant towards anyone doubting their capability to make an impact among professional outfits. “Write us off for as long as you want,” said McNiven. “It has no effect on what we're trying to do. It doesn't alter any sort of concentration or focus we've got of keeping up in the league. “They wrote us off at the beginning of the season and it didn't really matter. We've just got to keep the lads' heads up and keep going.” But the Tigers have been suffering with injuries and find themselves depleted as the final stretch of the season comes into sight, a fact that was evident during their clash with Mansfield. Though McGiven joked he'd like to see his full squad fit by the time they visit Tamworth at the weekend, he knows that's unlikely to be the case, with midfielder Shay McCartan joining the injury list after limping off late in the first half. “There's a few who are touch-and-go so we've just got to manage them right and make sure that when they do come back they don't go out for another two or three weeks,” he said. “Everyone just seems to be picking up little niggles here and there so it's just a case of wrapping them up and sending them out. “This is the stage of the season when training full-time kicks in because the lads' fitness and their muscles are used to it whereas ours have been grafting 9 to 5 all day and then they come here and that's where we're going to pick up niggles. “The Manfield lads had a day off on Tuesday. Our lads have been grafting and then turn up here and put in a big shift.” --------------- audio interview with Paul Cox http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/xtra ------- Stags boss Cox ranks important Hyde win alongside the battering of Barrow chad.co.uk MANSFIELD Town manager Paul Cox ranked tonight's hard-earned 1-0 win at Hyde with the recent 8-1 thrashing of Barrow at home as Stags began a run of three away games in style. http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-cox-ranks-important-hyde-win-alongside-the-battering-of-barrow-1-5427813 Cox said: “We have had some big scorelines recently, but for me that performance tonight ranks alongside the 8-1 against Barrow. “There were some tired legs and tired minds out there tonight and this is a horrible place to come on a horrible night. But we have still ground out a 1-0 win which was all I could ask of the lads. “I don't think we played as well as we have done of late. But we played with a lot of heart and spirit. “Credit to the lads – they keep reinventing themselves and they thoroughly deserved the win. “With a bit more sharpness in the last third we could have improved the scoreline. It did get a bit itchy near the end as Hyde threw everything at us. “Our supporters really carried the boys for the last 10-15 minutes and full credit to the, going all that was on a freezing cold night. I think we did them proud and vice-versa.” Mansfield won the game with a cross-cum-shot that flew inside the far post from Louis Briscoe just 14 seconds after the half-time break and Cox added: “I don't know if he meant it. He says it was a great strike, but you know what he's like. “He is on a run of form at the minute and long may it continue as, in this vein of form, he is one hell of a footballer. I said at half-time we had to go up a level and play at a higher tempo and we really came out of the blocks.” Stags now prepare for Saturday's tough trip to Luton Town before a game away to neighbours Lincoln City on Tuesday ---------------- |
Latest | February 2013