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Archived News from September 2013

COX, McGUIRE, WAYNE BURNETT REACTION
5th September 2013 22:20


Cox delighted after win over Dagenham
mansfieldtown.net

Manager Paul Cox was delighted with our performance in this afternoon’s 3-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge at One Call Stadium.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-delighted-after-win-over-dagenham-1026442.aspx?#ady8JilkHCLD8o2H.99

We earned our first home win of the Sky Bet League Two campaign thanks to strikes from Sam Clucas, Jamie McGuire and Matt Rhead.

Our boss said: “I thought in the first half, the game was a little bit scrappy. We didn’t put our foot on the ball and make a simple pass.

“We were probably a bit fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time, but in the second half I was over the moon with the performance.

“We could have probably even had a few more goals.”

He continued: “All three players deserved their goals today. This group of players [is growing] and if we tidy up on a few things, we can progress.

“We look to next week now at Newport County, and hopefully we can come back from there with a point, or maybe three.

“When you looked at the start we’ve had, if somebody offered me eight points from our first five games, I’d have snatched their hands off.

“It’s a positive start, but we can still improve on a lot of things, and get better on a lot of things.”

Our boss also gave an update on James Jennings, who had to be substituted in the closing stages of the match after an innocuous off-the-ball collision.

He added: “It was an off-the-ball incident, but JJ has been clipped and then gone over on his ankle. But he’s as tough as old boots, and hopefully he’ll be okay to train on Monday.”

A full post-match interview with Paul Cox will be available on Stags Player this evening. To subscribe, click here.

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Stags boss Cox happy with first home win and first month points return
chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox was delighted to see his side chalk up their first Football League home win and end a tough August with eight points from their first five games after a 3-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge this afternoon.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-cox-happy-with-first-home-win-and-first-month-points-return-1-6003175

Jamie McGuire and sub Matt Rhead added second half goals to Sam Clucas’ first half strike and Cox said: “I was happy with that. It was a scrappy first half and we looked a bit uncouth. But a lot of that was down to the strong wind and I thought our defending was excellent.

“We were maybe a bit fortunate to go in 1-0 up. But our second half performance was excellent and we might have won it by a few more goals in the end.”

After a poor first half, a switch to 4-4-2 and the impact made by giant striker Rhead saw Mansfield take full control at last and Cox said: “We changed to 4-4-2 at half-time. But it was down to the players still. Systems are just systems but it’s footballers who win you matches.

“I don’t think there are many better second half impact players in the business than Matt Rhead.

“I now need to challenge Matt to become a 90-minute player. If he can do that for 90 minutes we will have a piece of the jigsaw that not many clubs have at this level of football.”

He added: “We knew today would be tough as they are a good side, so we are more than happy to get the three points.

“Eight points from our first five matches is a decent return, though there are still a million and one things I think we can get better at.

“But our team spirit is brilliant and we have some very good players champing at the bit to get into the side.”

Dagenham manager Wayne Burnett said: “They were better than us. In the first half we limited them to one or two chances. The crowd were even starting to get on their backs.

“Then they scored a goal and, it’s an old cliché, but it changed the complexion of the game.

“We had large parts of the game without creating too many goalscoring opportunities.

“We came out sluggish for the second half and they scored again. I don’t know if it was a wonder goal or a mistake, but I think my keeper might have expected to do better.

“Then they scored again from bad defending by us and it was all over.

We huffed and puffed without really creating anything and we could still be out there playing now and still not score.

“We have not started the season badly. But if you are going to be successful you have to come to places and maybe pick up a point. I have no complaints about the result at all.

“We knew Mansfield would be competitive and get balls into our box and, fair play to them, they did what they set out to do.”

Cox is waiting on the fitness of Ollie Palmer and James Jennings after both were injured today, bit doesn’t think either will miss out next weekend at Newport.

Cox is also waiting to see if assistant boss Adam Murray goes out on loan to get games on Monday.

Murray has found himself down the pecking order and, despite being assistant boss, wants to play football and, if he goes out, is likely to head for a Conference North side.

“I like to abide by my players’ decisions and Adam wants to play football.

“He and Jake Speight could go out on loan on Monday, though that’s not the end for them here.

“I’d expect them to come back and fight for a place. I want players to work hard when they are not playing and try to get in my first team.

“I have good relationships with both players, contrary to what has been written on some forums.”

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Murray still has a future at Mansfield, if he wants it
Nottingham Post by Matt Halfpenny

ADAM Murray could still have a part to play at Mansfield Town despite asking for a loan move, insists boss Paul Cox.

Read more: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-19739137-detail/story.html?#ixzz2diqOpbOE

The Stags' assistant manager lifted the Conference trophy last season as he skippered them to the title, but has been frozen out in recent games.
A frustrated Murray made it known on Thursday through his agent that he wanted to get some game time under his belt away from the One Call Stadium.
A Conference North club are understood to be leading the chase to secure the midfielder's services, but Cox is adamant the player could still figure in his plans.

"Adam's been made available for loan because he wants to be - the club haven't done it. He wants to play football and I can't please all the people all the time," he said. "I've been in the game a long time now and I understand that this happens. I always try to support the players who aren't in the team and try to help them get into the first team.
"It's definitely not the end for Adam. Everyone would want him, when fit and firing, in their side."
Saturday's 3-0 win for Mansfield over Dagenham and Redbridge was their first home win of the campaign, moving them up to ninth in League Two.
The Stags are unbeaten in four games since losing 2-0 at Scunthorpe United on the opening day and Cox added: "The belief is now coming and the confidence is growing every game.
"I'm not looking at bringing anyone in before the transfer window because I want to give this group the best possible chance to make their mark.
"When players are working hard behind the scenes to try to get into a side, sometimes it can be demoralising to see another new face, and I don't want that to happen."

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Midfielder Jamie McGuire tips Stags to make a real impact in League Two
chad.co.uk

Jamie McGuire bagged his first Mansfield Town goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge and then predicted that the Stags can really make a real impact in League Two this season.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/midfielder-jamie-mcguire-tips-stags-to-make-a-real-impact-in-league-two-1-6003242

The battling midfielder grabbed the crucial second goal as Stags earned their first home win back in the League to end the first month of the season in ninth position, just a point off the play-off place, a tough first five games yielding eight points.

“It’s all about us now,” he said. “We believe we can push on and do really well this season. Home wins like this are important and then we need to grind out results away. We need to kick on now.

“I am loving it here. The lads have taken to me and are a great bunch. I won the Conference with Fleetwood too so I know what this is all about and the gaffer knows what I am about.

“We have a lot of confidence in the squad and the lads are playing really well.”

A poor first half saw the sides only separated by a Sam Clucas header - also his first goal for the club.

But when keeper Chris Lewington failed to keep out McGuire’s routine shot from 25 yards just after the break, Stags took control with a revised 4-4-2 formation and big Matt Rhead added a killer third on 72 minutes.

McGuire added: “We would be happy to win 1-0 every week so we will take that score today.

“We just stayed solid, battled well and scored three times. We played well once we had settled down and got the ball down.

“That was me all over. I like to be involved and wear my midfielder down.

“I was made up with scoring my first goal for Mansfield. The ball just sat up for me and I shot and it just bounced over their keeper and went in.”

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twitter.com/JamesJennings03
Buzzin with the win & clean sheet! shame I rolled my ankle with 2 mins to go!At the hospital now for a quick X-ray hopefully good news.
Thanks for all the messages!Got the all clear just rolled it.Buzzing for my car school partner on his 1st goal for the club @JAMIEMCGUIRE18

twitter.com/OliverJPalmer
I've just been told I nearly scored from the header when I got knocked out! Fuming about that haha. Thanks for the well messages. 3 POINTS

twitter.com/samclucas
Buzzing with my first goal and a win cheers for the messages :D

twitter.com/BenHutch27
3 points take that pow!! #stags #coys

twitter.com/LifeofRiley6
Great result today! 3 points, clean sheet. Job done

twitter.com/suttonra
Great 3 points, 3 clean sheets in the last 4 games #lovethatshit

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Boss has no excuses after loss
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-two/news/article/422/8900299/-?

Dagenham manager Wayne Burnett had few complaints following his side's 3-0 defeat at Mansfield.

Goals either side of half-time from Sam Clucas and Jamie McGuire and a 72nd-minute effort from substitute Matt Rhead saw the Stags stroll to victory.

Burnett said: "They were better than us. In the first half we limited them to one or two chances and the crowd were even starting to get on their backs.

"Then they scored a goal and, it's an old cliche, but it changed the complexion of the game.

"We had large parts of the game without creating too many goalscoring opportunities.

"We came out sluggish for the second half and they scored again. I don't know if it was a wonder goal or a mistake, but I think my keeper might have expected to do better.

"Then they scored again from bad defending by us and it was all over. We huffed and puffed without really creating anything and we could still be out there playing now and still not score.

"We have not started the season badly. But if you are going to be successful you have to come to places and maybe pick up a point. I have no complaints about the result at all.

"We knew Mansfield would be competitive and get balls into our box and, fair play to them, they did what they set out to do."

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