{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from January 2014

MOORE, TAFAZOLLI, GARY ROWETT REACTION
5th January 2014 22:55


Moore: Display merited a point
mansfieldtown.net

First Team coach Micky Moore believes our defensive effort was rewarded as we earned a point in today’s Sky Bet League Two clash with Burton Albion.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/moore-display-merited-a-point-1268082.aspx?#kcAdWgi1HEHvywfB.99

A 0-0 stalemate against Gary Rowett’s second-placed team meant we collected our first home league point since October, and kept our ninth clean sheet of the campaign.

“I think it’s a good point,” said Moore. “We’re playing a team in the top three of the league and on a fantastic run [of form] so to keep a clean sheet at home is fantastic.

“I thought both teams worked really hard. Neither team played a classic game of football, so both teams will be happy with a point.”

He continued: “The effort and commitment of our players, I thought was unbelievable. They’ve put their bodies on the line to keep a clean sheet and they’ve done that.”

“We’ve now picked up four points from the last two games, and after the run that we’ve been on, we’re now going to hopefully build up some momentum.”

Moore also praised centre-back Ryan Tafazolli, who scooped the sponsors’ ‘Man of the Match’ award.

He added: “Ryan did fantastic. He did well on Sunday and he’s carried that on today.

“In the second half, there were times when we had to defend for our lives, so Ryan will be happy with his two games and that’s building blocks for him and the team.”

Our first team coach also confirmed that Martin Riley, who had to be replaced by John Dempster shortly after the re-start, has suffered a groin injury.

“He did his groin in the first half,” said Moore. “It’s a disappointment to lose him, but we have a good replacement in John.”

Micky Moore’s full post-match interview will be available on Stags Player later tonight.

-----------------

Micky Moore: Mansfield Town coach hopeful of new signings

post match audio interview with Charlie Slater:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25575259?

Mansfield Town coach Micky Moore says he is hopeful of new signings at Field Mill in the January transfer window.

Moore told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I wouldn't say anyone is on the horizon, but there are names we have got on a list that we would like to pursue.
"I would like to think there will be some additions to the squad to help the current players."
Mansfield return to action on Saturday when they travel to Exeter, but Moore is unsure if there will be any new faces before then.
"Whether Saturday is too soon we will have to wait and see," he added.
"But it would help us push on and keep us going, as we are undefeated in two now."

------------------------

Moore baffled by boos after Burton draw
chad.co.uk

It was a long way from being the best of spectacles. But Mansfield Town first team coach Micky Moore was left scratching his head as home fans booed the side at the end of a 0-0 home draw with title-chasing Burton Albion today.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/moore-baffled-by-boos-after-burton-draw-1-6346233#.UsRsL98Er78.twitter

Stags had just ended a run of 13 League games without a win at Cheltenham on Sunday and, in terrible conditions today, at least made sure they shut out the high-flying Brewers to take a useful point in a game of few chances.

But, for a section of the home fans, it wasn’t enough and Moore said: “I don’t get the booing at the end if I am being honest.

“When we played against Accrington and lost 3-2, I could understand it.

“But we have just gone to Cheltenham, who were on a very good run, on Sunday and won and today got a clean sheet and point against a side in the top three on a very good run.

“That’s four points from two games against two sides from the top seven which I think is a good return.

“So I was disappointed with their reaction at the end.

“I don’t think the lads deserved that as they had worked really hard.”

He added: “Neither side could play classic football in those conditions.

“But the effort and commitment was superb and they put their bodies on the line to keep a clean sheet.

“We just needed a bit of luck in the final third.

“I think that was a good point and to keep a clean sheet against a side on a fantastic run was pleasing.”

It was Albion’s first 0-0 draw for 59 games and Brewers boss Gary Rowett smiled: “I said at half-time, one thing for sure was that it wouldn’t be a 0-0 draw as we’ve not had one for a long time.

“Clean sheets are almost becoming a bore now aren’t they? I want a bit more now.

“On the whole I think we dominated the game but we were just that bit of quality short of winning it.

“With the weather it wasn’t easy for both sides to create anything obvious in that.

“Because of the way we’ve been going, some may see this as a negative. But away from home it’s not a bad result in those conditions.

“In the second half I thought there was only one team that were going to win it.

“With them defending with five across the box, it makes it difficult to find any space in and around the box.

“But we have got to be happy with the Christmas period with two home wins and two away draws and only conceding once.”

---------------------------

Stags set for long haul to Exeter
chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town are bracing themselves for a long haul down to Exeter City tomorrow to prepare for Saturday’s tough clash as the Stags try to build on their two decent displays this week.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-set-for-long-haul-to-exeter-1-6346248

A 2-1 win at Cheltenham on Sunday was followed by a 0-0 home draw in terrible conditions with title-chasing Burton Albion yesterday, a day on which Exeter’s home game with Wycombe fell foul of the rain.

“It will be difficult going down there, said Stags’ first team coach Micky Moore.

“Exeter haven’t played today so they will have had a week to rest their players and get them right.

“We have got to try to get our players fresh and ready for a gruelling journey down there.

“They are another team not far off the play-offs so it will be another difficult game.

“I hope this is the start of a run we can build on.”

Stags can now delve into the transfer market with the window open and Moore added: “We have players on a list that we’d like to get in to help this group.

“Whether Saturday is too soon for that we will have to see what the next 24 hours brings.”

Stags will be checking on the fitness of defender Martin Riley, who suffered a groin injury against Burton.

Whether Riley plays or not, it is almost certain the impressive Ryan Tafazolli (pictured) will keep his place in defence at Exeter after a man of the match display against Burton.

“It could have gone to anyone as I thought everyone put in a great performance,” he said modestly.

“We showed resolve against a good side.

“They did have a few chances, but we held our own and the saw the game out.

“Joint top, they are a very good side with two very good strikers that we dealt with well.

“We knew they were going to be solid at the back and hope they could nick a goal and defend for 90 minutes. But they didn’t break us down today which is a positive for us.

“It was very windy out there and a wet, heavy pitch, But you have to deal with that sort of thing. You can’t change the weather, you just have to adjust to it.

“Now we have to prepare right for a long journey. I can only take it one game at a time and hope on Saturday I play well and try to cement my place and get a few games under my belt.”

----------------------

Exeter City v Mansfield Town: Match preview
Nottingham Post by Matt Halfpenny

SAME result, views that were polar opposites.

Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Exeter-City-v-Mansfield-Town-Match-preview/story-20395554-detail/story.html#ixzz2pKJDWfHJ

From where a fair few booing Mansfield Town fans were sat, a 0-0 New Year's Day draw with Burton Albion was not what the doctor ordered.

Their frustration, no doubt, stemmed from the fact they have not seen their team win on home soil since September 21 and the stalemate with the Brewers was a ninth winless game at the One Call Stadium.

The fact Mansfield barely called visiting keeper Dean Lyness into action all afternoon was another source of their obvious disappointment as the Stags got just one shot on target and only three off target all afternoon.

Down on the bench, however, assistant manager Micky Moore saw things a whole deal differently.

He was pleased with the wholehearted endeavour in a game played for long periods in driving rain that made for a heavy pitch.

He was delighted with the defensive resilience shown - despite the loss of Martin Riley soon after half-time - that saw the Stags record a first clean sheet in five matches.

And he was mindful of the fact of who Mansfield were playing in claiming a point. Visitors Burton stretched their unbeaten run to ten matches in strengthening their position in the division's top three.

It was for those reasons Moore was disappointed with the reaction from the dissenting voices at full-time and has made those feelings abundantly clear.

"I think a point was a good result and a fair one," said Moore. "Yes we didn't created enough opportunities to score, but then Burton didn't really have any chances where you felt they should definitely have scored.

"For me that's a good building block against one of the form teams in the league and means we have taken four points in our last two games against sides who have been on good runs and are up at the top end of the table (after beating Cheltenham 2-1).

"The boos were very disappointing and we didn't see it coming. I appreciate fans can get frustrated if you don't win games, but sometimes you have to appreciate the conditions.

"Both sets of players tried hard to win the game, even if there wasn't much quality, but our lads have worked hard and made sure they didn't score.

"I can appreciate they haven't seen a home win for a long time, and I could appreciate their reaction after we lost at home to Accrington, but sometimes I think the fans booed for the sake of booing when we were up against a good team and gave it our all."

Mansfield make the long trip to Exeter tomorrow, the first of three long journeys south that also includes Portsmouth and Plymouth.

They may be forced to change their side again, not just because of a doubt over Riley, but also due to the hectic recent fixture schedule.

Jamie McGuire is out and it is estimated to miss two weeks with the groin injury he sustained at Cheltenham.

Moore said: "It is frustrating that we keep getting injuries because the one thing we want to do is get some continuity because we haven't had that in terms of selection over the past two or three months.

"Jamie got injured and we had to make a change, Riles has got injured and we might have to make another one, which are enforced changes that we haven't wanted to make.

"But we may have to make one or two changes after two difficult games in difficult conditions. We have got a big journey down there and they will be fresh from having not played on New Year's Day.

"At least we go into the game with a lot of heart after two good performances."

Whether or not the Stags have new players to select at St James' Park remains to be seen.

The management have new players on the radar with the transfer window now open, but how soon any new blood comes in is uncertain.

"We have players on a list that we are trying to get in, but whether Saturday is too soon we will see what happens, but we're hoping that pretty soon we can bring in one of two that will help the group," said Moore.

"Over the last two seasons we've had plenty of games like Burton where we've had a Matt Green to pop up out of nothing and score.

"To find people like that is very difficult and what everyone wants, but we are looking in that area."

--------------------

Tafazolli happy with performance
mansfieldtown.net

Defender Ryan Tafazolli believes our players are feeling positive following this afternoon’s hard-fought draw against promotion-chasing Burton Albion at One Call Stadium.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/tafazolli-happy-with-performance-1268178.aspx?#I6mDXI0rm2VOfUKm.99

The Stags have now picked up four points from their last two games after last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Cheltenham Town and today’s 0-0 draw with the Brewers.

Tafazolli has produced two fine performances in the past four days, as he aims to cement his place in Paul Cox’s starting 11.

“We’ve just played two very good sides and two teams that are in really good form,” said Tafazolli.

“To get four points including a win away from home, and a clean sheet at home can only be a really big positive for us.

“We’ll be prepared and make sure the build up to the game at Exeter City is good and hopefully take this form into that one.

“I can only take it one game at a time, so hopefully I’ll play well again on Saturday against Exeter whilst trying to cement my place in the team as well as getting a few games under my belt.”

Meanwhile, the defender praised the rest of our players as we locked horns with a Burton side, who are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.

He continued: “Everyone put in a great performance and maintained their resilience like they did against Cheltenham until the last minute.

“Even though they started to create a few chances, we held our own and saw out the game.

“I thought we put in a good performance. We were up against a team that were joint top of the league and are a very good side.

“They also have two very good strikers who are in great form and I think we dealt with them really well.

“We knew they were going to be solid at the back and maybe try and score a late goal or even an early goal then defend for 90 minutes. They didn’t break us down today which is a positive for us and now we will look to take this form into Saturday.”

---------------------

Wet and windy at Field Mill
Read more at http://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/article/20140101-lynesswt-1268876.aspx#h03l4bfyowT23VxE.99
by Chris Parsons

Lyness happy to claim another clean sheet

Albion goalkeeper Dean Lyness believes it was a point well earned at Mansfield Town after the Brewers left Field Mill with a share of the spoils after both sides battled each other and the elements.

The 22-year-old said afterwards: "I think that was one point gained today, I think along with the points gained throughout the Christmas period and the way the conditions were, I think it was a good point," he explained.

Driving rain throughout the match and the added factor of a cross-pitch wind meant Albion had to fit their tactics around the British winter weather.

"It was especially difficult in the first-half with the weather conditions because I was kicking into the wind.

"We knew that if we could get through that first-half with the wind against us then we should have it slightly easier in the second-half when we were kick with the wind," Lyness added.

Despite not taking all three points back to Staffordshire the Brewers did leave with a third consecutive Sky Bet League 2 clean sheet.

Albion have now kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 match in all competitions and the man between the posts believes the clean sheets are a result of the whole team defending as one.

"I am definitely delighted with my form at the moment, I feel confident and I feel really good.

"It is not just the back four or back five, it has to start with the front guys and that is something we work hard on and it has helped us improve defensively."

The Brewers have renewed the loan services of Aston Villa's Benjamin Siegrist for a further month and Lyness believes the Villa stopper's presence is keeping him on his toes.

-----------------

Gary Rowett is pleased with Burton Albion's festive points haul
Written by TOM SLOAN
Read more: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Sport/Burton-Albion-FC/Gary-Rowett-is-pleased-with-Burton-Albions-festive-points-haul-20140102070000.htm?#ixzz2pEa9YaEK

GARY Rowett is pleased with eight points from 12 over the Christmas period after his Burton Albion side drew 0-0 at Mansfield Town.
The Brewers had to settle for a point at Field Mill yesterday as they recorded a first 0-0 draw since October, 2012.
It followed back-to-back home wins and a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool - and lifted Albion up to second spot in the League Two table.
“I think we’ve got to be really happy with it,” said Rowett of the Christmas results.
“It was always going to be a difficult period.
“To win the two home games, draw the two away games and only concede one goal in the process is good.”
Albion were well on top against Mansfield yesterday, but driving wind and rain made it difficult to create chances.
“It shows again we’re playing with some really good control at the minute, which I like,” said the manager.
“Second half it looked like if anyone was going to win, it was us, but again we couldn’t find that little bit of space.
“The way they play with almost five at the back makes it difficult to find any space in and around the box.
“When we did we couldn’t quite make the most of it.
“We’ve had a couple of opportunities - Huss (Chris Hussey) has hit the post and there were a couple of free kicks when we maybe should’ve done better.
“All the chances were ours and I think we played relatively well in difficult conditions.”
The draw means the Brewers are unbeaten in 10 matches and they kept another clean sheet yesterday in what is becoming a brilliant defensive season.
“The clean sheets are almost becoming boring now - we might want a little bit more,” joked Rowett.
“That’s another clean sheet and I have to say I felt as though we dominated the game on the whole.
“We were just a little bit of quality short of winning it.
“It wasn’t easy, for both sides, to create anything obvious.
“At half-time, I said ‘there’s one thing for sure, it won’t stay 0-0’ because we hadn’t had one for such a long time.
“Because we’ve been so good, we see that as a negative, but away from home, 0-0 isn’t a bad scoreline.
“The conditions made it very difficult to play our little bits of football when we needed to.”
Now, Burton go to Bournemouth on Saturday for the FA Cup third round and Rowett is almost certain to make changes to rest key players.
“We can go there and enjoy it,” said the manager. “We’ll try and win, as we always do, and I genuinely think one or two will need to be rested.
“One or two were out on their feet out there, so we’ll have a look at that.
“We’ve got a good week after the Bournemouth game, so we just need to take as much rest as we can.
“We’ve got eight games over January, so it’s going to be another hectic period with not too much rest time.
“They’re not a big side, Bournemouth, but they pass the ball and they move, so they’ve got a lot of creativity in there.
“We’re going to have to match that - we can’t be rigid.
“We’ll have to show our quality, and I think it’ll be a game for the younger legs, and one or two of those will really look forward to it.”

-------------------

 

Latest | January 2014