Archived News from January 2014
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MURRAY, RHEAD, RUSS WILCOX REACTION
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video interviews with Murray and Rhead http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/article/3616347/date/20140111180200/page/0/name/video--murray-and-rhead-reaction-following-iron-loss --------------- Murray: We let ourselves down mansfieldtown.net Assistant Manager Adam Murray believes our team ‘let themselves down’ by not taking their chances in today’s 2-0 defeat to Scunthorpe United at One Call Stadium. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-we-let-ourselves-down-1288275.aspx#PdwRrIYdQHWzFGI2.99 Despite creating several good openings, we were unable to finish them and were ultimately consigned to defeat courtesy of a brace from veteran striker Paul Hayes. “We’ve lost another football match, so it’s not good,” said Murray. “We’ve let ourselves down. If [Scunthorpe] had dominated for 90 minutes, then you hold your hands up. “In the first half, we could have scored a few goals. We’ve then defended sloppily [after the re-start], made bad decisions and we’ve killed ourselves. “The frustrating thing is we went in at half-time losing because of one glorious strike from their forward, yet we could have had three goals. “But they are the fine lines that we’re dealing with and that’s why both teams are in the positions they are in the league.” He continued: “Nobody can question that these boys give 110%, as they all have done for the last two-and-a-half years. It’s the fact that sometimes we run without thinking about. “We do need quality and that has been shown again today. It’s a case of if we can get it, and that’s down to the powers that be. “There were spells today where if we did have that extra little bit of quality, then we could have gone in at half-time winning 2-1, maybe even 3-1. They are game-changing moments.” On Scunthorpe’s opening goal, Murray added: “It’s one of them goals that you will probably see on Sky Sports News for a few weeks. The lad has put it right in the top corner.” --------------- Table-toppers underline what Stags need in transfer window, says Murray chad.co.uk Mansfield Town assistant manager Adam Murray tonight admitted the 2-0 home defeat by Scunthorpe United highlighted exactly what the Stags need to find in the current transfer window. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/table-toppers-underline-what-stags-need-in-transfer-window-says-murray-1-6367418 The table-topping visitors have just brought striker Paul Hayes back to the club for a third spell and he made his mark with a sensational 25-yard opener before poaching the killer second after the break. Murray said: “You could see today what we are up against. But the frustrating thing is we did have chances. “At half-time we were only losing to a wonder strike while we could have had three goals. That’s the fine lines you are dealing with and that’s why they are where they are and why we are where we are. “You will probably see that goal on Sky Sports News for a few days as he put it into the top corner. We had a couple of chances down the other end when we could have done that. “That is the bit of X-factor we are missing right now. We know we need extra quality - the question is can we get it? “We keep saying the same thing the last two months. We let ourselves down. If they had come here and dominated the whole game then fair enough, you hold your hands up. “But our defending is sloppy at times and we make bad decisions.” He added: “We have got to be realistic. Anyone can run round and give 110 per cent. No one can question these boys worked hard and ran around and gave 110 per cent. But we sometimes run without thinking about it. So is that just down to the standard of the players? “Now’s the time for player to stand up and be counted. We are looking for characters.” Once again a section of home fans, angry after a 10th home game without victory, booed the side as they went off and some individuals were subjected to a torrent of personal abuse. Murray said: “The crowd were brilliant in spells. But we can’t expect them to be behind us the whole game when we are not winning here. “I was a bit upset about individuals getting a bit of abuse coming off at the end. “I know people are frustrated, but we are a team and we stick together.” Scunthorpe have now won seven and drawn two of their last nine games and manager Russ Wilcox said: “We knew what Mansfield were all about and what we were going to get - they are very good at it and very hard to play against. “They are very organised, very disciplined and we knew the ball was going to come into our box and we had to defend the second and third balls. “We didn’t do that for the first 10 minutes and we perhaps scored against the run of play “What a wonderful goal that was to score on your third debut for the club! To be fair to Paul that is what he can do. That’s how good he is technically. “His second was more of a striker’s goal - more of a sniffer’s goal, being in the six yard box and picking up the bits. “Mansfield created a couple of half chances. But I thought we dominated and created opportunities to go on and score more goals. “We had to make sure we made it a football match when we had the ball. If we had tried to play back to front and mix it up with them we would probably have got beaten. “It was just about being solid and resolute and then being creative when we had the ball.” -------------------- Mansfield hope new signings are on their way Nottingham Post by Matt Halfpenny ADAM Murray admits Mansfield Town's "lack of quality" is hurting them - but hopes the early part of this week will see new arrivals address the situation. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Mansfield-hope-new-signings-way/story-20438847-detail/story.html#ixzz2qMbGoGgc The Stags were beaten 2-0 by league leaders Scunthorpe United at the One Call Stadium on Saturday - a tenth home game without victory - missing chances while the Iron took theirs. The visitors featured new midfielder signing David Syers and could afford to leave new striker signing Paddy Madden on the substitutes' bench until late on. It rubbed salt into the wounds of home fans frustrated at the lack of transfer action and disappointed by another home defeat that put their team back in relegation trouble. "We have to be realistic. Anyone can run around and give 100 per cent, but we work hard not clever," said Murray. "Does that come with the standard of player and with the Football League experience? No one can question the effort the boys have put in over the last two-and-a-half years, it's just that sometimes we run without thinking about it. "There are certain aspects of our team that are not good enough and I know the gaffer is working his socks off to get new blood in. "It's frustrating to see other clubs bringing players in when we haven't yet, but it's important that we don't rush into it and bring in someone who doesn't fit into what we are about and our style. "As last week went on things progressed a lot, so I'm hoping the early part of this week we will see some movement. There needs to be because if you get your noses in front in a tight game, it's a different game. "I'm confident we can get the right calibre of player we need. There's a lot of players out there and a lot of players that want to come and be part of something." Mansfield chairman John Radford told a recent question and answer forum that Mansfield had the third biggest budget in League Two, which has surprised many, especially given the lack of new faces signed. Murray remained diplomatic on the issue and said: "Do we have the third biggest budget? That's for the manager to answer - he deals with the transfer budgets. I can't give you an answer. "We haven't got the budget to go and spend that kind of money (Scunthorpe bringing in Madden), but it's up to us to go and uncover people who can take us to a higher level." What Murray was far more open about was the striker situation, with the Stags' lack of firepower once again patently obvious. The team have now managed just 14 goals in as many games in all competitions at home this season. They were interested in former Nottingham Forest striker Marlon Harewood, but he has now joined Hartlepool United. "Scunthorpe had one striker who has put it in the top corner from way out and then bring on another who finished top scorer in League One last season. It's fine lines, but those things make a difference," said Murray. "Unless we can get someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net it's going to be a long season. The facts don't lie: we need a goalscorer. "Whether that's bringing someone in on loan or bringing someone with enthusiasm from a higher league under-21s team, it has to be the right player to give us that quality. "Young players from Premier League or Championship clubs that do possess that X-factor and their clubs want to get them playing to get that Football League experience. If we can nick a few gems, then that will be a massive boost." ----------------- Rhead: Opening goal was key moment mansfieldtown.net Striker Matt Rhead believes our team were unfortunate to lose 2-0 against Sky Bet League Two leaders Scunthorpe United this afternoon. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/rhead-opening-goal-was-key-moment-1289720.aspx?#xT5efGlJ0poHoxJG.99 Despite a dominant first half from Stags, Paul Hayes’ brace including a 25-yard screamer, proved to be more than enough for the visitors to seal all three points. Following the defeat, Rhead was frustrated with our missed opportunities and believes Scunthorpe’s opening goal was the decisive moment during the 90 minutes. He said: “Their first goal was totally against the run of play in the first half. “I thought we were on top for long periods, but they got a killer goal, which was superb and unstoppable. There was nothing we could do about it. “I think we needed to react better and bounce back, but the goal seemed to deflate us. “During the second half we didn’t seem to play at the same sort of tempo as we did in the first 45 minutes, which was a bit frustrating, but we will build on this for next week. “The first chance we had I thought went in, but their goalkeeper did really well in pulling off a great save. “That’s the problem at this level - we’re playing against better players and the standard is much higher. Maybe last season that chance would have gone in, but we will keep working hard.” Rhead continued: “I think we need to take our chances - today especially. If we took the lead we would have had something to hold on to and it could have been a different game. “Unfortunately it didn’t come and we paid the price.” Meanwhile, despite a tough match at Portsmouth next weekend, the burly frontman is feeling confident following our good run of form away from home. He added: “They will get a big crowd as they are a well-supported team, especially having played in the Premier League a few seasons ago. “It’s going to be a tough place to go like any other game, but we have been better on the road so hopefully we can get something out of the game.” ---------------- Rhead confident Stags will stay up chad.co.uk Stags striker Matt Rhead is confident the side have more than enough ability to stay up, despite the latest setback - a 2-0 home defeat by table-topping Scunthorpe United yesterday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/rhead-confident-stags-will-stay-up-1-6367434 Rhead failed to convert two good early chances before Paul Hayes scored a sensational goal from 25 yards after nine minutes for the visitors. Hayes then sealed the Iron’s win on 74 minutes and Stags now haven’t won at home for 10 games. “I understand the fans’ frustrations as we are picking up points more frequently on the road,” said Rhead. “But we do want to win at home and no one is more frustrated than the players. “We are working hard and I am sure we will turn it round in the next few games. “We need to relax a bit more on the ball at home and we need that bit of quality in the final third to put it in the net and take the pressure off our defence. “We are more than good enough to stay up. “It’s not like we are not creating chances. We are doing well in parts of the games. But for top teams like Scunthorpe, the breaks go for you. We were deflated by their wonder goal when we were on top. “We are still confident we can give anyone a game in this league. Rhead knows his place is under threat as Stags desperately look for quality strikers with League experience in the current transfer window. “I was disappointed as I had a few chances, especially first half, and it was just unfortunate I didn’t take them,” he said. “Their keeper made a great save from the first and the other was just over the bar. “But I know I am more than good enough to score goals here. I am confident in my ability. “Calvin Andrew has gone now so I know we need to strengthen our strike force and freshen things up. But knowing that just makes me work harder.” Defender John McCombe has left the club by mutual consent this weekend as they seek to free up transfer funds. First team opportunities were limited for the 28-year-old, after he made just seven starts for the Stags this season since signing from Port Vale. ------------------- WE SHOWED ALL SIDES Read more at http://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/article/we-showed-all-sides-1288492.aspx#HVDuOwfAYSsv1Zbm.99 Iron manager Russ Wilcox had many reasons to be pleased after his side ran-out 2-0 winners away at Mansfield Town on Saturday. The Iron stayed two-point clear at the top of League Two through the victory, which was secured via a goal in each half from Paul Hayes - who was making his debut for the club. The player is now in his third stint with Scunthorpe, and the 30-year-old’s accomplished performance clearly indicated that he is capable of shining once more in claret and blue. “I think you’ve seen all sides of our game today,” Wilcox said of the match to The Iron Player. “Mansfield started off really well, but we were strong, resolute and determined. “I thought that we managed that period really well. “And then we just grew into the game.” Indeed, the Iron did make something of a shaky start to the match, and did find themselves under pressure within the opening moments. However, the United manager praised the way in which his team kept the Stags at bay during that period; as well as the way in which they capitalised on Hayes’ tenth-minute goal by taking control. “It was a fantastic goal,” the boss said of the strike. “As it left his boot, I thought ‘that’s got a chance.’” “And it goes in the top-corner, right in-front of those Scunthorpe fans behind the goal, it must’ve been a fantastic feeling for him. “That just settled our nerves a bit, and then we stood tall and stayed strong. “That restricted them to very little chances.” Furthermore, Wilcox was praised how his side focused during the game, following a busy week at Glanford Park which included the permanent arrivals of Paddy Madden, David Syers and Marcus Williams. “It could’ve been difficult for the players to focus today,” he considered. “But we’ve shown what the group are about, and thoroughly deserved the win. “We can take massive confidence from that.” Continuing, Wilcox also assessed that United approached the match under a different type of pressure to that which they’ve experienced in recent weeks, due to their status as league leaders. However, they did not allow this tag to affect them, and even when 1-0 and in a potentially tense situation, put in a focused performance which showed no sign of nerves. “We haven’t had to look for a result today,” he assessed. “We’ve said to the players: ‘If you win today, you’re top of the league.’” “But we always approach the games to win, and the players are just so focused on what we’re doing here.” See much more from Russ Wilcox, David Mirfin and Paul Hayes on The Iron Player later on Saturday night. -------------------- |
Latest | January 2014