Archived News from April 2014
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PRICE LOAN EXTENDED/ACCRINGTON PREVIEWS
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Price loan extended mansfieldtown.net, 17th April 2014 Mansfield Town are pleased to announce that goalkeeper Lewis Price has extended his emergency loan from Crystal Palace for a further seven days. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/price-loan-extended-1494812.aspx#PzR1JtqT1RKu5U6R.99 The 29-year-old impressed on his debut for the club in our 3-0 win at home to Rochdale last Saturday. He will remain at One Call Stadium until Friday 25 April and after this period has elapsed, may extend the loan by another seven days, if necessary. Resident custodians Alan Marriott and Ian Deakin remain injured. ------------------- Paul Cox video interview http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/article/3772642/date/20140417121700/page/0/name/video--cox-previews-good-friday-fixture Ryan Tafazolli and Martin Riley video interview http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/article/3772687/date/20140417141700/page/0/name/video--duo-look-ahead-to-stanley-match ------------- Cox hopes to extend Price loan mansfieldtown.net, 17th April 2014 Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox has revealed that the club hope to extend the emergency loan of Lewis Price from Crystal Palace. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-hopes-to-extend-price-loan-1493716.aspx#267Ex42PWYEKmEca.99 Our contracted goalkeepers, Alan Marriott and Ian Deakin, are likely to be unavailable beyond tomorrow’s match at Accrington Stanley. Price (pictured), who joined us on an initial seven-day deal from the Eagles last week, kept goal in our fabulous 3-0 win over Rochdale at One Call Stadium last Saturday. He added: “I think it’ll be tough for ‘Maz’ (Alan Marriott) or ‘Deaks’ (Ian Deakin) to be fit for Monday [match versus Cheltenham Town], so we’ve put another seven days in for Lewis. “Between the clubs, etcetera, we’ve agreed until the end of the season, but by FA laws, every seven days we’ve got to put in a medical report on the two [injured] lads. “We just want to make sure we’re covering ourselves and not leaving anything to chance. Obviously with the Bank Holiday, it’s potentially Lewis’ last game on Friday and we want to make sure he’s here for Monday too. “The staff are working extremely hard behind-the-scenes to make sure the paperwork is done, but like I say, it’ll be ‘touch and go’ for ‘Maz’ and ‘Deaks’ for the next week and maybe even longer.” Our team travel to the Store First Stadium tomorrow in search of their fifth straight league victory, and Cox has re-iterated his desire for us to finish the campaign strongly. “We always tend to finish well here and we’ve not done anything different this season,” said our boss. “We’ve got four massive games ahead of us and the boys are buoyed. At the minute, they’re training as well as I’ve ever seen them train this season and they’re really looking forward to it.” He continued: “It’s going to be a tough game up at Accrington and all we can do is plan for that initially. “If we get some bumps and bruises or a little bit of tiredness or fatigue, then obviously we’re going to use other personnel. As I said a few weeks ago, the squad is so important now going into the final few games.” A first league victory over Accrington in more than half-a-century tomorrow, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could see us close the gap on the Play-Off zone to just three points. Nevertheless, our boss remains coy about our Play-Off chances and insists our players are just focussed on earning three points in the North-West on Good Friday. “The permutations are frightening,” said Cox. “We’ve looked at [the situation] and we’ve done our little permutations and tried to sit the boys down and see what we can achieve, but the main thing is winning the next game and it’s a really tough one. “But I think a lot of things will become a lot clearer by quarter-to-five on Monday. [In terms of] promotion and relegation, the table will look a little bit better for some people and worse for others. “All we’re looking to do is build in and try and get a positive result at Accrington, and we’ll plan accordingly after that.” Paul Cox’s full interview will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here. --------------------- Price is right as Stags head for Accrington chad.co.uk, 17 April 2014 Lewis Price will definitely be in goal for Mansfield Town as they chase their play-off dream at Accrington Stanley tomorrow (Good Friday, 3pm). http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/price-is-right-as-stags-head-for-accrington-1-6567085 And the Stags are putting everything in place to make sure the on-loan Crystal Palace stopper is eligible for Monday’s visit of Cheltenham Town if Alan Marriott and Ian Deakin are still out injured. Stags have to officially rule out their two keepers on medical grounds for a seven-day period, so if either of them is fit for Monday then Price has to return to Selhurst Park from his emergency loan spell. But, if neither keeper is fit enough, Price could be in the side until the end of the season, with Stags facing four games to clinch a play-offs spot. “It will be touch and go for Mazza or Deaks to be fit for Monday so we have put in another seven days for Lewis,” said manager Paul Cox. “It’s been agreed between the two clubs that we can use him as long as we need until the end of the season. “Under FA law, every seven days we have to give them a medical report on our keepers. But we are covering ourselves and leaving nothing to chance. “We have staff here working extremely hard behind the scenes to make sure the paperwork is done.” Would Cox consider taking Price long-term if he became available in the summer and was happy to drop three divisions? He said: “Never say never. He is having a look at us and we are having a look at him. But we do have two good keepers here already. We will look at it when the dust has settled at the end of the season.” ----------------- Tafazolli pleased with defensive form mansfieldtown.net, 17th April 2014 Defender Ryan Tafazolli is keen to play his part and help our defence continue their good form, which has seen us not concede a goal in more than five hours of football. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/tafazolli-pleased-with-defensive-form-1494143.aspx#oOf4dXEzSmptVSmu.99 We make the trip to Accrington Stanley tomorrow knowing that a victory, along with some favourable results elsewhere, could see us close the gap on teams in Play-Off places to just three points. “I think we’ve really started to get things together now,” said Tafazolli. “We’ve kept three clean-sheets in a row and I think we’ve just now got to take this form into the last games of the season and try to keep a few more. “If we do that, it’ll give us a really good chance of finishing as high up in the league as possible.” He added: “I think a lot of credit has to go to the coaches and we’ve also got to give credit to ourselves as well, because we’ve really made sure that we concentrate throughout the whole 90 minutes. “We’ve been able to just not concede, so we’re delighted with that.” In recent weeks, Tafazolli, who has missed just one match this year, the 4-2 victory over at Hartlepool United in March, has formed an excellent defensive partnership with Martin Riley and Ritchie Sutton. The 22-year-old accredited part of our fine form to a good off-field friendship with the duo. “We’re really good mates off-the-pitch and I think that relationship has taken itself onto the pitch. It’s allowed us to develop a steady and solid back three and we’re just grateful that we’re keeping clean-sheets,” continued Tafazolli. “There have been times this season when we’ve found ourselves out of the team and I think now that we’ve shown what we’re capable of, people can see that we’re worthy of our place in the team.” Looking ahead to a busy Easter weekend in which we face Accrington on Good Friday and Cheltenham Town on Bank Holiday Monday, the centre-back said: “We can’t wait for the games to come at the moment. “I don’t see why we should look for anything less [than six points]. The form we’re in is very good and I think they should fear us. Hopefully, we can go and nick six points.” A full interview with Ryan Tafazolli will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here. --------------------- Stags soothsayer Tafazolli is proved right! chad.co.uk, 17 April 2014 A few weeks ago when Mansfield Town were in the midst of a relegation battle, defender Ryan Tafazolli boldly stated that the squad was still good enough to race up the table into the play-offs equation. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-soothsayer-tafazolli-is-proved-right-1-6567534 Many might have raised their eyebrows at his confidence at that time, but the youngster has been proved right as Mansfield tomorrow head to Accrington Stanley, six points off the play-offs with four games to go. “I said weeks ago the play-offs were still manageable, and if results now go our way then anything is possible,” he said. “I did actually believe that if we could pick up a few results we could climb the table rapidly and that’s what we have done. “I think we are really starting to get things together now. That’s three clean sheets in a row and we will go into the last four games hoping to keep a few more, which will give us a good chance of finishing as high as possible. “A lot of credit must go to the coaching staff and a lot of credit to ourselves as well. We are making sure we concentrate for the full 90 minutes in games and we are delighted with that.” Out of favour early in the season, Tafazolli has found himself become a vital part of a settled back three with Martin Riley and Ritchie Sutton and hopes his form is impressing enough to stay there. “We are good mates off the pitch as well and I think that relationship is being taken onto the pitch,” he said. “This season we have all found ourselves in and out of the team. But we are now showing what we are capable of and people can see we are worthy of our places with all the clean sheets we are keeping. “Before this season I had not played much first team football, but since I got in I think I have done all right and I hope the gaffer sees that and the fans too. “We can’t wait for games to come at the moment with the form we are in. We just want to keep winning and finish as high as possible. “Last weekend we knew Rochdale were going to be a very good side who try to pass the ball around. But I think our physical presence was a bit too much for them to deal with and, in the end, we got a very good result.” Tafazolli’s confidence is not wavering, with two tough Easter fixtures ahead, and he said: “I don’t see why we should look at anything less than six points as the form we are in is very, very good. They should fear us. We will go there with good morale.” -------------------- Stags star Riley sticking with ‘lucky headband’! chad.co.uk Martin Riley is convinced his ‘lucky headband’ is one of the reasons Mansfield Town have gone on a winning streak to join the end of season play-offs battle. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-star-riley-sticking-with-lucky-headband-1-6567541?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed The central defender has worn a small black band to keep his long hair back in recent games - and the side have gone on to win four on the bounce ahead of today’s trip to Accrington Stanley (3pm), his only regret being that other players have not joined in him in sporting this fashion statement! “A group of us were going to grow our hair but a few have had it cut already,” he smiled. “A few of the lads also said they were going to wear these but I am the only one with the guts to go out there wearing it. “We haven’t lost since I’ve worn it and we have kept four clean sheets out of five, so it is going to be staying on for the rest of the season to be sure.” Riley headed home one of the Stags’ three set piece goals in the 3-0 win over Rochdale last weekend and said: “That was a bit of a collector’s item and it was a great day for everyone. “We are a big, physical side and set pieces are important for us. We take a lot of pride in them. We don’t concede many and we have scored a few from them which has been good. “I think we’ve now kept about 16 clean sheets, which is good for a season. When we have lost games we have obviously shipped a few goals in those. But otherwise, especially second half of the season, we have been very tight defensively.” Keeper Alan Marriott missed out through injury last weekend, but on-loan Crystal Palace keeper Lewis Price quickly got in the act with a clean sheet as Stags moved to wining six points of the play-off with four games to go. “Obviously Mazza has to take a lot of credit for the clean sheets,” said Riley. “He has been brilliant. But we’ve got Pricey in there now and he is a Premier League keeper. He was magnificent at the weekend. “He made a great save just before half-time in a one-on-one, he also made a couple of great saves in training on Friday so we all knew straight away we had got a very good goalkeeper. “I hope he can help us get another clean sheet tomorrow.” Despite the spartan surroundings of the Crown Ground, Riley knows today’s opponents Accrington Stanley will be far from an easy proposition, having already seen them come from 2-1 down near the end to win 3-2 at Mansfield. “It does feel very non-League in the surroundings there, but they are doing all right at the moment and it will be a very tight game,” he said. “But the way we are playing we will go there with confidence, especially with what is at stake. These are very exciting times for everyone. “We were down there in the table not long back. So it’s massive credit to the staff and players for dragging ourselves out of that and moving us up to where we are now. “We did have whispers about the play-offs in the camp. Everyone knew as a group what we were capable. But it has will be remarkable if we end up going into the last game of the season with something to play for. To get into the play-offs would be an unbelievable achievement. “These opportunities don’t come round very often. It’s been done in the past. Look at Crawley and Stevenage. They’ve bounced right up to League One from the Conference and held their own. There is no reason we can’t do it.” ------------------ Accrington Stanley squad go door to door to attract fans Thursday 17th April 2014, Lancashire Telegraph By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11155702._/? ACCRINGTON Stanley boss James Beattie spent yesterday afternoon knocking on the doors of Hyndburn residents in a bid to boost the attendance at tomorrow’s home game against Mansfield Town. Beattie was joined by the entire squad as Stanley toured the streets promoting a ticket offer for the 3pm Good Friday fixture - with under 12s receiving a free ticket and Easter egg for every adult ticket purchased. Stanley’s average attendance this season is only 1,568, a figure that includes an often considerable percentage of travelling supporters. Beattie said: “We went back to basics, knocking on doors, and hopefully it will create a bit of interest in the town. “There’s a great offer on, anybody buying an adult ticket receives an under 12s ticket for free and a free Easter egg as well, which I think is a huge pulling point on this. “There are 80,000 people in the borough of Hyndburn and I think we average just around 1,100 per home game, so we need to tap into a new fanbase, maybe a younger one. “With the offer of a free child’s ticket, if we can get them in at any early age watching Accrington Stanley, they’ll be coming to watch good football and to a club who are very receptive to families. “Everybody goes on about us being stuck in between Blackburn and Burnley, but I think there are enough people in the borough to be able to bring a few more in. “If we can get a few hundred more people through the gates supporting the boys, which they richly deserve for their efforts this season, then that’s what it’s all about. “The concept of knocking on doors is a little bit out there, but we’ve got to try to think outside of the box.” Stanley launched season tickets for 2014/15 last week, with prices increased only slightly to £200, and fans having the option of paying just half up front. Around 100 have been sold in the first week. The Reds are not quite safe of relegation but sit four points clear of the bottom two with only four games remaining, and Beattie is holding discussions with chairman Peter Marsden about the budget for next season. “The more season ticket sales we get, that will hopefully allow us to plan for next season,” said the manager. “We need to finish the job now, cross that line and then we can talk about all the good things and the bad things in the knowledge that we’re safe. That was the major stipulation made to me by the chairman. “If we can push things forward and maybe get some more money next season, then who knows what could happen? “The lads have done tremendously well this year, being part of the lowest budget in the Football League. “Three quarters of the Conference probably have a bigger budget than us as well.” The likes of Joyce, Nicky Hunt, Tom Aldred, Piero Mingoia, Kal Naismith, Rob Atkinson, Andrew Dawber and Ian Dunbavin, currently on loan at Chesterfield, have contracts for another season but a number of players see their deals expire this summer. Beattie will make decisions over their futures once Stanley’s Football League status is confirmed and a budget is finalised. “There are lads who are on two-year deals, which I’m happy about,” said the Reds boss. “For the other lads who are coming to the end of their contracts, I’ll probably have to wait for the nod from the chairman about how much money we’ve got going forward.” ------------------------ McCartan - We Aren't Safe Yet Read more: http://www.accrington.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=542470#ixzz2zAm1DmcP Point earning goal scorer Shay McCartan has told the press that he feels that Accrington Stanley need at least one more win this season to be safe. The forward came off the bench to score his first goal for the club in the game against York City, and whilst acknowledging that it was a very valuable point for us, he still feels that we'll need one more win to get ourselves over the line. 'I think we need maybe one more win. We've put ourselves in good stead for staying up.' With the gap currently being four points with a few matches left, one more win would certainly take the pressure off you would imagine but as long as we keep that gap it doesn't matter ultimately, but with how changeable the season has been we definitely need to do all we can to grow the gap just in case there's any more twists and turns. Of course, McCartan acknowledges that given our start to the campaign the players can't help but look back a little ruefully and think 'what if' had we not started like that as we are only 12 points off the last play off spot as well. 'We always say 'what if we didn't have that bad start?' Where would we be in the table? You never know. But that's football, we did well to get out of that 12 games where we didn't win but we've done a lot since then.' Of course looking back is pretty fruitless, but it does mean we can look forward with a good sense of hope and positivity for next season knowing that we can build on this now, and without a similar start, really have a push for some success in 2014-15 which would lift everybody even if we don't quite manage a play off run - just going in that direction would be significant tangible improvement. No doubt that is what everybody will be hoping we can do as well as manager James Beattie now has the basics of the foundation he wants in place you would think. -------------------- |
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