Archived News from September 2014
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COX, BINGHAM, BELL, PAUL TISDALE REACTION
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Cox hails excellent character after away win mansfieldtown.net Boss delighted with players’ performance in first away win of new season. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-hails-excellent-character-after-away-win-1901075.aspx#JwqrgDsIOCBqrqz1.99 Manager Paul Cox was delighted with the character and spirit that our players showed in today’s magnificent 2-1 away win at Exeter City. Our team recorded their first away win of the Sky Bet League Two season courtesy of a blistering first half performance which saw goals from Rakish Bingham and Fergus Bell. Matt Grimes reduced arrears with a remarkable free-kick midway through the second half, but we held on to jump into the top half of the table. “I think the boys were excellent,” said Cox. “I thought it was the boys’ best first half [performance] away from home for a while. I thought the game, realistically, should have been wrapped up in that 45 minutes. “But Exeter came back into it in the second half and we had to be resolute. We were and we’ve come away with an excellent three points.” “It was a great strike from the boy [Matt Grimes] for [Exeter’s] goal, but apart from that I can’t really remember Dimi [Evtimov] having a save to make. “I thought we were really structured, organised and we really thoroughly deserved the three points.” Our boss was particularly pleased with the fantastic performance of debutant Rakish Bingham, who scored after just 15 minutes and caused Exeter numerous problems. “I’ve just spoken to people now and they’ve commented on what potential that he’s got - and that’s an understatement,” continued Cox. “He’s not played for two to three weeks and like I’ve said previously, we’ve got ourselves a good player and a good person. “We’ve worked extremely hard to get him into this football club and in pre-season he was on trial at Bournemouth, who are at top end of the Championship, so that shows you what he’s all about.” Another player who our manager had particular praise for was left-back Rob Taylor, who overcome illness to be named on the substitutes bench, and then came on for the last half-hour when Ritchie Sutton was forced off injured. “He was ill and it was something to do with his immune system, but he’s gone on and he’s absolutely worked his socks off for this football club,” added Cox. Our next match in Sky Bet League Two is away at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 13 September. ------------------- Cox delighted as depleted Stags soldier on to victory chad.co.uk Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox’s ever-shrinking squad dug deep to come up with the superb 2-1 win at Exeter City today. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/cox-delighted-as-depleted-stags-soldier-on-to-victory-1-6826803 Arriving with 17 fit players plus a very ill Rob Taylor on the bench to make up the numbers, Cox then lost Ritchie Sutton and Fergus Bell to injury during the game and also had to force Taylor onto the field for almost the whole of the second half. “We have finished up with Ritchie Sutton pulling his hamstring, Fergus Bell going over on his ankle and Rob Taylor having to come on and play after spending the last 24 hours in bed ill,” said Cox, who has been under fire from fans this week after three defeats on the trot. “It is something to do with Rob’s immune system and he really is badly. But he has gone out there today and worked his socks off and that can move mountains. He has gone out there and run through a brick wall for this football club. “We came down here with 17 fit players and I am so proud of them. They have answered all the questions of them in the right way.” Cox will try to plug one or two gaps this week if he can bring new faces in. He said: “I had a meeting with the players and said I was going to bring one or two in. It’s no slant on their performances or ability, we just need some help.” Cox felt that being given the green light to make an overnight stay for the long haul west was a key factor in the Stags’ first away win of the season. “I thought the boys were excellent today,” he said. “The biggest thing was that it showed when we prepare right just how good a start we get off to. We have done things right this time. “We came down the night before and stayed over and that was probably one of our best performances away from home for a long time. The boys responded and our first half was excellent. We played some good stuff, some good football. “Credit to the boys - they answered their critics in the right way. “We should have had it wrapped up by half-time. Exeter came back into it in the second half and we had to be resolute and came away with an excellent three points. “Exeter had a lot of possession in the second half and it was a great strike by the boy for their goal. But, apart from that, I can’t remember Dimitar having many saves to make. We looked structured and we looked organised. “I have always said when a lot of people are losing their heads that I have to keep mine and see what lies beyond a couple of had results. “I know one swallow doesn’t make a summer but we have a lot of potential here. We have a siege mentality in the dressing room and if we have to do it on our own then we have to do it on our own.” On a superb goal-scoring debut for new signing Rakish Bingham, he added: “I was just talking to some people who said what potential he has. That is an understatement. The lad is only half-fit and hasn’t played for tow or three weeks. “We have got ourselves a good player and a good person who, with that potential, really shouldn’t be playing at this level. “We have worked extremely hard to get him into the football club and today I think we have only seen 50 per cent of what potentially come could from him.” -------------------- Bingham reflects on debut strike mansfieldtown.net Young striker happy with victory over Exeter City at St James Park. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/bingham-reflects-on-debut-strike-1901448.aspx#SGF4uciXcDJsE2I3.99 All eyes were focused upon one man this afternoon as far as Mansfield Town fans were concerned - Rakish Bingham. Signing for the Stags on deadline day on a free transfer, the 20-year-old forward came with a reputation to live up to and a crowd to embrace and, coincidentally enough, he accomplished both on his debut for the club. This highly-rated prospect has been discussed on a national scale as a very promising young individual loaded with bags of potential. The attacker has spent much of his career playing for Wigan Athletic, however, having been loaned out to Scottish Championship outfit Falkirk last term, Bingham was released by the Latics at the end of the 2013/14 campaign. Thrown straight into the deep end by manager Paul Cox on his debut, Bingham inspired and believed against Sky Bet League Two strugglers Exeter City and he exceeded expectations. With just a quarter-of-an-hour played, the youngster instinctively pounced on a rebound after Fergus Bell's initial shot was spectacularly saved by Exeter's keeper, Christy Pym. Bingham then had the opportunity to increase his tally on several occasions with the pick of the bunch occurring in the first half, however, his one on one effort on goal was foiled by the magic produced by goalkeeper Pym. Speaking in his post-match interview following the game, Rakish went through the motions of his debut goal. He said: "The ball bounced, I can't remember who played it. The ball went on to Fergie [Fergus Bell] and he has then gone on to shoot. My first reaction was to just feed off it and the ‘keeper has parried it and I just tapped it in to round off a real good goal." ------------------ Debut boy Bingham delighted with first game for Stags chad.co.uk Rakish Bingham thoroughly enjoyed his superb debut for Mansfield Town with a goal in the 2-1 win at Exeter City yesterday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/debut-boy-bingham-delighted-with-first-game-for-stags-1-6826819 The 20-year-old followed up Fergus Bell’s saved shot to slot into the gaping net and said: “I couldn’t ask for more to be honest. The lads dug deep and to get my goal on a personal level was brilliant on my debut. “I followed in on Fergie’s shot. My first reaction was to feed on the seconds, the keeper parried it and I had a tap-in and myself a goal. If you gamble all sorts of things happen.” He might have had a second when clean through, only to be denied by keeper Christy Pym. “When I got through, my strides leading up to it were not correct and I should have set myself better. I should have composed myself better, but it happens,” he said. “But I know Rheady (Matt Rhead) wins 90 per cent of his headers so I know I will get the flick-ons. “I think the lads showed a lot of character today and I was really impressed.” Also bagging his first goal for the club was Fergus Bell before he came off injured after a superb block to deny Exeter. “We played very well in the first half and then showed a lot of character and battled on in the second,” he said. “I enjoyed my goal but I think the manager enjoyed my block more in the second half. “My goal is something we have been practising a bit in training where I get to the edge of the box expecting the second ball to come out. It fell nicely for me on my left foot, Sometimes they end up in row Z and sometimes in the back of the net. It was nice to get my first League goal.” He added: “After a couple of games in which we’ve not had the rub of the green and things haven’t gone our way, it was important to come back with a victory today. “Today we showed our fighting spirit It is something to build on. “It was flying at me and caught me on the edge of my toe and pulled my ankle back. I don’t think it’s too bad. I think it’s just something that puffs up and looks worse than it is.” On Bingham’s debut, he said: “I thought Rakish did very well considering it was his first game and everyone is chuffed to bits for him.” ------------------- Bell: We demonstrated our excellent team spirit mansfieldtown.net Midfielder delighted after scoring what proved to be the winner at St James Park. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/bell-we-demonstrated-our-excellent-team-spirit-1901452.aspx#TwfIl2OTFhKvj7KG.99 Midfielder Fergus Bell was delighted to grab his first goal for the club in today’s superb 2-1 away victory at Exeter City. The 23-year-old scored on the stroke of half-time to put us into a 2-0 advantage, after Rakish Bingham’s had earlier opened the scoring with a predatory close-range finish. “It was a tough game in the end. I think we played very well in the first half and in the second half we showed our character, we battled on and I’m absolutely delighted [with the result],” said Bell. “For me, it was nice to get a goal, but for the manager I’m sure he’ll say one of my blocks in the second half was just as important.” On his first goal for the club, Bell continued: “We’ve been sort of practising in training that I’ve got to be on the edge of the area and expect the second ball. “It just sort of fell quite nicely for me. I took it on my left foot and some of those can end up in Row Z and some can end up in the back of the net, so I’m chuffed to bits to get my first league goal.” Bell also played a crucial role in our team’s opening goal as it was his shot that was parried away at the near-post by Exeter goalkeeper Christy Pym, which allowed debutant Bingham to slot home. He continued: “Again, it’s something we’ve been working on - getting in and around big Matt Rhead. It was a nice little flick down and I just thought I’d take the shot on from a tighter angle and their ‘keeper made a good save, but Rakish looked very sharp today and he was on hand to stick the ball in. “I think he’s got to be chuffed with his performance as well, because he did very well considering that it’s his first game since joining the club.” Bell added: “Obviously we’ve been talking a lot and when you have a run of a couple of games where you don’t get the rub of the green and things don’t go your way, it was very important for us to come back with a victory here today. “That’s why the manner in which we did it showed our fighting spirit and what we’ve always been known for is still there. “It was incredibly important and it gives the lads a boost which will last for a few weeks, so it’s something to build on and take [into our next few games].” -------------------- Mansfield Town midfielder Fergus Bell confident more goals will come Nottingham Post, by Sarah Clapson GOALS have been such a rarity for Fergus Bell that the Mansfield Town midfielder couldn't even remember the last time his name was on the scoresheet. http://www.nottinghampost.com/Mansfield-Town-midfielder-Fergus-Bell-confident/story-22896665-detail/story.html? All that changed with a first half screamer at Exeter City. And Bell (pictured) is confident more will follow. Prior to Saturday, which saw the Stags end a run of three defeats with a 2-1 win, the 23-year-old last found the net during a spell with Spanish club Jerez International. Having also played in Belgium and Italy, Bell now finds himself in a more attacking role at Mansfield - something he relishes. "I've not really been counting," he laughed, when asked when his last goal was. "But it's got to be around three or four years. "Playing abroad, it was a different system and I was probably in a bit more of a defensive role, so I wasn't able to get forward as much as I have done here. "I'm chuffed. I can't wait to get back on the pitch and hopefully put another few in during the coming games." The Stags remained steadfast despite a late fightback from Exeter. And the result at least eased some of the pressure on manager Paul Cox, who had come under fire from some fans during last week's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Notts County. "When you have a little run of games where you maybe don't get the rub of the green and things don't go your way - especially during the week against Notts County - it was very important for us to come back with a victory," said Bell, who was forced off early at Exeter, having taken a knock to the ankle. "The manner in which we did it showed the fighting spirit we've always been known for; it's still there. "It was incredibly important. It gives the lads a good boost, which will last another couple of weeks. "It's something to build on. "Everyone was buzzing but we'll be focused for the weekend." -------------------- Tis: “First half was nowhere near good enough” exetercityfc.co.uk Grecians manager admits performance was a cause for concern Read more at http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/article/tis-first-half-was-nowhere-near-good-enough-1901117.aspx#kzsUF2qcTtAVBuyp.99 Fresh from a 2-1 home defeat to Mansfield Town, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale admitted that the level of performance against the Stags gave him more concerns than the standing in the league presently. City took a two-goal deficit into half-time - and despite looking more threatening in the second period, they couldn’t complete the fight-back and ultimately were left empty-handed. It represented a fourth defeat from the opening six league games, leaving the Grecians propping up the Football League table in the early stages of the season. With 40 games remaining, there will undoubtedly be twists and turns ahead for every team. So while Paul admitted that the place in the table made for uncomfortable viewing, the fact that Exeter had put in an under-par showing in the first period - and been punished for it - was more disquieting. “I’m disappointed with the result but I’m more disappointed with the way we played in the first half and the way we started the game,” said Paul. “We’ve certainly got some concerns about where we sit in the table, but the bigger concern is how we can produce a better performance than we did in the first half today because that was substandard. “But I am concerned about where we are in the league - of course I am. “Ultimately we played very poorly in the first half, and I’ve got to do some thinking because that was nowhere near good enough. “There was no lack of effort or enthusiasm, but it was the decision-making and the processes that they went through that were poor.” First goals for Mansfield for debutant Rakish Bingham and Fergus Bell put the Stags firmly into the ascendancy. Exeter looked a totally different prospect after the break though and Matt Grimes’ well-taken free-kick got the Grecians back within a goal. But for all the huffing and puffing, the Stags were able to hold onto their lead to see out the win. “We had to play more football and play more passes,” he continued. “I said to the team that it’s a lot easier to do that when you’re two-nil down than it is to do it when it really matters at nil-nil. We didn’t do it early enough. “There were players there that haven’t kicked a ball for us for a month and came straight into the team, so I can give them the benefit of the doubt. But as a group and as a team it was woeful in the first half. “We didn’t play our game. We lumped the ball and the cohesion wasn’t there. We didn’t play any football. “I don’t see how we can take an opponent like Mansfield on at their game. We have to be a lot more subtle and play our game, and we didn’t.” -------------------- Rakish Bingham @RakishBingham What a day what a result! Over the moon to score on my debut and help the team gain another 3. Safe trip back to the travelling fans! #stags Debut goal & 3 points. I couldn't be any happier! #Stags #MTFC Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6 Massive shout out to the away following today! And another to the boys for a massive shift and 3 points away! #getin #stags JAMIE MCGUIRE @JAMIEMCGUIRE23 Buzzing great result today great team performance thanks for the fans who travelled down safe journey home @mansfieldtownfc Dimitar Evtimov @DimiEvtimov Buzzing for the away win! Great team work! On to the next one! Time to celebrate with the lads! #bday #stags Sarah Clapson @Sarah_Clapson Bit of let off for Stags. Evtimov completely missed a ball in from the left, came back out to Oakley but his cross/shot flies wide. Dimitar Evtimov @DimiEvtimov I touched the ball love x Sarah Clapson @Sarah_Clapson apologies! I'll give you more credit next time :-) in my defence, had a great big steel girder blocking my view! Dimitar Evtimov @DimiEvtimov No problem ----------------- |
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