Archived News from October 2014
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MOORE, SENDLES-WHITE, HESLOP, ANDY AWFORD REACTION
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Moore: We showed great resilience mansfieldtown.net, 11th October 2014 First team coach pleased to pick up a point at Fratton Park. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/moore-we-showed-great-resilience-2011496.aspx#57y8VfbBXGCeQlu1.99 First team coach Micky Moore was pleased that our players showed resilience and strong character with their backs against the wall to come away from Fratton Park with a hard-earned point in today’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth. Simon Heslop’s first goal for the club just 58 seconds into the second half had us dreaming of maximum points, but Paul Robinson equalised for the hosts with 20 minutes remaining. Pompey threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Stags in search of a winner in the closing exchanges - launching wave after wave of attacks - but despite creating some good openings, they were unable to take the points. On a different day, the three points could have even headed back to North Nottinghamshire as Rakish Bingham enjoyed some good chances during the match, whilst Fergus Bell also forced a couple of good saves from Paul Jones. “To come here and get a point is excellent. It was a very important draw - especially after the last two performances and results, but parts of us are frustrated that we didn’t get all three points,” said Moore. “Over the last couple of weeks, in the first half we’ve let ourselves down. “So what we set out to do today was to get to half-time either 1-0 in front or at 0-0 and still in the game and then re-structure our game-plan in the second half, and that’s what we did. “We come out for the second half and we got on the front foot, got right at them and got ourselves 1-0 in front. “Rakish Bingham has had a good opportunity [to score] and on another day should have scored really, but the good thing for Rakish is that he’s getting in there now, because over the last few weeks he’s been starved of opportunities. “He’ll feel with one or two opportunities that he’s had today, he should have scored, and we thought, especially in that first 15 to 20 minutes [of the second half] we should have been 2-0 up.” He continued: “But credit to Portsmouth. They’re a good side, [Fratton Park] is a difficult place to come and in the last 20 minutes they put a lot of bodies forward and got the ball forward. “We’re disappointed in the manner that which their goal came about, because it was from the second phase after a set-piece, which was something that we spoke about. “In the 90th minute, with our [away] record at the moment - and if you go back 12 months ago where we conceded two goals to Accrington Stanley and Plymouth Argyle - goals late on, we just said ‘We’ll take the point and move on.’” --------------------- More problems for injury-ravaged Stags chad.co.uk, 11/10/2014 Unlucky Mansfield Town’s injury list lengthened again today in their gutsy 1-1 draw away to Portsmouth. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/more-problems-for-injury-ravaged-stags-1-6891187 Simon Heslop, Matt Rhead and Fergus Bell all had to come off during a thrilling game to leave more headaches for the Stags management. “The next 48-72 hours will be vital and we will just have to see how they are,” said first team coach Micky Moore. “Matt Rhead’s hamstring tightened and Simon Heslop got in a block and his foot came up like a balloon.” After Moore had left the press box it was reported Bell was on his way to hospital though no one could confirm what his problem was. Overall it was a very pleasing away point for Stags before 15,000 baying Pompey fans. “We thoroughly deserved it,” said Moore. “We had one or two opportunities after we scored to make it 2-0 but didn’t quite take them. “On the balance of play, though, I think we deserved a point and were a bit unlucky not to take all three. “We had a game plan. After conceding early goals in the last couple of games we told them to come in at half-time at least on level terms and then up the tempo in the second half. “We were very good defensively today though disappointed in the manner in which we conceded the goal. Jamie Sendles-White has come in and fitted in very well today. “We knew we were going to be under pressure in the last 15-20 minutes and were prepared for it. They are a big club with a big crowd and they threw caution to the wind. “The last two performances hadn’t been what we wanted or expected but we got a performance today.” ---------------------- Simon Heslop told Steve Judge of The Sun that keeping the Fratton Park faithful subdued was the key to keeping the home team quiet: "If you can manage the crowd, it can work in your favour and I think we did that quite well. The atmosphere changed after they equalised and that was when we had to dig in, but we were pleased with a draw. It was nice to get on the scoresheet. My scoring record has got worse as I've got older but hopefully there will be a few more to come this season." ------------------- Defender keen to grab loan opportunity mansfieldtown.net, 11th October 2014 Sendles-White speaks following solid senior debut at Fratton Park. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/defender-keen-to-grab-loan-opportunity-2011379.aspx#SjERrDZrfRg82scR.99 Debutant Jamie Sendles-White was delighted to grab his loan opportunity with both hands and settle straight into our team and put in a good performance in this afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth. The 20-year-old, who joined us an on emergency loan from Queens Park Rangers yesterday, was one of our key players in the contest and looked very comfortable in a three-man defence alongside Martin Riley and Ritchie Sutton. Our team saw off numerous waves of late pressure from Pompey to pick up a valuable point, which maintains our position of 15th in the Sky Bet League Two table. Speaking afterwards, the youngster said: “It was a great performance from all the lads. Portsmouth threw everything at us towards the end and we just defended really well. It’s pleasing to get the draw away from home. “The lads have been great since I’ve come in. They’ve been really welcoming and they’ve helped me every step of the way. They’ve been great with me before the game and during the game it was the same, so it’s been really good to just slot in. He added: “It was a great debut to have. The [Portsmouth] fans were really getting on our backs at stages, but I thought we dealt with it well and grinded out a result.” Sendles-White, a Northern Ireland youth international, is yet to make a competitive appearance for his parent club, and only found out late this week that he would make his senior bow in today’s contest. “On Thursday, the gaffer [Paul Cox] rang me and said that I was going to start, so I’ve been preparing for this game since then,” continued Sendles-White. “[QPR] have said to me to go out and show people that I can play [at senior level]. It’s a great opportunity for me to get some games under my belt and they’ve said that I should just take it with both hands.” When asked what impressions he has already formed about this level of football, the centre-back said: “Every minute of the game is a battle. You can’t switch off for a second, otherwise you’ll get punished, and it’s very physical compared to what I’ve played against previously.” Outlining his target, he added: “I want to play as many games as I can and help the team pick up as many points as we can, whilst I’m here. If I do well enough whilst I’m here and the gaffer wants me, hopefully [the loan] can be extended longer. I just really want to grab this opportunity with both hands.” --------------------- Sendles-White enjoys debut to remember chad.co.uk Jamie Sendles-White enjoyed a League and Stags debut to remember at Fratton Park’s cauldron of noise yesterday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/sendles-white-enjoys-debut-to-remember-1-6891199 The 20-year-old QPR centre half joined injury-hit Stags on a month’s loan this week and looked assured in the thrilling 1-1 draw. “It was a great debut to have and I thought it was a great performance from the lads,” he said. “Portsmouth threw everything at us towards the end and we defended really well. “It’s pleasing to get a point away from home. “Their fans were getting on our backs at stages but we dealt with it well.” Sendles-White got the call from Stags boss Paul Cox on Thursday. “The gaffer rang me Thursday and told me I’d be starting so I was able to prepare for that,” he said. “I trained with the lads on Friday and they all made me very welcome. They also helped me every step of the way during the game. “Harry Redknapp has told me to enjoy it. I’ve been told to go and show people I can play. It’s a great opportunity to get some games under my belt and I’d be very happy to extend the loan. This is a great club and I want grab my chance with both hands.” ------------------- Awford: We must do better by Jordan Cross, The News Portsmouth Andy Awford aired his frustration at a poor first-half performance from his side against Mansfield. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/awford-we-must-do-better-1-6352709 Pompey were held to a 1-1 draw by the Stags at Fratton Park today. Boss Awford made no bones about the fact his men must produce a better display than they delivered. He took heart from the fact his players showed character to come back after falling behind 57 seconds into the second half, with Paul Robinson scoring the equaliser on 70 minutes. But he admitted his team failed to carve out enough chances as they made it four league draws on the bounce. Awford said: ‘We were poor in the first half and they weren’t much better. ‘I don’t think either side created much in the way of opportunities. There weren’t many. ‘At home we have to force the issue more - and we didn’t. That’s what is disappointing. ‘Did we deserve to the win the game? On the first-half performance I have to say no. ‘But we didn’t lose and if you don’t win you shouldn’t lose. ‘The players showed character to come back into the game. That’s a positive. ‘The character is there, but we must do better and set the tone for the game better.’ -------------------- Awfs hails Atangana impact by Jordan Cross, The News Portsmouth Andy Awford praised Nigel Atangana’s match-changing impact against Mansfield Town. http://www.bognor.co.uk/sport/pompey-latest/awfs-hails-atangana-impact-1-6353259 Atangana proved a catalyst for Pompey’s comeback against the Stags on Saturday. The midfielder entered the fray in the 68th minute along with Patrick Agyemang. Pompey were level two minutes later as the 25-year-old teed up Paul Robinson for his goal. Awford believes his introduction made a big difference to the game. He said: ‘We gave a message to them at half-time: Don’t wait for your mate - be the one to do it. ‘We got that response from Nigel when he came on. ‘He got hold of the game and took it by the scruff of the neck. That lifted the other players around him. ‘We’re delighted that I can make changes and they can impact the game.’ Awford made two switches against Mansfield from the team who drew 0-0 at York. That saw Ryan Taylor and Johnny Ertl come in for Jack Whatmough and Craig Westcarr. Westcarr was taken out of the starting line-up after six games without a goal, paving the way for Michael Drennan to be paired with Taylor. Awford admitted that partnership didn’t work as Pompey stuttered in the first half. He said: ‘I just felt Craig needed a rest from it. ‘I wanted the physical presence of Taylor and I felt Drennan may feed off him a little bit better than Westie on the shoulder. ‘Tayls holds it up and then late on it was Pat on with Jed in behind. ‘It wasn’t quite right with what we went with, so we had to change it. ‘We went with a different system in the second half and it was better.’ Awford took heart from the quality of Pompey’s leveller which saw Robinson convert a clever move which freed Atangana to reach the byline and cross. He said: ‘The goal was excellent. ‘It was a second-phase corner and Nicky Shorey gives you that bit of quality. ‘Nicky has rolled it in and it was a good ball from Nigel and thankfully Robbo was there to stroke it home.’ As much as Awford was pleased with Pompey’s goal, he was frustrated with the manner in which Mansfield scored 57 seconds after the restart. But he felt he couldn’t knock his players for the commitment they showed. He said: ‘We switched off from a throw-in and we’re obviously not happy with that. ‘The horrible side of the game, the effort, the tackles and second balls I’m happy with. The desire and application was there. ---------------------- Portsmouth manager Andy Awford told BBC Radio Solent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29486508 "The first half wasn't good enough. That performance in the first half, I wouldn't pay money to watch that. "Fair play to the players, they responded to going behind. Once we got the goal and we got that shot of confidence perhaps we could have gone on and won it with the opportunities that we had, but it wasn't to be." "Because of the first-half performance I don't think we deserved to win the game, but I'm pleased that we didn't get beaten." ------------------- SHOREY: MORE WINS NEEDED portsmouthfc.co.uk, 11th October 2014, by Neil Weld Defender admits that Blues are drawing too many games The manager made sure we knew that what he’d seen wasn’t acceptable" Nicky Shorey Pompey stretched their unbeaten league run to five matches against Mansfield. Read more at http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/article/shorey-more-wins-needed-2011012.aspx#tvyjbqg1EIkDfchJ.99 But a 1-1 draw against the Stags means the last four of those have all been stalemates. Paul Robinson’s first Blues goal salvaged a point after Simon Heslop had fired the visitors ahead at Fratton Park. And Nicky Shorey knows that victories are needed on the south coast if Pompey are to make an impression this season. He said: “When you’re at home then it’s always disappointing if you don’t pick up three points. “It was a bit of a stalemate with both sides playing the same system and we didn’t make enough of an impact on the game. “Fair play to Mansfield because they stopped us doing what we wanted to do. “At half-time the manager made sure we knew that what he’d seen wasn’t acceptable. “But I can’t believe that we didn’t go on to win it after we scored because all of the momentum was with us. “Mansfield were holding on at times, but hopefully we can take confidence from the way we finished the game. “Now we need to start turning some of these draws into wins if we want to achieve our ambitions.” Shorey has kept Dan Butler out of the side for the last couple of League Two games, but believes the academy graduate has a lot to offer. He said: “Dan’s been excellent and hasn’t really put a foot wrong. It bodes well for the future and I’m happy to help him in any way I can.” ------------------- Jamie Sendles White @j_sendles_white Good point for us away from home against portsmouth. Also great to make my debut for @mansfieldtownfc #stags Thanks everyone for you kind messages. Great support #stags Fergus @fergus_bell Long journey home, made easier by the strong performance today. Shout to my man @j_sendles_white on a top drawer debut too. @mansfieldtownfc Rakish Bingham @RakishBingham We was unlucky there to not come away with a win but we'll take the point. Came close a few times on another day they go in 1/2 Fans were brilliant today safe trip back home #MTFC 2/2 Sascha Studer @BVBStuder Deserved point today at Portsmouth in front of 18000 Supporters..Great experience..Thx to our supporters aswell Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6 Massive shift from the boys today! Everyone dug in. Massive support from the fans! Magnificent again #stags Adam Bishop @adambishop1998 What an amazing experience this weekend as been with the first team, great point away from home!! ------------------- |
Latest | October 2014