Archived News from October 2014
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COX, RILEY, McGUIRE, RICHARD MONEY REACTION
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Cox reflects on excellent point mansfieldtown.net, 18th October 2014 Boss pleased with players’ display amidst difficult circumstances. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-reflects-on-excellent-point-2023402.aspx#GaRXh5125P5vOH2e.99 Manager Paul Cox was delighted with the desire and attitude shown by injury-hit squad, who produced a resilient defensive display to hold Cambridge United to a 0-0 draw at One Call Stadium this afternoon. The U’s, who had scored eight goals in their previous two matches, couldn’t find a way beyond a Stags back-line, marshalled by the excellent Martin Riley. Goalkeeper Sascha Studer also pulled off some terrific saves to record a well-deserved clean-sheet - his second for the club. “It was just good to get an 11 out there today,” said our boss. “With what has transpired [in training] during the week, it made it a tricky weekend to come into, but I thought the boys were tremendous today. “We had two players who had pain-killing injections just to get them out on the pitch. It’s been a tough week, so they deserve all the credit that they get. “They’ve gone out there, been professional and showed a great desire to work hard.” He continued: “Coming into a game against a side who have absolutely ‘bulldozed’ teams of late, I thought we were tremendous. I thought our first half performance was excellent without us actually affecting their goal as such. “There were some tired bodies out there today. Some players have had pain-killing injections just to play today, others haven’t trained this week and we are really down to the bare bodies.” One of the key moments of the match came early on, when Fergus Bell went to ground inside the area under a heavy challenge from U’s ‘keeper Chris Dunn. No penalty was given by the referee, who instead opted to book the Stags’ playmaker for simulation. Reflecting on the incident, Cox continued: “I thought it was a stone-wall penalty and I’ve seen them given time and time again. “I don’t know what the referee saw, but you’ve got to put your trust in him and hope that he’s made the right decision.” On the training ground injury to Luke Jones, which is expected to keep the centre-back out of action for around four to six months, Cox said: “The players are such a tight-knit group and I think when you here a certain snap and see someone that is a ‘proper man’ as Jonah is, writhing around on the floor and screaming in pain, it ended the session there and then. “Psychologically, it affected the boys and I think to bring them back from that and for them to play how they did today - I’m over the moon with them.” Paul Cox’s full post-match interview will be available on Stags Player later tonight. ------------- Mansfield manager Paul Cox told BBC Sport: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29580084 "Over the moon with the point, it's been a tough week. The incident with Luke Jones and the build up to the game was hard, but they battled and it's a good point. "We have injuries but we just have to get on with it, the players are focused and hungry and hopefully this point today was for Luke." ------------ Jones blow as Cox asks chairman for more help with injury crisis chad.co.uk With Luke Jones now looking likely to be out for the season and Ollie Palmer also sidelined amid two training ground injuries this week, Stags boss Paul Cox again needs to go cap in hand to the board for new players. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/jones-blow-as-cox-asks-chairman-for-more-help-with-injury-crisis-1-6903901#comments-area Cox had nine first teamers injured, skipper Adam Murray suspended and several out on the pitch in the fine 0-0 home draw with Cambridge today who haven’t trained all week or with pain-killing injections into injuries. The home side could only muster five for the seven subs’ bench spots. And the serious training ground injury suffered by Jones, yet to kick a ball this season, left a new shadow over the club. Cox said: “I thought we were down to the bare bones early in the season, but I was just glad to get 11 out there today after what has happened in training this week. I wish it had been a five-a-side game. “It’s been a tough week, so credit to the players, they were tremendous today. “We had a couple out there with painkilling injections to get them onto the pitch. “We were up against a team today that has been bulldozering teams of late. So I thought our first half performance was excellent without really affecting their goal, though I thought we should have had a stonewall penalty. “We did look tired in the second half, but there were a lot of tired bodies out there, some who hadn’t trained all week. “A lot of them were running on empty. The boys gave everything for the cause and deserve a massive pat on the back. “Now we need some help. We seem to be taking two steps forward and then three or four back in terms of getting bodies back on the pitch. “We can’t keep carrying on this situation without there being a massive downturn in performances and results. “We need to look at squad size and the way we go about things.” On Jones’ injury, believed to be a ruptured Achilles’ tendon that will keep up out for four to six months, he added: “I am gutted for the kid. He will be a massive miss for us as he is such a colossus. “He was running towards the ball and there was a clicking and snapping noise and he was left in excruciating pain. “Jonesy is not a squealer. It was horrible for everyone and I think it affected everyone psychologically. The session ended there and then with the lads all visibly upset and Luke screaming in pain on the floor. They are all human beings. “I am so glad we kept our concentration today as we really could have gone out there and got thumped.” Cambridge boss Richard Money said: “The first half was about putting ourselves in a position to take control of the game, which I thought we then did in the second half but just couldn’t find a finish. “We hit the post twice and the keeper made a couple of good saves, but we couldn’t get a goal, despite lots of good play. “To think you are going to dominate a game for 90 minutes is nonsense, but performances are good at the minute. “We look confident on the ball, we look as though we have good movement and a goal threat, and everyone is working hard to keep our shape and discipline. “We defended well and restricted Mansfield to few chances, mainly because we kept our shape and composure on the ball. “It’s an old adage in football, but you need the ball to score and we tried to make sure they didn’t have it.” -------------------- McGuire proud of gritty display mansfieldtown.net, 18th October 2014 Stand-in skipper reflects on draw with Cambridge United. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/mcguire-proud-of-gritty-display-2023795.aspx#ER4TfPoVfDIT2cMD.99 Stand-in skipper Jamie McGuire was satisfied with the Stags' performance in today’s goalless draw with Cambridge United. Despite a growing injury list, the Stags battled with passion and desire from the defence through to attack and the 30-year-old was able to draw positives from a heart-on-sleeves like display against difficult opposition. "You looked at the subs bench and you thought ‘Who's going to freshen up? Who's going to come on?’ but it was hard to get anyone on," said McGuire. "We had a few little chances in the first half that we could've maybe scored, but all in all I think we are happy with a point. "There's a lot of spirit in there and the lads dug in today. We will carry on with that, you'll always get spirit from the boys. We got a good point against a very good Cambridge side." Standing in for the suspended Adam Murray as captain, McGuire excelled in his role of leadership on the pitch and was one of the stronger performers on the day. He also acknowledged and praised Mansfield's shield in the form of the back three and Swiss goalkeeper Sascha Studer. "They (the defence) stood up strong and so did Sash. He pulled off two good saves towards the end, so he's getting better every game. "The back three were brilliant today. Young Jamie [Sendles-White] has come in and you don't realise he is only 20 years of age. In his second game, he looks as if he has been here all season, so he's done really well. Martin Riley - he was man of the match. Solid as ever, he was brilliant." Looking ahead towards Tuesday's game at Tranmere Rovers, McGuire added: "It's going to be a difficult game. They've got a new manager in Micky Adams. He's going to get them running around and they will be wanting to try and impress him. "It's going to be a difficult game. The boys will roll their sleeves up and they will be ready to go again Tuesday.” ----------------------- McGuire proud of battling Stags chad.co.uk Stand-in skipper Jamie McGuire said he was proud of the injury-hit Stags as they rallied to hold in-form Cambridge United to a 0-0 draw at One Call Stadium yesterday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mcguire-proud-of-battling-stags-1-6903962 With nine first teamers out injured, Adam Murray suspended and two training ground injuries this week, the one involving Luke Jones tearing his Achilles’ tendon a gruesome experience, the point was very welcome. “I was proud to lead the boys today and proud of our performance,” said McGuire. “We dug in and battled and that was a good point all-round. “With the injuries we’ve had, you looked at the subs’ bench during the game and wondered who could come on. “We did have a few chances in the first half, but we are happy with a point in the circumstances this week. “What happened with Jonesy wasn’t nice to see, then we lost Ollie Palmer as well. “But the back three stood strong today and Sassha Studer pulled off a couple of good saves.” McGuire had particular praise for QPR loanee Jamie Sendles-White, making his home debut in on ly his second league game. “You don’t realise Jamie is only 20 as he’s come in and looked like he’s been there all season,” said McGuire. ---------------------- Riley happy with clean-sheet mansfieldtown.net Defender reflects on impressive defensive display against Cambridge United. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/riley-happy-with-clean-sheet-2025541.aspx#zTVK2axsaUDG0q0E.99 Defender Martin Riley was satisfied with his ‘man of the match’ display in yesterday’s goalless draw with Cambridge United at One Call Stadium. The 27-year-old enjoyed a solid afternoon, foiling the U’s on several occasions with some perfectly-timed challenges, in order to help our team keep a clean-sheet. Commenting on the game, Riley said: “It was a typical League Two battle. It had two strong teams, two big, physical teams. It was a difficult second half. I think 0-0 was a fair result in the end. “The main thing was for everyone to dig in, show an unbelievable attitude and all stick together, because it's been difficult to see the injury to Jonah (Luke Jones) and a few of the other lads dropping out [because of injury].” He continued: “Every team that comes out of the Conference Premier always do well in League Two, having had a winning mentality from the Conference. Teams take this into League Two. We saw last week [on the TV] that they were going to be a decent side, but we more than matched them.” The defender was particularly proud of the way that our defence operated against the U's, adding: "I'm delighted for Sascha Studer. He's come back into the team and could have potentially had two clean-sheets. We conceded one goal at Portsmouth last week, but credit to Sash and credit to the other two at the back with me. A clean-sheet is always a good day for the defenders." It’s a busy week ahead for our injury-hit team with matches against Tranmere Rovers and York City, both of whom have appointed new managers in the past few days. Riley added: “Tranmere have just got a new manager in, they are going to be buoyed by that. We are expecting another battle there. “It's the same with York, it's just our luck that they've had two managers come in recently and I'm sure they are going to be really up for a battle.” ----------------- Cambridge United have to settle for a draw at Mansfield Town Cambridge News Kwesi Appiah came closest to breaking the deadlock as Cambridge United were held to a goalless draw by Mansfield in their Sky Bet League Two encounter. Read more: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-United-settle-draw-Mansfield-Town/story-23257274-detail/story.html?#ixzz3GWytdYHd The Stags appealed for a penalty early on after Fergus Bell went down in the box after Chris Dunn came off his line, but the United keeper got to the ball cleanly and the home attacker was booked for voicing his opinion on the decision. But Mansfield's Jamie Sendles-White was fortunate not to earn more than a yellow card soon after when he hacked Richard Tait down just outside the box. Simon Heslop's free kick midway through the first half was comfortably held by Dunn while Tom Elliott blazed over from close range and Liam Hughes could only hit the post in a first half with little goalmouth action. United improved in the second half with Appiah forcing a fine save from Stags stopper Sascha Studer with a low drive from the edge of the area soon after the restart. Studer made another good stop from Appiah following a Ryan Donaldson corner and then struck the post with a fierce drive from the right side of the area around the hour. United continued to push, but Hughes saw a lovely strike towards the bottom corner pushed away by Studer nine minutes from time as the visitors had to make do with a point. Richard Money said: "I thought we were good and dare I say, very good. Some days you just can't find the goal and I thought first half we gradually got into it. "They're tough opponents and it's always a tough place to come and play because they put every ball under pressure. "But we gradually started to find our passes and second half i thought we totally dominated and just couldn't find the goal that the performance deserved. "In terms of progress and performance levels, I don't think anyone who was here either working for our club or supporting our club could have any complaints." --------------- Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6 Been a tough week for the squad as a whole. Everyone stood up to be counted when it mattered today. Were all in it together #stags Jamie Sendles White @j_sendles_white Good result today from all the lads. Everyone pulled their weight. Always nice to get a clean sheet. Roll on tuesday VS Tranmere #stags Sascha Studer Second Clean Sheet in the Season with the Stags..!Deserved point (0:0) against a good Cambridge side.. Fergus @fergus_bell Some serious mileage on the legs after today. Solid point and one of hardest working performances I've seen from a team.. @mansfieldtownfc Alex Fisher @AlexFisher37 A and E selfie with @MattASalmon! CT scan coming up! (Later:) fear not, the fish is in the clear! Bring on the next game. Rakish Bingham @RakishBingham We dug deep and put in a really good shift today. I feel were building and can only get better #stags --------------------- |
Latest | October 2014