Archived News from December 2014
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MURRAY, EVTIMOV, NEAL ARDLEY REACTION
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Murray: The boys gave me everything
mansfieldtown.net, 20th December 2014 Gaffer reflects on first win since being installed as permanent boss. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-the-boys-gave-me-everything-2157290.aspx#3r0A8qKKHHcyUARp.99 Manager Adam Murray was delighted to get his first three points since being installed as permanent manager, as we defied all the odds to beat AFC Wimbledon this afternoon. Our team travelled to the Cherry Red Records Stadium having won just once away from home in Sky Bet League Two all season and with illness affecting some players. Our task wasn’t made any easier when Rob Taylor was given a straight red card in the first half, but Vadaine Oliver’s goal early in the second half, coupled by some heroic goalkeeping by Dimitar Evtimov saw us emerge victorious and jump up to 16th position in the league table. “Everything that went with the game, every situation that we found ourselves in today, the boys stuck to [the task],” said our boss. “They did what they’ve done for the last three weeks - they gave me their heart and soul and everything they had and I’m ‘over the moon’ for them. They literally ran themselves into the ground. “We’ve had some illness in the camp this week and Vadaine [Oliver, goalscorer] has been off for the last few days, so he was a doubt to start. “The boys have literally gone through a brick wall for the club. That’s what I ask, so I’m proud of them.” He added: “I look at every detail and the last three weeks have been testing and it’s kind of been a realisation of the challenge that we do face. “At the minute we’re not a team competing at the top of the table, which is all of our aims, and we’re in a battle, so today is a tiny step moving forward in where we need to go.” Murray also had special praise for shot-stopper Evtimov, whose string of remarkable saves to thwart the hosts time and again helped us to record these vital three points. “It’s been frustrating for Dimi, because he’s come in and we’ve got another really good goalkeeper in Sascha [Studer] and he’s probably not been given the run that his ability deserves because of Sascha’s performances,” said Murray. “Dimi’s kind of been in the background, but we know, and the two ‘keepers know, that they’ve both been pushing each other since they’ve been at the club. “So I’m ‘over the moon’ for him as he’s shown everybody what he’s about today.” ------------------ Murray hails keeper Evtimov’s display as best ever as 10-men Stags win at Dons chad.co.uk Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray hailed loanee Dimitar Evtimov’s display as the best goalkeeping performance he has ever seen in this afternoon’s superb 1-0 away win at AFC Wimbledon for 10-men Stags. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/murray-hails-keeper-evtimov-s-display-as-best-ever-as-10-men-stags-win-at-dons-1-7015065 After Rob Taylor’s 32nd minute red card, Stags stole a 47th minute lead through Vadaine Oliver and, with Evtimov unbeatable and some great defending in front of him, hung on to finally give Murray his first win as full-time manager at the fourth attempt. “When we needed him he put his body on the line for us,” said Murray, who also said this was Stags’ best win of the season. “100 per cent that was the best display I’ve seen from a keeper. On days like this you need characters and players to step forward and it made a massive difference for us. “With everything that went with it, the occasion and situations we faced during the 90 minutes, that was our best win of the season. “It was a brilliant win, though just a tiny step, a baby step, on our journey. “I have lost my voice again so that’s a bit painful. “I am just really proud of the boys. Over the last three weeks we have asked them for team spirit and unity and today we showed passion and character and what pride in wearing the Mansfield shirt means to these boys. “We set up a bit differently today. We have come so far so soon, I thought things may be going a bit too quickly and today we took a step back and played a bit more direct as we felt the game and their formation warranted it. I thought it paid off and all credit to the lads.” On Taylor’s red card for a two-footed lunge, he said: “That was the first tackle I’ve seen him make in six months! “The referee said he’d gone over the ball but from the opposite side I couldn’t really see. Rob says he won the ball so we will have to have a look at that. “They put us right up against the wall. But we came out fighting. Today I picked Jamie McGuire and Matt Rhead who sometimes are not the prettiest on the eye but when you need them they give you 110 per cent. You know what you are going to get from them. “They gave us the voice and leadership we have lacked out there recently. “I thought our decision-making today was good.” Murray added: “No way were we going to sit back and let them come onto us for 45 minutes, feeling sorry for ourselves and defending our six yard box. “We were going to have a go. Me being me, I wanted to chuck three up front, but Micky Moore and Richard Cooper have more sensible heads and wanted to be a bit more cautious. “You are always going to be under pressure with 10 men away from home. I just told them at half-time to go out there and give me every ounce of energy and everything they’d got and we can come away with something. “I am over the moon for the boys. They have given everything in recent games but not had the rub of the green.” -------------- Evtimov delighted with praise from Stags boss Murray after ‘best ever’ display chad.co.uk Dimitar Evtimov was delighted to hear Mansfield Town manager label his display as the best goalkeeping performance he has seen as 10-men Stags won 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon yesterday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/evtimov-delighted-with-praise-from-stags-boss-murray-after-best-ever-display-1-7015076?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed The Stags lost Rob Taylor to a 32nd minute red card but then took the lead through Vadaine Oliver on 47 minutes and, thanks to a brilliant display from Forest loanee Evtimov and some great defending, hung on for a memorable victory. “That is such a compliment, especially coming from the gaffer,” said Evtimov. “I tried my best to keep a clean sheet and am very happy with the win. “You just don’t think about it, even when the ball has hit you in the face, it was probably the best I have ever played in my career. “It is down to a lot of hard work and a little bit of talent. “Of course I would like to stay here longer if I am wanted. I would love to play more games and help the team. “I now want to keep my jersey and hopefully help us win more games.” Skipper Jamie McGuire turned in a real captain’s performance and smiled: “I never got booked so that’s a first. I was trying to calm the lads down. “To dig in like that, I am so proud of the lads - the way we defended. We worked our socks off. “You don’t realise how much character we showed today, some of the lads have had flu all week. “I think we were the better team with 10 men and created chances. They were always going to throw the kitchen sink at us in the last 10 minutes. But we defended superbly and Dimitar was superb in goal. “That has got to be the best result of the season as now we can kick on.” ------------------- AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley told BBC London 94.9: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30459647 "We struggled a little bit the first half, getting to grips with their shape. "We were too narrow and we gave the onus to them, so then we tried to put a bit more width into it. "In the second half we had a game plan and we were on the front foot. But we gave them the goal early on and that makes it hard. "On another day we would have had a bit of luck and taken one of our three or four half chances we had. The boys have given everything after a scrappy, difficult first half." Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30459647 "The boys gave me absolutely everything, their heart and soul. I'm over the moon for them. "They ran themselves into the ground. They have gone through the brick wall today and that is what I ask of them. "At the minute we are not a team competing at the top of the table, which is our aim. We are in a battle, a challenge and today is a tiny step towards where we need to go." ------------------ Neal: we gave everything Author: Chris Slavin We lacked that bit of quality and finishing touch Neal Ardley, Sat 20 Dec 2014 Post-match reaction from Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley said he could not fault his players for effort after Wimbledon slipped to a frustrating defeat at the hands of Mansfield. Read more at http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/article/neal-we-gave-everything-2156627.aspx#W6BIeKEXIFIwW5Jp.99 Speaking to Dons Player, Neal felt that his side created enough chances to have taken something from the game and he was far from despondent about the overall performance. “Conceding a goal early in the second-half made it hard for us,” said Neal. “The first half was scrappy. They started with a 3-5-2 and we played too narrow to start with. We did not have any width to get any passing going because of that. It suited them because they had two strong forwards holding it up. We lost Bayo early on and he plays a pivotal part in us getting hold of the ball. We struggled in the first half, but we changed it at half-time and got more width into our play. “We felt the game would go the way it did in the second half and that the chances would fall if we kept going. What we did not expect to be doing was chasing the game and that made it easier for them. Even though they had 10 men, they had three big centre backs who knew how to defend the box well. They threw themselves at everything and you have to give them credit for that. On another day we could have had a couple of goals with the chances that we created. “The players did everything I asked of them in the second half. They were patient and moved the ball better, but we lacked that bit of quality and finishing touch. Their goalkeeper also made great saves. I cannot fault the effort of the players.” Neal showed support for Jake Goodman after the young defender’s lapse let in Mansfield for what turned out to be the winner. “Jake has been absolutely fantastic since he came here,” added Neal. “He was immense in the two previous games. We all rallied around him afterwards. He’s a young lad who needs our support. I asked him to be brave and he’s tried to head it back to the goalkeeper rather than hack it clear. We will certainly not put any blame on him because we all lose together.” ----------------- Dimitar Evtimov @DimiEvtimov Amazing win today! Played most of the game with a man down and kept a clean sheet! Great team performance! #stags JAMIE MCGUIRE @JAMIEMCGUIRE23 Wot a result 60 mins with 10 men lads were unreal big man @VadaineOliver with a great goal ! Fans were brilliant again @mansfieldtownfc Luke Waterfall @lukew30 What a battling performance that was with 10 men! Boys different class! Great cleano aswell! Kieron Freeman @KieronFreeman23 Buzzing with that win Rakish Bingham @RakishBingham Brilliant team performance it's been long overdue! With 10 men too, credit to the lads and the fans that travelled #MTFC #stags Sascha Studer Congrats to the lads!Great 3 points against Wimbledon..As well compliment to Dimi Evtimov who had a great game!Well done Boys Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6 What a f***in shift from the boys! Get in there! #stags --------------- |
Latest | December 2014