Archived News from December 2014
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MURRAY, BROWN AND RONNIE MOORE REACTION
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Murray calls for consistency
mansfieldtown.net, 26th December 2014 Boss looks for consistency in performances after draw with Hartlepool United. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-calls-for-consistency-2165239.aspx#dTpKG9Gbby6XgVpJ.99 Manager Adam Murray believes that it’s important our side find a level of consistency and improve on defensive lapses during periods of game. Our boss was speaking after today’s 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United - a game which we led courtesy of Junior Brown’s 10th minute strike before the Pools equalised shortly after half-time. “[Frustration] was again the major word and I think the performance showed where we are as a team at the minute,” reflected Murray. “Inconsistency of being really good and being really bad is where we are as a group at the minute. We go from big highs to major lows and to do anything and succeed, you have to have consistency.” He continued: “We’ll create chances now - I’ve no doubts about that, but a big thing I’ve spoken about over the last few weeks is being ruthless in both boxes. “At the minute, we go through the motions of playing at 60 and 70% and it’s not good enough. The good things we did at points in the first half, kind of went out of the window in the second half.” On the Pools’ equaliser, Murray said: “People are saying there was a deflection, but the ball shouldn’t be coming into our box and the ruthlessness of our defending and the ruthlessness of being clinical at the other end needs to be upped.” The game ended with both teams short on players as defender Ryan Tafazolli was shown a second yellow card, before Marlon Harewood and Michael Woods were red carded for Hartlepool late on. On Tafazolli’s dismissal, the boss added: “If I’m being honest for both yellow cards, I don’t think he needed to do what he did, so it’s a massive learning curve for him.” Another talking point from the game occurred just before the hour mark when a header by Matt Rhead ricocheted off the upright and appeared to cross the line, but no goal was awarded. Reflecting on the incident, Murray said: “From where I was standing it looked like it had crossed the line, but I’m a long way away on the touchline, so it’d be unfair for me to comment.” As we approach the midway point in the season, our team still occupy 16th spot in Sky Bet League Two - eight points above the drop zone, but 10 points adrift of the play-off positions. Looking ahead, our manager said: “We can’t keep giving ourselves these mountains to climb and expect to be successful and compete at the higher end of the table. “We need to be realistic at where we are. We’re not a team at the minute that is going to break into that top section and compete - we’re in a battle and a challenge for this season. “The main thing is that every point we’re getting is important and we’re trying to get them points on the board quickly, because where we are in our journey, we’re a yo-yo team at the minute and we need to level that out.” ------------------ Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray speaks to BBC Radio Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30543995 "It was a mad game today. It was also a gage performance wise of where we are, and that we go from doing some really good things to doing some really bad things in the space of 90 minutes. "We are where we are in the league because the level of consistency is not of a team that can put a run of results together, and that is where we need to change things. "You look for people to settle down and drive you forward on the pitch, and in certain areas we are lacking that, but the boys are doing the best they can and I think that will come with confidence." ---------------- Stags boss Murray calls for consistency chad.co.uk Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray called on his side to find some consistency after another Jeckyll and Hyde 90 minutes in this afternoon’s 1-1 home draw with bottom side Hartlepool United. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-murray-calls-for-consistency-1-7022208 Murray now has 48 hours to cajole his players into showing what they can do for a full 90 minutes ahead of a trip to Bury’s Gigg Lane on Sunday. Against Hartlepool they turned in a promising first 45 minutes and led through a Junior Brown goal at the break. But they then allowed a fired-up Hartlepool to come back at them and level with a deflected goal and almost sneak a win with a good late chance wasted by Neil Austin. The second half also saw three red cards with Ryan Tafazolli sent-off for his second bookable offence on 72 minutes, followed in the last few minutes by United pair Marlon Harewood, a straight red, and Michael Woods, a second yellow, both for skirmishes with home skipper Jamie McGuire. Said Murray: “That performance showed where we are as a team at the minute. It showed our inconsistency - going from being really good to being really bad. We go from big highs to major lows and if we are to do anything and succeed we need to find some level of consistency. “We will create chances, I have no doubt about that. But it’s all about being ruthless - and that’s in both boxes. “All the good things we did in the first half went out the window in the second. “I am asking players to be brave and dictate the match, but instead it was back to the hot potato where players wanted to get rid of the ball as fast as possible. That’s not what I am about. “It was a great goal by Junior Brown and in the first half we showed glimpses where we want to be. But, on the flip side, we also showed our weaknesses at time. “To say I am disappointed is an understatement. We can’t keep giving ourselves mountains to climb.” Matt Rhead looked to have put Stags back in front just after the equaliser, but the officials ruled his header, that struck a defender and hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down, had not crossed the line. “From where I was it looked like it had gone over the line, but I was a long way away,” said Murray. On Tafazolli’s dismissal, he added: “For both yellow cards I don’t think he needed to do them - this is a massive learning curve for him. “We must be realistic and say we are not currently a team that is going to break into that top half and compete - we are in a battle. “It was always the case we wanted to start putting points on the board at home. You can say it was a deflected goal but the ball shouldn’t be coming into our box. “But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have 24 hours now to get the boys ready for Bury.” Hartlepool boss Ronnie Moore said: “I thought our first half performance was a disgrace. “It’s the first time in a long time I have seen 11 players perform like that and it wasn’t acceptable. “We are trying to win games and you can’t go out there showing fear. “They proved that second half once I had got into their ribs at half-time. In the first half everything was long and straight and I’ve never told them to do that. “We had a decent crowd followed us here today and I want to stay in the League and they want us to stay in the League, but some of the players didn’t seem to care first half. We gave them a goal start, though I thought we might have had a penalty before that. “At half-time I told them to go out there and earn the money they get as footballers and enjoy it. “It’s now about belief. We are in the mire and we need to stick together, go out there and roll our sleeves up. “We will appeal the Harewood red card. I don’t understand how the linesman can give it when the referee was much nearer to it. It was too hard to make a decision for a straight red. “The second red card was stupid. I told him he was walking a tightrope and don’t do anything daft. Then he goes and gets involved like that.” ------------------ Mixed emotions for on loan winger mansfieldtown.net, 26th December 2014 Brown reflects on draw with Hartlepool United. Man of the Match Junior Brown had a mixture of emotions after today’s 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United at One Call Stadium. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/mixed-emotions-for-on-loan-winger-2165934.aspx#ZirCvAHiPaXdOQzc.99 In an ill-tempered clash which saw both teams have players dismissed, the 24-year-old, on loan from Oxford United until the New Year, opened the scoring with a predatory strike after a good move involving Reggie Lambe. However, the Pools equalised early in the second half to snatch an unlikely point, but they still remain at the foot of the Sky Bet League Two table. On the goal, Brown’s first for us, the winger said: “I played a nice little ‘give and go’ with Reggie (Lambe) and it opened up for me, then I was able to hit the ball under the ‘keeper, so it was a nice way to open my account for Mansfield.” He continued: “It’s disappointing not to get three points after last week’s performance [at AFC Wimbledon] where we battled so hard and dug in for so long, but it’s still a step in the right direction and a valuable point which gets us closer to where we want to be. “With Hartlepool being down there it’s a difficult time for them, so they were always going to be fighting for every little bit and every little inch and in the second half they came out and put us right under the cosh. “Unfortunately we conceded, but I thought we dug in well and showed good spirit and created a lot of chances even when we were a man down. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t go and get all three points.” Looking ahead, the winger is unsure where his future lies, but admits he has enjoyed his time with us so far: “It’s a difficult one as it’s not just down to me what happens. “As any player will tell you, they want to be playing games, and that’s all I want to do. Hopefully, we can get something sorted and I can carry on playing games. “It’s been frustrating [at Oxford] not getting games, so coming here and getting the opportunity to get games has been great. I’m enjoying my football.” ---------------- Moore Pleased With Second-Half Fight Back hartlepoolunited.co.uk Ronnie Moore was satisfied with his side’s second-half display in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town this afternoon. Read more at http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/moore-pleased-with-second-half-fight-back-2165537.aspx#E5RK3uUi1bV7umeQ.99 But the Pools’ boss pulled no punches when giving his thoughts on a below-par first half, “The first half was a disgrace I thought,” Moore told Pools Player. “I said to them in there, ‘we’re trying to win games you can’t be going out showing fear’. We’ve given them a goal start; everything was long, everything was straight and we’ve never told them to do that. It’s just nerves that set in and fear. “We’ve brought a decent crowd down here who’ve paid decent money. You need to roll your sleeves up and go and work for a living, enjoy being a footballer and I thought they did that in the second half. And with a little bit more belief, we could’ve gone on to win it.” “We’ve got to start winning games, we’ve got to believe that we can win games. “In that first 45 minutes - hopefully we will never get a performance like that again. I’ve been in football for a long time and for 11 lads to perform like they did in the first half was totally unacceptable and they know that, I’ve told them that. “Second half you pat them on the back because at least they went out and tried to earn some of the money they get paid.” ------------------ Reaction: Hartlepool boss plans appeal after Harewood is red-carded in 1-1 draw at Mansfield hartlepoolmail.co.uk, by Richard Mennear RONNIE Moore says Hartlepool United plan to appeal Marlon Harewood’s red card in the dramatic 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town. http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/reaction-hartlepool-boss-plans-appeal-after-harewood-is-red-carded-in-1-1-draw-at-mansfield-1-7022158 Harewood saw red in the dying minutes of the match an altercation with Jamie McGuire on the floor inside the Stags penalty area. The FA has a speeded up appeal process over Christmas which means a decision will be made by teatime on Saturday if Pools do appeal. Michael Woods also saw red in the final few minutes, his second of the match, after wrestling for the ball once a free-kick had been given. Moore confirmed the midfielder would be fined and it leaves him with at least one change to make ahead of the visit of Morecambe to Victoria Park on Sunday. Moore was pleased to come away with a point but he was left fuming with his side’s first-half display adding the showing was unacceptable. He said: “It was a battling performance second half. “But the first was a disgrace, I thought. “I have said to them in there we are trying to win games and you cannot show fear. We gave away 45 minutes and a goal start. “First half everything was long and straight, I have never told them to do that. “We performed better second half and could have even gone on to win the game with a bit more belief. “There was a bit of feeling and endeavour about our play. “We have to start believing we can win games.” On the red card appeal, Moore added: “We want to appeal it. “It was too hard for him to make a decision for a straight red.” The first half was desperate as Junior Brown gave Mansfield a 10th minute lead but Pools came out a different side second-half. Michael Duckworth drew level in the 51st minute in an action-packed second-half. ------------------- Hartlepool United boss Ronnie Moore to fine Michael Woods but will appeal against Marlon Harewood red card hartlepoolmail.co.uk, by Richard Mennear HARTLEPOOL United are to appeal the late red card shown to Marlon Harewood at Mansfield Town. http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-united-boss-ronnie-moore-to-fine-michael-woods-but-will-appeal-against-marlon-harewood-red-card-1-7022471 The experienced 35-year-old - who faces a three-match ban - was shown a straight red in the 87th minute after an altercation with Stags captain Jamie McGuire in the 1-1 draw. Harewood was pulled down on top of the midfielder and while there was a tussle on the floor it wasn’t clear whether the frontman had thrown a punch. Referee Scott Mathieson, on the advice of his assistant, took a different view and Harewood was given his marching orders while McGuire was only booked. Boss Ronnie Moore told SportMail it isn’t in Harewood’s character and he confirmed the club would be appealing ahead of the visit of Morecambe tomorrow. Clubs querying a dismissal have until 1pm today to lodge their appeal with the FA with all the evidence sent in by 5pm. At 6pm tonight an independent panel will meet to make a final decision as the FA speeds up the process over the festive break. Moore said: “There was no malice in that. “Marlon wouldn’t scare my missus so I don’t know how he could be involved in anything like that - he isn’t that type of player. “Their lad has pulled Marlon and he has ended up going on top of him. I don’t think there was a punch thrown, or I couldn’t see one on the video. We want to appeal it. “It was too hard for him to make a decision for a straight red.” Moore was less sympathetic with midfielder Michael Woods, who was shown his second yellow card in the 90th minute after needlessly getting involved in a tussle for the ball after a free-kick had been awarded. Woods ended up wrestling and Mathieson had no hesitation in sending him off the field. “Michael will get fined, it was stupid,” said an angry Moore. “I said at half-time you are walking a tight-rope - don’t do anything daft. “Why get involved in it? “Now he is missing the game tomorrow and we need as many players as possible not to be losing them. “It is a total lack of professionalism for me because he knew the situation. “The last thing we needed was to be down to nine men. It is hard enough playing 11 v 11 the mess we are in, never mind that.” ------------------------------- Harewood to serve three match ban after Hartlepool United decide against appeal by Richard Mennear, hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 27 December 2014 MARLON Harewood will miss the next three matches for Hartlepool United after the club decided against appealing his red card at Mansfield Town. http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/harewood-to-serve-three-match-ban-after-hartlepool-united-decide-against-appeal-1-7022877 The experienced striker was given his marching orders in the 87th minute after an altercation with Mansfield captain Jamie McGuire in the 1-1 draw on Boxing Day. The officials deemed Harewood’s behaviour as violent conduct and he will now serve a three match ban, starting with the visit of Morecambe on Sunday (KO 3pm). Pools said there was “insufficient evidence” to challenge the decision. Michael Woods will also miss the Morecambe match, he was shown a red card after picking up his second yellow of the match in the 90th minute and will serve a one-match ban. A Pools statement said: “After carefully reviewing the DVD from the Boxing Day game at Mansfield Town, the club has decided that unfortunately footage of the Marlon Harewood incident is inconclusive. “The Pools front man was shown a straight red card late in the game, following a tussle with Mansfield captain Jamie McGuire during which both players fell to the ground. “Officials adjudged that Harewood had been guilty of violent conduct and, while the club disputes that, the footage of the incident is inconclusive and therefore the decision was taken not to appeal. “Harewood will now serve a three-match suspension, starting with Sunday’s game against Morecambe at Victoria Park.” He will also miss the trip to Wycombe Wanderers on January 3 followed by the visit of Cheltenham Town to The Vic on January 10. ---------------- |
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