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Archived News from April 2015

MURRAY, THOMAS, GARY WADDOCK, TUBBS REACTION
27th April 2015 22:25


Gaffer praises Thomas after great display
mansfieldtown.net, 25th April 2015

Boss pleased by effort and energy shown by young midfielder.

Manager Adam Murray had praise for midfielder Jack Thomas, who produced a spirited display full of heart, energy and endeavour in today’s game with Portsmouth at One Call Stadium.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/gaffer-praises-thomas-after-great-display-2422965.aspx#ZhObf2vHOed2wRiT.99

Despite losing the game, 2-1, the teenager scooped the sponsors’ Man of the Match award and also netted his first goal in professional football with a stunning 25-yard attempt midway through the second half.

“Again, it was another ridiculous performance by Jack Thomas,” said our boss.

He continued: “I said to him before the game that he was due a goal, because his performances deserve to be rewarded with a goal. Today, he’s probably just gone and got Goal of the Season on the last home game of the season.

“I said a couple of weeks ago that he should be an inspiration. I don’t care how old you are - he should inspire everyone. He’s on a totally different level and we should be proud of a football club to have someone like that.”

Arguably the game-changing incident came in the first minute when Ritchie Sutton received a straight red card following a foul inside the area, before Matt Tubbs stepped up and converted the resulting spot-kick.

Reflecting on the incident, our boss said: “I think it summed up our season. It was the perfect picture of our season and how it has gone, but after that, credit to the young boys, because I thought they were superb.

“You couldn’t write the script. I’ve heard it was a bit harsh [of the referee to show Sutton a red card], but we shouldn’t have got into that situation anyway.”

Murray added: “It was a picture that wrote the whole season in 90 minutes. I thought we had enough chances to win it with 10 men, but again we’ve come up short and we’re in the changing room saying ‘We’ve killed ourselves’ again, which is something that’s been said on numerous occasions this season, which sums up why we are, where we are [in the league table].

“But today was about getting certain things out of the game and it was never going to alter anything. It was about answering a few questions and we got that.”

Midfielder Joe Fitzpatrick, who dropped in at centre-back following Sutton’s early dismissal, also won special praise from the boss: “It was daunting having to go and play in his own position, so to do a job like that was superb.”

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Murray hails Stags stars of the future
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

On a day when the veterans of Mansfield Town’s 1974/75 Division Four title-winning side were paraded before the Stags’ faithful, boss Adam Murray said the fans had also had a glimpse of an exciting future.

Despite the 2-1 home defeat by Portsmouth, not helped by the dismissal of Ritchie Sutton after only 50 seconds, Murray’s youthful side, including five players aged 21 and under, battled well.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/murray-hails-stags-stars-of-the-future-1-7229310

Jack Thomas (18) picked up four Player of the Season awards pre-match and then bagged a spectacular first senior goal in a man of the match display.

Murray said: “All credit to the young boys, they were superb. Today was about certain things and I got what I wanted.

“The young ones couldn’t have done any more. Our average age today was under 23.

“They are going to make mistakes. That’s always going to happen. But they are mistakes made in trying to do the right thing.

“It was a great experience for them. It was another ridiculous performance from Jack Thomas. For Joe Fitzpatrick on his debut to be dropped into centre half after 45 seconds, it was daunting enough to be playing his own position, so to go out there and do a job like that was superb.

“I said to Jack before the game that he was due a goal after all his good performances. Then he scored the goal of the season in the last home game of the season.

“He should be an inspiration to everyone. He is on a different level and we should be proud of out football club to have someone like that.”

With Sutton sent off as last man for a foul in the box, Matt Tubbs put away the penalty in the second minute, Jed Wallace doubling the advantage after the break before Thomas gave hope with his reply.

Murray said: “It summed up our season didn’t it? It was the perfect picture of our season in one game. It was our whole season in 90 minutes.

“We had enough chances to win it with 10 men but we came up short. In the changing room we have killed ourselves again.

“You couldn’t write the script. To be honest it was a tricky one to see where we are but I heard it was a bit harsh, but he shouldn’t have got into that situation.

“We all want to put this season in the past as quickly as we can. It’s been a long journey.

“The planning has already started for next season. I know what we need to do and, along with the fans, I don’t want to go through this again. I don’t want to have to suffer this pain again.

“I am more than confident I can build a competitive side. Don’t get me wrong, there will be a hell of a lot of changes in the summer.

“Yes, we have a core of good, young lads. But you can’t heap all the pressure on them. We will bring in a lot of new faces to help them.

“I can’t tell you my frustration and anger at the minute. It’s torn my heart out these last few weeks. We’ve not been good enough. But I will put it right.”

Pompey caretaker boss Gary Waddock said: “A win’s a win and it’s great to get one away from home. It was something for the fans to go home with. We played extremely well in the first half and controlled it. We identified an area where we could get at them and it worked straight away with the penalty.

“I was pleased with the first half, but we made it harder for ourselves in the second half. We have told the lads they need to manage a game better.

“In the final third we didn’t take enough care when we were in possession.

“With the amount of possession we had we didn’t create enough chances. That was the one disappointing thing.

“We had chances to kill the game off and didn’t take them. We have to be ruthless when those chances come up. If we had, it would have been a lot more comfortable towards the final whistle.”

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Adam Murray: Mansfield Town manager set to sign new contract
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32430151

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has said he expects to sign a new contract with the League Two club.
Murray, 33, became the youngest boss in the Football League when he was appointed player-manager in December .
The Stags are currently 21st in the league, with six losses in their last seven games, but safe from relegation.
"I've had a couple of chats with the chairman and hopefully it'll be sorted out within the next few days," Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham.
"I'm hoping it'll get done as soon as possible so everybody can put closure on it and we know where we're going."
Murray has also made 16 appearances for the club as a player this season.

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Fairytale season for Stags teen Thomas
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Rising Mansfield Town star Jack Thomas said he could hardly believe what was happening to him as he landed four Player of the Season trophies after only 11 games this year for the club he has always supported.

http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/fairytale-season-for-stags-teen-thomas-1-7229357

After bagging his first senior goal for the Stags in yesterday’s 2-1 home defeat by Portsmouth, Thomas (18), was permitted to speak to the media for the first time and said: “It means everything. I had a season ticket here five years ago. I can’t really believe it.

“At the Northampton game I was shaking, but I’m not nervous any more.”

On his goal, a superb curling effort under the far angle from 20 yards from the left, he said: “It’s a dream come true. I have waited for it a long time and it means everything.

“I don’t score many so I didn’t really know what to do.

“I was talking to Lee Beevers the other day after training and he told me to shoot more.”

Thomas went out on loan to Hednesford Town earlier in the season and admitted he thought his days with his hometown side may be about to end.

“I can’t really believe it,” he said. “When I went out on loan I thought I might be getting dumped out. But I couldn’t have been any more wrong.

“Looking back now I probably wasn’t ready to get chucked in but I feel ready now.

“The squad have all been really good with me.”

As a youngster in the stands supporting the Stags, he had no hesitation when naming his favourite player from those days.

“It was Adam Murray,” he said. “He has been brilliant for me, even when I was playing for the youth team.

“If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here now. He gives me a lot of freedom to go and play.”

Thomas was a little overwhelmed by so many trophies yesterday and even said: “I don’t really know if I should have got them, but I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me.

“We have so many young players coming through right now it can only be good for the club.

“I won’t get big-headed or anything because I’ve not achieved anything yet.”

Thomas was one of five players in the side aged 21 and under yesterday as Murray gave youth a chance.

Stags battled well but were handicapped by having Ritchie Sutton red-carded after only 50 seconds and then going 2-0 down.

Mansfield will complete their League Two campaign at Accrington Stanley next Saturday.

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Matt wants a goalden finish
by Jordan Cross

MATT TUBBS has set his sights on landing the golden boot and ending Pompey’s season on a high.

http://www.bognor.co.uk/sport/pompey-latest/matt-wants-a-goalden-finish-1-6710805

Tubbs admitted finishing as League Two’s top goalscorer is firmly on his mind after helping the Blues to a 2-1 win at Mansfield Town.

The striker took over penalty duties from Jed Wallace to take his league tally for the campaign to 20.

It also helped the Blues to just their third league win on the road this season - and Gary Waddock to a first success as caretaker boss.

Tubbs is now two goals clear of Northampton’s Marc Richards, Dagenham & Redbridge’s Jamie Cureton and Plymouth Argyle’s Reuben Reid in the race for the golden boot.

Eight goals have arrived since signing from AFC Wimbledon in January, with the 30-year-old bagging 23 strikes in all competitions.

Tubbs thanked Pompey’s other goalscorer, Wallace, for stepping away from Saturday’s penalty against the Stags to help his cause.

And the Blues predator is now out to continue in the same vein as the curtain comes down on the campaign against York City at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Tubbs said: ‘Jed is the penalty taker but I’m in the situation where I want that golden boot.

‘Jed knows that, so a lot of credit has to go to him for being the penalty taker and letting me take it.

‘I’ve still got something to play for in the game to come.

‘Of course I want the golden boot. When I started the season at Wimbledon I was telling people I wanted it.

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twitter
Joe Fitzpatrick ‏@JoeFitzpatrickx
Disappointed not to get something out the game today but happy to get my first 90 minutes for @mansfieldtownfc

Liam Marsden ‏@LiamMarsden94
Shame about not finishing the last home game with a win but hopefully finish off the season well and get 3 points at Accrington next week

Lenny Pidgeley ‏@pidge40
Land mine (loudly crying face emoticon)

Rakish Bingham ‏@RakishBingham
Feel as if we deserved more than that today
Last home game of the season finished. Would have loved a win but thanks to all the fans for they're support this year @mansfieldtownfc

JAMIE MCGUIRE ‏@JAMIEMCGUIRE23
Last home game of the season done had its up and downs thanks to the fans for all there support all season @mansfieldtownfc
Also well done to the young boys today showed no fear there ready for 1st team football @JackThomas06 @JoeFitzpatrickx @LiamMarsden94 x
Nice to see the 74/75 heroes yesterday get the applause they deserved wasn't born then but heard they were some team @mansfieldtownfc

Liam Hearn ‏@Hearnz10
Getting a run out today makes every single one of them tough days worth it.. proud of the youngsters today too, showed they are ready

Jed Wallace ‏@jedwallace62
@officialpompey the celebration says it all @mansfieldtownfc tell your groundsman I owe him a beer!

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Latest | April 2015