{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from December 2015

MURRAY, COLLINS, McNAMARA REACTION
31st December 2015 19:04


Freeview StagsPlayer full video interviews with Adam Murray and Lee Collins (11 minutes)
http://freeview.fli.streamamg.com/5a092676-2c89-4f02-a444-5dcaa7da85f1/player

----------------

Murray says Stags need to start taking chances
mansfieldtown.net, 28th December 2015

Stags’ boss Adam Murray wants his side to be more positive in the final third during the remainder of the season after today’s 1-1 draw with York City.

Murray saw his side have to settle for a point against the Minstermen this afternoon after Krystian Pearce’s fine header cancelled out Dave Winfield’s early opener.

And the manager says his side should have won the game in the second half after seeing them carve out a number of opportunities to take the lead in a dominant display.

“If we don’t take our chances, we aren’t going to win football matches. It’s not as if we aren’t creating chances and we aren’t putting people on the back foot, but we need to score goals and that’s the key factor at the minute,” Murray said.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-says-stags-need-to-start-taking-chances-2872375.aspx#mxSBzK5802qVwm0y.99

“We need to be more positive - we get into areas and we go backwards and square. It’s [about] getting that balance [between] pointless possession and penetrative possession and that’s what we need to do.”

However, Murray was pleased that his side scored from a set piece, something which he feels they should have scored more of in recent weeks.

“We work hard on them. We probably haven’t scored as many as we should in the last few weeks. At the start of the season they were coming off really well, but people have become aware of them. It’s nice to get one from that.”

The gaffer was disappointed with how his side conceded the opening goal of the game - but admits he is pleased that the Stags’ defence continue to make it hard for other teams to break them down.

“It’s a sloppy goal from us but as I keep saying, we don’t look like we’re going to get opened up by teams - the only time we look like we’re going to concede is from our own lapses of concentration or our own mistakes.”

Murray continued: “It’s gone straight through a gap in our back line and any ball in that area is going to cause you problems. Any touch and it’s a goal and that was the case.”

The gaffer had praise for substitute Nathan Thomas, who caused the York defence a number of problems after his introduction in the 56th minute, but says the winger needs to produce positive displays on a regular basis.

“It was touch and go whether we went with him or Blairy (Matty Blair) today but what we need to get out of Nathan is consistency.

“It can’t be ten or fifteen minutes here and there, it’s got to be a 90-minute job and it’s part of Nathan’s development.

“He’s had more starts here than he has in his whole career so he’s not going to be someone who’s going to play week-in-week-out at 100 percent. His first target is 60 minutes [and] when he can be excellent for 60 minutes, then we’ll go for 90 minutes.”

After seeing 3,958 fans pack in to One Call Stadium this afternoon, Murray was grateful for the support of the Stags’ faithful throughout the afternoon.

“I thought the fans were superb today, even when we went that goal down. They lifted us and they backed us and I think they saw the difference in the second half.

“It made a difference, not only to me personally but the team because to have noise and that backing constantly made the difference and we’re gutted we couldn’t give them the win in the end,” Murray said.

You can watch Murray's post-match interview, in full, on Stags Player.

------------------

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray rues missed chances in York City draw
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Monday 28 December 2015

Adam Murray reflected on more missed chances that cost his Mansfield Town side two points in today’s thrilling 1-1 home draw with strugglers York City.

The Stags did have to come from behind after a slow start in the first half.

But after the break they twice hit the bar, Matt Green somehow finding it from five yards when it seemed he had to score, while York keeper Scott Flinders was in heartbreaking form.

“It was the story of our last three weeks - frustrating,” said Murray.

“It was a sloppy goal to concede and we caused our own problems with it.

Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/mansfield-town-boss-adam-murray-rues-missed-chances-in-york-city-draw-1-7646046#ixzz3vjTmD1sn

“For a start I think it was a soft free kick. From there it’s gone through a gap in our back line and a ball in that area is always going to cause you problems and any touch and it’s a goal.

“We don’t look like we are going to be opened up by teams. The only time we look like we will concede is from our own lapses of concentration or mistakes.”

Murray had to change things round at half-time which led to a one-sided second half for the home side.

“First half we kept Westcarr closer to Green up front so it was more of a two and it didn’t work,” he said. “We got beat up in midfield for half an hour.

“Then second half we have got to win the game. You can’t have chances like that and not win.

“We must have spent 70 per cent of the half in their box without taking our chances.

“If we don’t take our chances we won’t win football matches. It’s not like we are not creating chances or putting people on the back foot. But we need some goals and that’s the key factor at the minute.”

He added: “Normally here at home for the first half hour we dominate possession and play. Today they had the extra man in midfield and we didn’t deal with that.

“When we play with Westcarr a bit deeper in that No.10 role we control the game a lot more. And second half we did that. How we haven’t scored second half I don’t know.

“The amount of ball we go into the final third second half, we need to be more positive.

“Sometimes we need to get it forward a little bit quicker, especially at home, but that’s got to be done with quality.

“I won’t allow a team to just bang it up there as we are not about that. When it goes forward the link-up play, intelligence and instinct has got to be better.”

On Green’s missed sitter, he said: “Nine times out 10 you have just got to let that hit you and it goes in - Greeny knows that. No one needs to tell him.

“We need goals right now. If that just hits him on the so-and-so’s and goes in he doesn’t even have to try.

“I think he got too much of a good connection on it and he’s hit the bar.

“Reggie has also hit the bar and the keeper’s save from Adi Yussuf’s header fair play, it was a great save.

“But these are games we need to be winning. We are still in a great position. It seems like this season has gone on for six years already and we have still got half of it to play. But we have got to be better, especially at home.

“One thing I will say is I thought the fans were superb, even when we went that goal down, they lifted us and they backed us and they’ve seen the difference in the second half.

“They stuck with us and kept going and I was really pleased as that made a difference, not just to the team but to me personally, to have that noise and that backing constantly and I am just gutted we couldn’t give them a win.”

-------------------

Collins frustrated with York draw
mansfieldtown.net, 28th December 2015

Stags’ centre-half Lee Collins believes this afternoon’s 1-1 draw with York City followed a similar pattern to recent games that they should’ve won in Sky Bet League Two.

Mansfield got themselves back into the game when Krystian Pearce nodded home after Dave Winfield had earlier given the Minstermen the lead. The Stags had more than enough opportunities to claim the three points, but were met by an inspired Scott Flinders between the sticks for York.

And Collins, who partnered Pearce in the centre of defence, took full responsibility for the goal the hosts conceded and says his side should’ve finished the visitors off in the second half, who were grateful to come away with the point in their fight for survival.

“[The game was] same as usual, [we] dominate in large patches of the game but concede daft goals and [we’re] not quite as clinical as we should be.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/collins-frustrated-with-york-draw-2872410.aspx#Kk0GAoCqxybWETWX.99

“My man scored and I should do better, especially as a senior pro. I put my hands up [and] that’s all I can do; it was poor from me. They (York) were delighted with a point, you could see the relief on their faces at the final whistle, which was frustrating.

“They’ll be going home tired because I thought we ran them ragged in the second half - that’s been our story recently, we’re not quite getting our just reward. It’s a very fine margin between someone missing a shot by 20 yards and someone bagging two out of nowhere.”

Adam Murray’s men are halfway through the 2015-16 campaign after their final match of 2015 and now sit 11th in the division with a game in hand over most of their rivals.

Collins firmly believes it’s been a good first 23 games for Mansfield, who have come a long way in the space of the last 12 months.

“It’s been very positive. The first half of the season has been brilliant. The lads we’ve brought in, it’s a fresh squad and I think we’ve gelled really well and we’re bringing a more appealing game of football to Mansfield than what they’re used to.

“I think the fans can be happy with the work the players, staff and the manager have put in.”

With the Stags finely poised going into the last five months of the campaign, former Northampton Town man Collins reckons the club’s supporters can expect to see a more ambitious approach in future games.

“Now we’ve got our basis of a very good defensive record, I think we’ll be going for it a bit more, especially at home - ‘letting the leash off’ a little bit. If you did that too early with such a fresh squad, we’d get picked apart. Now I think we’re ready to do it a bit more.”

You can watch Collins' post-match interview on Stags Player.

--------------------

York City boss Jackie McNamara content with a "good point" at Mansfield
by Dave Flett, yorkpress.co.uk

YORK City boss Jackie McNamara welcomed a “good point” following his team’s 1-1 draw at Sky Bet League Two play-off hopefuls Mansfield.

The Minstermen took a tenth-minute lead at Field Mill following centre-back Dave Winfield’s second goal in as many games.

But home defender Krystian Pearce levelled just past the half-hour mark and Matt Green and Reggie Lambe both hit the bar during a second period in which Scott Flinders also made fine saves from Craig Westcarr and Adi Yussuf.

Delivering his verdict, City chief McNamara said: “We started the game very well with a good goal and their keeper made a good save to prevent Vadaine (Oliver) making it 2-0. They then put a lot of pressure on us from corners and we dealt with that very well until they put in a block on big Dave and their lad got the run on young Will (Boyle) for a free header, even though it seemed to take an eternity to go in.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/14170525.York_City_boss_Jackie_McNamara_content_with_a__good_point__at_Mansfield/?

“In the second half, they put us under more pressure and we rode our luck a little. Scott Flinders also made some fantastic saves but we hung on for a good point.

“We probably wouldn’t have done that a few weeks ago but we’ve worked a lot on being a solid defensive unit. We’ve just got to settle down and use the ball a bit better and with composure at times.

“Football is a simple game and, sometimes, you can make it more difficult for yourselves but maybe I’m expecting these things straight away and it will come.”

McNamara also hailed the contribution of defensive kingpin Winfield, adding: “Mansfield have some dangerous players and I’m delighted for him, not just because of the goals, but he’s looked very solid and done very well since coming back into the team.”

City stayed out of the relegation zone on goals scored as Dagenham & Redbridge drew level on points following a 3-1 triumph at Stevenage.

Bottom-of-the-table Yeovil, who City visit this weekend, also shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw with title contenders Oxford and McNamara admitted: “We’ve got a massive game on Saturday now.”

-----------------

 

Latest | December 2015