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Archived News from April 2016

MURRAY AND CRAIG HIGNETT REACTION
7th April 2016 11:18



Murray - Stags must refine decision making
mansfieldtown.net, 2nd April 2016

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray says the Stags need to improve their decision-making after seeing them concede two penalties against Hartlepool United this afternoon.

Stags dominated much of the game, both before and after the first-half dismissal of defender Krystian Pearce when he brought down Nicky Featherstone in the box. Pools’ captain Billy Paynter stepped up to give the home side the lead, despite goalkeeper Scott Shearer getting a good hand to it.

Substitute Colin Daniel got the Stags back on level terms 15 minutes from time when he slammed the ball home from close range after a long spell of pressure by the visitors, however Paynter converted his second spot kick of the afternoon after Mal Benning was adjudged to have brought down Carl Magnay to give Pools the three points.

And boss Murray says his side need to hone their decision making after gifting the Monkey Hangers the victory at Victoria Park this afternoon.

“Young players make these rash decisions. Take away the two ridiculous decisions [and] we probably haven’t had a performance better than that in a long, long time.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-stags-must-refine-decision-making-3039129.aspx#U02W7W3oCPrGUru3.99

“There was eight minutes left - that is the learning curve for them, I can’t coach that. I can’t play the game for them but that’s what comes with young players.

“Decision making is absolutely killing us at the minute, I’m saying we have played really well again, but we have lost.

“Yet again we have beat ourselves, these are the decisions that are going against us at the minute, and unfortunately you can’t play the game for people.”

With Murray ruing the decisions made by his players during today’s encounter, he was left frustrated after watching his side dominate much of the match - with both 11 and 10 men.

“With eleven men, with respect, we were battering them and it looked as if there was only going to be one winner.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb again, we went down to ten men and tweaked the tactics and still, we were the better team. Being respectful, we 'pummelled' them with ten men," Murray continued.

“I don’t know how many they have cleared off of the line and I don’t know how many chances we have had blocked in the six-yard box.

“I think saying we created a hatful is being a little 'ungenerous', we probably created more than we have done in the last five games - their ‘keeper has pulled off three ridiculous saves.”

The manager says ‘fine lines’ win or lose football matches and his players need to learn from their mistakes in order to improve.

“My players need to grow up quickly because when the kid (Nicky Featherstone) goes through one-v-one with the ‘keeper, you have to take the chance that he is going to score.

“Ok, there was bad defending, but don’t get yourself sent off and for the second one, you can’t put yourself in a position where you are not 1000 percent sure you’re going to win the tackle, just stay out of it.

“We are so close but so far and that’s what I’ve got to sort out to push us onto the next level.”

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Stags boss Adam Murray slams players over costly penalties given away
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Saturday 02 April 2016

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray slammed the costly decisions made by Krystian Pearce and Mal Benning to concede penalties in today’s 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool United.

Pearce was red-carded for his trip to gift United the opening goal.

Then, after Junior Daniel had levelled for the 10 men, Benning conceded the winning spot kick, though Stags believed the challenge was outside the box.

On Pearce’s red card, he said: “It was stupid. I won’t hold anything back on that. It’s not the first time it’s happened.

Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/stags-boss-adam-murray-slams-players-over-costly-penalties-given-away-1-7830572#ixzz44lEjSJ78

“It’s a poor decision and it’s one of those, if you get yourself into a bad defensive position, okay, it happens, just let the kid score and we’ll go with 11 men as with 11 men there was only one winner. With 10 men there was only one winner.

“But two decisions absolutely killed us and it’s not just this game. We lose him now for other games and it’s selfish to be honest. You don’t have to make those decisions.

“That’s probably about 48 games he’ll be out the number of red cards he’s had!”

He added: “You have to learn, if you don’t learn things have to change. “You only get so many bites of the cherry. It is costing us as it’s such fine lines.

“Our performances have been good enough to win games and we come out losing. It is gutting.”

On Benning’s penalty, he said: “It can’t keep happening. These are game-changers, especially when you’ve got yourself back into the game and you’re on top and I could see us going on to win it with 10 men.

“We should not put ourselves in a situation where there is even a risk.

“I don’t think it was inside the box, but we should not put ourselves in risk to give the referee a chance to make a decision and we’ve absolutely shot ourselves in the head four million times this season.”

Murray continued: “I am confused at the minute. I asked for another big performance today and I got it.

“We have created enough clear cut chances to win five games, but two decisions have cost us the game. That’s the story of this period we are in. At the minute we can’t buy a win.

“We are so close, yet so far and I am a bit lost as it’s tough to put your finger on how you change that. It’s a fine line.

“I would like sometimes to be able to turn round and say they were better than us today and they beat us. But I can’t as I haven’t come across a team yet who can say they battered us.

“Our biggest downfalls this season have been our naivety and our decision-making.

“I can’t teach decision-making on the training ground. You hope the individual learns from their mistakes.

“I know a lot of them are young kids and it’s tough. They have to man up quickly as it’s points we are losing at the minute, and they are points we should have on the board.”

Murray has set his side a target of 60 points for the season, but knows how close they have been to something much bigger.

He said: “Last season I was lying through my teeth saying we are not far away knowing we were awful. Now I am standing here saying I honestly feel we are a whisker from being a very good team, but at the same a whisker away from losing every game.

“It’s my head on the block as you’re not winning football matches, I get that, though I don’t think my head is on the block as I think people see we are very close to being a good team. It’s frustrating to be in this position when a few weeks ago we were fifth.

“If we can get to 60 points I think it would be our highest finish for 12 years, which you have to say would be a success with what we are working with. But it’s gutting as we have been in the top 10 for seven months and it’s tough to take.”

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We Had To Grind Out The Win - Hignett
hartlepoolunited.co.uk

Craig Hignett admitted his side weren’t at their best in victory over Mansfield Town but paid tribute to the players’ determination to get the result.
Billy Paynter put Pools in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Town were reduced to ten men but the visitors showed real resilience to level things eleven minutes from the end.

However, Pools and Paynter weren’t to be denied and, when they were awarded another penalty seven minutes from time, the skipper celebrated his 500th senior appearance by ramming home the winner from the twelve yards.

“I said afterwards that it didn’t feel like a win because I like to win games and play well, like we did at Orient and like we have been doing,” Hignett told Pools PlayerHD.

Read more at http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/craig-hignett-admits-hartlepool-not-at-best-in-mansfield-win-3038963.aspx#CatbKJ4UqG7BJdtS.99

“Today we weren’t at our best; we had a spell after the goal where we hit the post and we were creating chances - I think if one or two of them had gone in they might have thrown in the towel.

“But full credit to Adam and his Mansfield players because they put us under pressure and had a real go for it while we just didn’t get going at all, especially in the second half.

“When things have gone against us we haven’t crumbled; we’ve stood up to them and managed to go again and get another penalty to win the game.

“It was a great way for Billy to cap his 500th game to score two penalties - he showed his experience with the second one. I’m never nervous with Billy taking a penalty, I always think he’s going to score.

“But whilst you’re not at your to best, to grind out a result like that is very pleasing for me and it should be for the lads too because they’ll know they can win game like that.”

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Hartlepool United 2 Mansfield Town 1: Match reaction, Craig Hignett pleased to see Pools grind out win
by Roy Kelly, hartlepoolmail.co.uk

Craig Hignett marvelled at how his players were able to "grind out a result" as Hartlepool United extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

Craig Hignett saluted his players for the way they were able to "grind out a result" as Hartlepool United extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

Pools conceded their first goal in five matches but Billy Paynter's penalty double in his 500th career appearance saw off a determined 10-man Stags in a game of passion, incident and drama.

Paynter converted his first spot-kick in the 24th minute after Nicky Featherstone was brought down by Krystian Pearce, who was sent off.

Scott Shearer went the right way but could not keep the ball out the net as Paynter netted for the 14th times for Pools.

The skipper then saw a shot on the turn deflected onto the post but, otherwise, Mansfield had the better of the play.

As the game went on, an equaliser looked likely and after Carson had made his third great save of the second half, Colin Daniel put in the ball in the 76th minute.

Pools steadied themselves after a rocky period and were awarded their second penalty six minutes from time when Mal Benning tripped fellow full-back Carl Magnay.

After a long delay for protests, Paynter made no mistake from 12 yards, this time straight up the middle.

“I’m so pleased, it didn’t feel like a win," said Hignett. "I like to win games playing well, like we did at Orient and in other games,

Read more: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-united-2-mansfield-town-1-match-reaction-craig-hignett-pleased-to-see-pools-grind-out-win-1-7830560#ixzz44lGTHUHS

"But today we were not at our best.

“We had a spell after we'd scored, we hit a post, had chances and, I think, against 10 men had one of them gone in, they might throw the towel in.

"But full credit to Adam and his players, they put us under real pressure, had a real go.

"We just didn’t get going second half.

“But even aftere they scored, we didn’t crumble, we've gone again, got another penalty and won the game.

"To grind out a result the way we did it was very pleasing."

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Hartlepool boss says ex-Mansfield man did not go too far
by Roy Kelly, hartlepoolmail.co.uk

Craig Hignett insists Nathan Thomas “didn’t cross a line” after Hartlepool United’s opening goal in the 2-1 win over Mansfield Town.

Hignett said the forward had every right to show his joy at Billy Paynter’s first penalty though he did have a quiet word with him at half-time.

We scored a goal, he celebrated it, I don’t see how he crossed a line.
The former Mansfield winger’s celebrations in front of the fans who once cheered him sparked an angry reaction from some and police and stewards had to move into the Town End to control the situation.

Not only were some supporters incandescent, several Mansfield players took exception and after some jostling in the aftermath of the goal, Thomas was booked by referee Graham Salisbury.

But Hignett believes the yellow card was harsh on the 21-year-old and insists he will not put the lid on the in-form mid-season signing.

“It’s always hard when you come up against your former team and I believe he got a bit of stick when he left,” he said.

Read more: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-boss-says-ex-mansfield-man-did-not-go-too-far-1-7831517#ixzz44tBUken1

“He has a bit of devil about him, but I love that, I’ll never stop it or temper it.

“I had to have a chat at half-time but that’s all it was.

“We scored a goal, he celebrated it, I don’t see how he crossed a line.

“They might not have been happy because we scored a gaol, but his loyalty is with Hartlepool United.

“Obviously the way he left there must have been some acrimony, I don’t know the full story, but listen, he’s a passionate lad.

“I think their players took exception to him celebrating so much, but that’s their problem.

“I was annoyed he got booked for celebrating.

“Maybe it wasn’t the best idea in the world to do it in front of their fans but I don’t think he has done anything wrong.”

Hignett was annoyed at some of the treatment dished out by the Stags on Thomas, when they could get near him that is.

“People say it’s a non-contact sport these days but there was a lot of contact here,” he said.

“I’d have liked the referee to have had that opinion as well.”

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twitter
BBC Nottingham Sport @BBCRNS
Murray on Pearce sending off: "It was stupid... and selfish... it's absolutely killed us. If you don't learn... things have to change"

Nathan Thomas @Naththomas19
Possibly a bit too fired up today, felt like I had point to prove and went a little over the top which I apologise for but that a side #UTP

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