Archived News from April 2016
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Adam Murray press conference in full (21 minutes) for StagsPlayer subscribers, 14th April 2016
http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/576ff430-efa5-495e-bf88-7e8922fb079a --------------- Murray wants club contribution to local derby mansfieldtown.net, 14th April 2016 Stags’ manager Adam Murray wants the whole club to collectively play their part to defeat local rivals Notts County at One Call Stadium this Saturday (1pm kick-off). The hosts are in confident mood after beating Carlisle United 2-1 in their last outing, thanks to goals from left-back Colin Daniel and winger Reggie Lambe. The Magpies are on a four-match unbeaten run coming into the contest, and boss Murray has called on the entire club staff to contribute towards retaining the bragging rights in Sky Bet League 2 between the two sides. “Our lads play with a lot of fight and spirit every game so the energy will be cranked up for this one. We need to make sure we do our job as Mansfield people in the stadium on Saturday from supporters, to catering staff, to my staff, to the playing staff and to [the] directors,” Murray said. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-wants-club-contribution-to-county-clash-3058045.aspx#bHWAqsc1lkXD1JfY.99 “Everything goes out of the window in terms of form and what kind of season you’ve had. It’s a local derby, it’ll be ‘blood and thunder’ and we’re up for it.” Reflecting on recent weeks, the 34-year-old gaffer says the Stags can count themselves unlucky for slightly losing ground in the play-off race, but they must build on the victory against Carlisle and concentrate on their remaining fixtures. “We’re frustrated because even in those two games, Hartlepool and Northampton, we should have won them - we were in pole position in both of them. Decisions, penalties and sending offs have cost us - if we took the six points from there, you’re in the play-offs. “That’s how close it is, and how close we are as a club. We’ve got five real good games that we believe we can go into and get points. We’re in a good place, we’re focused on the last five games and [we’ve] got half an eye on next season and what we need to do to improve. “We’re going to have to win four out of five games [for the play-offs]. Because there is so many teams in that little pack fighting for one spot, it’s going to be extremely hard, but for us to be having this conversation shows progress - we’re happy with that.” Murray says that belief is high in his camp as he looks forward to the grudge encounter at the weekend, against a team which are eight points below the Stags in the division. “With the money they spent and the resources they’ve got, they should be a top five team in this league; everybody would agree with that. They’ve obviously had some ups and downs this season but it’s a big club. “I know Coops (Mark Cooper, County manager), he was a very good footballer as a player. He did a great job at Swindon, [I’m] shocked to be honest that it took him so long to get back in the game after what he did there. He’ll get them playing the right way and get them working for him. “We’ve all got to make sure we beat Notts County on Saturday and we do that by giving everything we’ve got. If we’d have got the rub of the green [in the past few games] we’d have been in the play-offs now, so we are very confident in our ability.” Murray has expressed his ambition for Mansfield to end the 2015-16 campaign on a positive note, and reckons it’s the least his players deserve following their luckless blip. “We’ve got to play [against Notts] with a lot of intelligence, they’re a good team. As an occasion, these are the games you want to be involved in. You don’t need any motivation for this, it’s one of the biggest games of the season. “Why can’t we go unbeaten from now until the end of the season? In the spell we’ve had, we’ve earned at least three and a half weeks of luck so hopefully that comes in at the end of the season, starting on Saturday.” You can view Adam Murray’s full news conference on Stags Player HD. ------------------- STAGS: Murray expects ‘blood and thunder’ local derby chad.co.uk, Thursday 14 April 2016 Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray believes Saturday’s derby with Notts County will be a typical ‘blood and thunder’ encounter as the Stags aim to build on last week’s win at Carlisle. Murray’s men still harbour slim hopes of securing a play-off spot and a win in Saturday’s 1pm kick-off will continue to put pressure on those above them. And despite County’s current lowly league position, he is expecting a tough challenge from a side now managed by Mark Cooper and aiming for a third straight win. He said: “With the money they spent and the resources they’ve got, they should be a top five team in this league; everybody would agree with that. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/stags-murray-expects-blood-and-thunder-local-derby-1-7853616#ixzz45odGGS1o “They’ve obviously had some ups and downs this season but it’s a big club and, as much as we hate saying it because they’re our local rivals, it is a club steeped in history. “It’s got a massive fan base and they probably haven’t had the season they planned this year. “I know Coops, he was a very good footballer as a player. He did a great job at Swindon, I’m shocked to be honest that it took him so long to get back in the game after what he did there because I know he was working on limited resources. “He’ll get them playing the right way and get them working for him. Fair play to him, I think they’re unbeaten in four now. “Everything goes out of the window in terms of form and what kind of season you’ve had. It’s a local derby, it’ll be ‘blood and thunder’ and we’re up for it.” The two sides haven’t met since two quickfire encounters in the league (August 14) and then the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy (September 1) earlier in the season, with Stags winning 2-0 in the first game then being beaten 3-1. Murray said: “The league game seems a long time ago now but we were on it that night and it’s important that come one o’clock on Saturday we’ve got the same focus and drive. “Our build up all week has been about the importance of what a local derby means. I can guarantee, we’ve seen all season, that our lads play with a lot of fighting spirit every game. “The energy will be cranked up for this one. “We need to make sure we do our job as Mansfield people in the stadium on Saturday from supporters, to catering staff, to my staff, to the playing staff and to the directors. “We’ve all got to make sure we beat Notts County on Saturday and we do that by giving it everything we’ve got. “It’ll be a tough game. They are obviously playing with a bit of confidence at the minute. They’ve got a little bit of momentum but we’re confident in ourselves. “We’ve probably not got the results we deserved over the last few games. “If we’d have got the rub of the green, we’d have been in the play-offs now, so we are very confident in our ability. “A lot goes out the window on Saturday. It’s a war zone and we’re ready.” --------------------- STAGS: Trio doubtful ahead of Magpies clash as Murray sets points target chad.co.uk Mansfield Town have injury concerns over three key players as they prepare to take on Notts County on Saturday. Adam Chapman, Chris Clement and Colin Daniel are all carrying injuries that could keep them out of the game, although final decisions are not expected to be made until much nearer kick-off. One certain absentee is Krystian Pearce who serves the second match of his three game ban. Meanwhile, boss Adam Murray has set his side a target of 60 points between now and the end of the season. The Stags are just four points short of that with five games remaining, and although a play-off place continues to be a possibility, reaching his target would leave Murray just as satisfied. He said: “It would show how far we’ve come. We’ve got the most away wins since 2004 which is a great accomplishment.Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/stags-trio-doubtful-ahead-of-magpies-clash-as-murray-sets-points-target-1-7853696#ixzz45ud6vmkW “We got over 60 points in our first season back in the league but with all due respect to that side, the resources were a lot better then and the boys this year have done really well to put themselves in that bracket. “So if we can get to that target and beat it it will be a great achievement for us in our first season as a group.” On the play-off chances, Murray is under no illusions as to how difficult it will be given the number of sides battling for seventh spot. He added: “It’s mathematically possible and you can never write yourselves off, especially with the way the league has been this season, but it will be very tough as I think we’d have to win four out of the five games or at least go unbeaten to the end. “There are so many teams in the pack fighting for what I think is just one spot now so that shows how tight it is, but for us to be even talking about the possibility of the play-offs at this stage shows progress so we’re happy with that and it’s a case now of moving forward.” --------------------- Mansfield Town v Notts County: Stags boss Adam Murray stresses importance of rivalry Nottingham Post Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray says he has been reinforcing the importance of a local derby to his players as he seeks a league double over Notts County. The Stags triumphed 2-0 in the reverse fixture last August at Meadow Lane, but found themselves beaten 3-1 by the Magpies in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Saturday is a winner takes all clash with the series of games locked at 1-1 as the two prepare to duke it out in a white hot atmosphere at the One Call Stadium. And Murray says he has been telling his players this week just what is at stake. "It seems a long time ago now but we were on it that night at Meadow Lane," said Murray. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-County-v-Mansfield-Town-Stags-boss-Adam/story-29112158-detail/story.html#ixzz45ubpryXl "It's important that come one o'clock on Saturday we've the same focus and drive. "Our build up all week has been about the importance of what a local derby means. "I can guarantee, we've seen all season, that our lads play with a lot of fighting spirit every game. "The energy will be cranked up for this one. "We need to make sure we do our job as Mansfield people in the stadium on Saturday from supporters, to catering staff, to my staff, to the playing staff and to the directors. "We've all got to make sure we beat Notts County on Saturday and we do that by giving it everything we've got. "They are obviously playing with a bit of confidence at the minute. "They've got a little bit of momentum but we're confident in ourselves. "We've probably not got the results we deserved over the last few games. "If we'd have got the rub of the green, we'd have been in the play-offs now, so we are very confident in our ability. "A lot goes out the window on Saturday. It's a war zone and we're ready." There could have been more riding on this game had the Stags not fallen away from the play-off picture, but they had a great 2-1 win at Carlisle last weekend. And Murray is still intent on breaking the 60-point target he has set his team. "It would show how far we've come," he said. "We've got the most away wins since 2004 which is a great accomplishment. "We got over 60 points in our first season back in the league but with all due respect to that side, the resources were a lot better then and the boys this year have done really well to put themselves in that bracket." ------------------- 'Cool heads' needed in the 'fire and ice' of Mansfield Town v Notts County derby By Leigh_Curtis, nottinghampost.com, April 15, 2016 Mark Cooper insists Notts County must have "cool heads" and "big hearts" if they are to stop rivals Mansfield Town celebrating a league double at their expense. The two clubs go head to head in one of the biggest derbies in League Two on Saturday afternoon with the Stags looking to follow up their 2-0 success at Meadow Lane in August. Although a 3-1 win in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy made it 1-1 on games this season, tomorrow will define which side holds the bragging rights. In what is expected to be a fiercely fought encounter, with Notts set to be backed by 1,700 away fans, boss Cooper has urged his players to remain ice cold in the heat of battle. "You want to see the players cope with the occasion and that they don't become flustered by it," said Cooper. "We have to compete but be calm. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Cool-heads-needed-ice-Mansfield-Town-v-Notts/story-29112211-detail/story.html#ixzz45udIjcP8 "You know you will have to fight but you still have to try to play football. "First tackles are important but you've got to make sure you don't get sent off. "You see a lot of local derbies where the first tackle ends in a red card which changes the complexion of the game. "We have to have cool heads but big hearts." Both sides had ambitions of promotion this season and Notts are certainly going to fall well short of that objective. The Stags too have fallen out of the play-off race of late, but their manager Adam Murray says there is still plenty at stake. "A lot goes out the window on Saturday," he said. "It's a war zone and we're ready. "Derby games are a massive balance between fire and ice. "You've got to have that hunger and that desire that you've got to go and win your battles on Saturday. "It's about running through people, picking them up and then running through them again but at the same time we've got to play with a lot of intelligence. "They're a good team, Coops has got them playing some good stuff, so we've got to be switched on. "This is the biggest game of the season." ---------------------- Derby win for Notts County would give fans 'lift', says Mark Cooper By Leigh_Curtis, nottinghampost.com, April 14, 2016 In a season that has fallen well below expectation, there is still an opportunity for Notts County to salvage some degree of pride. A derby against fierce rivals Mansfield Town awaits, and with the series of games this season locked at 1-1 there is plenty at stake. The Stags triumphed in the league meeting back in August, but Notts took revenge with a 3-1 success in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The fans would dearly love to avoid being the subject of a league double to their neighbours - and 1,700 will travel with their hymn sheets hoping they can inspire a performance. It's fair to say they have had little to cheer in a fractured campaign and speaking today the manager Mark Cooper understands the importance of a result. "It would be nice to give the fans something to smile about," he said. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Derby-win-Notts-County-fans-lift-says-Mark-Cooper/story-29111762-detail/story.html#ixzz45udCaKmV "They've been really good since I've been here. "It would be good to give them a lift and a good result against Mansfield would do that. "They will be coming in their numbers and you always want your fans' backing away from home - they always seem to be louder. "I am sure it will be a really good atmosphere." The Magpies warmed up for the derby clash by beating Hartlepool 1-0 on home soil. Had both sides stuck to their objective of aiming for promotion, this game would have undoubtedly had far more riding on it. But Notts have had a dismal season in which vast investment from the owner Ray Trew has not been repaid with the results on the pitch. Mansfield, meanwhile, looked at one stage to be a certainty for a promotion challenge, but they have faded in the home straight. They are six points off the top seven and their manager Adam Murray has had to change the ambition which is now a 60-point target. Still, with rivalry at stake it is not likely to dampen the intensity of the battle and Cooper has reminded his team they must remain composed. "The first thing you have to do is compete," he said. "You have to match the opposition's work rate. "But the players have to be calm and realise that the team which deals with the occasion the best, usually comes out on top. "It's about playing the game, not the occasion. You don't want to be taken in by the hype, it's about going to do a job." ------------------ Mark Cooper wants to give Notts County fans a lift at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk Notts County manager Mark Cooper wants to give the travelling fans something to smile about when his side face Mansfield Town. The Magpies visit the One Call Stadium to face their near neighbours on Saturday (1pm KO) buoyed by consecutive wins. And Cooper said: “It would be nice to give the fans something to smile about. They’ve been really good since I’ve been here. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/mark-cooper-wants-to-give-notts-county-fans-a-lift-at-mansfield-town-1-7853741#ixzz45udOE5Yn “It would be good to give them a lift and a good result against Mansfield would do that. “They will be coming in their numbers and you always want your fans’ backing away from home - they always seem to be louder. “I am sure it will be a really good atmosphere.” On the game against the Stags, Cooper added: “However they want to play the game you have to match that. “Off the back of that when we get the chance to, we have to do what we do because if not, then you are not playing to your strengths. “That’s certainly what we will do. “There will be spells when we will be out of possession and Mansfield will try to play as well. “They have some good technical players and I think it should be a good game. “We understand it’s a local derby, but it won’t change the way we do things. “We will have to be at the top of our game to get something.” -------------------- |
Latest | April 2016