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Archived News from September 2016

MURRAY, HOBAN, JOHN COLEMAN REACTION
30th September 2016 19:01


Murray expects confidence boost after Stanley point
mansfieldtown, 27th September 2016

Stags’ manager Adam Murray believes the hard-earned point away at Accrington Stanley this evening will improve his players’ confidence going in to Saturday’s visit to Crewe Alexandra.

Midfielder Chris Clements marked his return to the starting line-up with a stunning first half free-kick to the give the Stags the lead before Stanley striker Terry Gornell rescued a point for the hosts with a close-range finish in the second half.

And the boss, who turns 35 later this week, believes the credible point earned at the Wham Stadium this evening will give his side a lift going forward.

“I saw the endeavour back today, and it’s about building that confidence [because] for them to go that long without scoring a goal, it’s starting to dent that confidence so to come away to a tough place and get a point, hopefully that will give them a lift going in to Saturday,” Murray said.

“What you’ve got to understand now these boys, as a team, we haven’t scored for however many minutes it was - they’re human beings so that affects confidence.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/gaffer-post-accy-3332428.aspx#70x7ZisdQG8wLJMI.99

“The lads were talking between themselves there as I was walking past and they’re saying they never felt threatened, they felt comfortable and to give away a goal like that, to let somebody free in our 18-yard box, again it’s that naivety we speak about.

“At the minute we’re not getting the rub of the green and we’re having to learn, or the players are having to learn on the job, which is tough to take.”

Murray praised the travelling Stags’ faithful of 136 this evening and thanked them for showing their appreciation for his players’ efforts.

“A lot of our home crowd don’t come away - we get our hardcore away [and] some of them have [had] days off work to come and watch us tonight and we appreciate that.

“I thought the fans tonight were fantastic and I think they appreciated the shift the boys put in - they stayed and gave the boys a round of applause, so that was nice to see because the boys needed that as well.”

With midfielder Clements returning to the starting XI following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and striker Pat Hoban making his first competitive start for the club, the gaffer admitted his pleasure at seeing a number of good performances in Lancashire this evening.

“It was a tough one for Clem. We wanted to keep him on the park but I think he got to 75 minutes and he lost that little bit of a zip so we were having to tweak the formation to keep him on the pitch and save his legs a little bit, but the 90 minutes would have done him the world of good.

“I thought Pat [Hoban] coming in not having played a competitive game for a while did really, really well. There were some real good performances again; Jamma (Jamie McGuire) made a difference to us.

“[I’m] really chuffed with a point, it’s a tough place to come. The way these guys play it’s tough to play against. They really throw bodies at you and you have to be on your mettle and defend right and then take your opportunities when they come, so [it was] a good point.”

Supporters will be able to watch Adam Murray’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD later this evening.

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Adam Murray told Jason Harrison on Mansfield 103.2 (full video interview on StagsPlayerHD):
"A lot of our home crowd don't come away. We get our hardcore support away, and some have to take days off work to come and watch us, and we appreciate that.
So the home fans that can't do that, they only get to see us at home so it becomes really frustrating for them, so everything I say at these times becomes an excuse.
But I hope these people that don't get to the good performances that we're putting in, I hope they understand that we can't work any harder.
Some people might not agree with some of the things that we do, or I do, ... and I'll talk to anyone, ... but don't personally abuse us, do you know what I mean. It's not right.
I thought the fans tonight were fantastic and they appreciated the shift the boys put in. They stayed and gave the boys a round of applause.
So that was nice to see because the boys needed that as well."

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Relief for Stags boss with elusive goal and point at bogey club
chad.co.uk

Adam Murray was a relieved man to see his Mansfield Town side finally end their goal drought and pick up a rare point in tonight’s 1-1 draw at bogey side Accrington Stanley.

Chris Clements’ first half free kick was Stags’ first goal in 482 minutes and, although Stanley levelled after the break, Mansfield came away with a draw after Stanley had done the double over them the past two seasons.

It was a 10th game without a win against them overall and Stags last win at Accrington was back in March 1961, this their sixth trip there since.

“It was a relief,” said Murray on the Clements goal - Stags’ first since 27th August.

“It’s been tough. You look at stats and the law of averages, you keeping hitting high numbers, at some point things have got to change.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/relief-for-stags-boss-with-elusive-goal-and-point-at-bogey-club-1-8150265?

“Against Barnet we had 87 entries into the final third. On Saturday we had 97. I’m not saying that’s 97 clear chances by the way, but it was 97 times there should be more happening.

“Eventually confidence goes and you stop playing off instinct. Your forward players, born on instinct, start over-thinking and that’s what has happened to us.

“So to see it hit the net, eventually after it’s rattled the bar, I didn’t even have the energy to celebrate.

“It’s a tough place to come this and we’ve never got anything here. So to be comfortable and perform like we did, we are over the moon and just disappointed in the goal we conceded.”

He continued: “I feel good about the point and I feel better for the lads that they’ve hopefully now got that little air of confidence, not necessarily from the goal but from the performance. It was a solid performance, apart from set plays tonight.

“We didn’t really feel threatened and I was disappointed to concede the goal we did.

“But it was little things like the applause the fans gave the players after the game. That means the world to them. The stick we all get probably affects them more than anybody.

“I am hoping tonight’s performance the goal, the appreciation from the hardcore fans seeing another performance put it, will be a few building blocks for the boys.

“After we scored, you look at the number of times we won it in the final third through our pressing and our enthusiasm to go and nick another one, we felt we had them on the rack.”

However, it was Accrington who stole an equaliser through Terry Gornell 11 minutes into the second half.

“After half-time we needed to come out the blocks and we knew we’d have to contain them for the first 10/15 minutes, which we did,” said Murray.

“Then you concede a poor goal like that - you just switch off. “I think it was just concentration. We’ve watched it back 10 times already.

“It is just that bit of naivety we’ve got at the minute, hence why we put Jamie McGuire in there today with Lee Collins as, over time, that will give us more leaders on the pitch.

“That little thing cost us the three points today, which if we’d got them, we would have thoroughly deserved them.”

Murray sprang a pre-match surprise when he dropped Matt Green to the bench to give Pat Hoban his first start as one of three changes.

“The biggest thing I enjoyed from that juggle today was the attitude of Matt Green,” said Murray.

“He understood it. He was in the changing room fired up like he normally is, backing the boys.

“He walked in at half-time and said ‘unbelievable lads, keep it going’. So to get that reaction from your star is good.”

The draw saw Stags drop a place to 14th and end September without a win - but Murray said it had been a torrid month off the pitch and one he was glad to see the back of.

“I know the month Greeny has had,” he said. “It’s excuses people will read but we’ve had that much happening behind the scenes, it has disrupted the group. It really has.

“We’ve had Bax (James Baxendale) off this week with a personal issue, which is why he’s been left out of the squad the last couple of games. But we are going to be all right.”

Murray said he intended now on tweaking his style to more the way he had his side playing last year as he felt the new formations he’d been trying were not working as well as hoped.

“We are going to have to take baby steps now as there are certain things we are starting again with,” he said.

“We are going back to what broke records last year. Because of the players we signed this summer I have gone away from my blueprint and tried to re-jig it.

“I’ve been playing Danny Rose in a front three on the left wing. I’m not going to get the best out of him, but it’s to get people like Matt Green and him in the team as well as play the way I want to play and what suits us, and it hasn’t worked. So we’re going back to the blueprint we had last year.

“I thought what really worked tonight was the energy, the endeavour to go and win the ball back quickly and play, we looked a lot more comfortable. I am peaceful in my mind with the way we are setting up now.

“If I am being totally honest the last nine games, even though for me we’ve had a really good start, I haven’t really been 100 per cent at peace with it.”

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Stags back on track says Murray ahead of Crewe clash
chad.co.uk

Adam Murray felt his Mansfield Town side looked back to their old selves in midweek and is hoping they can carry that form into Saturday’s tough test at Crewe Alexandra.

Although they had to make do with a point in a 1-1 draw and haven’t won for six matches, boss Murray saw a new spirit about his side at Accrington as they ended a 482-minute goal drought

“It was only one game but it was good to see my team back, that pressing, that energy and that bit of fight,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-back-on-track-says-murray-ahead-of-crewe-clash-1-8155035

“It will help us get that confidence back, though we do need the rub of the green at the minute.

“There are little things dropping at the moment that don’t drop to us and we ask why they don’t drop in the other box like that.”

On opponents Crewe, he added: “It’s obviously a League One club that’s come down and they’ve had a great start to the season.

“But it’s about us. This next two weeks we need to get back our way of playing - that front foot play that we had last year.

“We have looked a little bit stiff at times this year. Why? I have to be honest, I am not sure. Sometimes it’s good to come out of that bubble and review.”

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twitter BBC Nottingham Sport @BBCRNS
Adam Murray: "The applause and response the players got after the game from the fans means the world to them" #Stags
Murray on goal: "It was a relief more than anything, it's been tough...I didn't even have the energy to celebrate" #Stags
Murray: "We are going back to the blueprint from last year...the last nine games i haven't been 100% at peace with our system" #Stags

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Iacovitti misses Notts derby after Scotland U21 call-up
chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town’s defensive options will be further depleted for the local derby visit of Notts County next month after on-loan Forest defender Alex Iacovitti this week received a call-up to play for Scotland U21s.

Iacovitti, 19, is one of 12 uncapped players in an experimental squad, the first announced by new Scotland U21 boss, former Forest midfielder Scott Gemmill.

He will be away from Mansfield for UEFA European Championship qualifiers in Iceland on 5th October and Macedonia on 11th October which means he will miss the One Call Stadium showdown with the Magpies on 8th October as well as the Checkatrade EFL Trophy game at Port Vale next Tuesday.

Stags boss Adam Murray already has fellow defenders George Taft and Kyle Howkins sidelined with injury, but is happy for Iacovitti whom he has been delighted with so far.

“He has been superb,” said Murray (speaking at Accrington on Tuesday). “Even though he’s played a few in the Championship, he’s not had a lot of competitive football, especially in League Two.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/iacovitti-misses-notts-derby-after-scotland-u21-call-up-1-8154984

“But he’s come in, he’s been brilliant, both at centre half and at left back where he was outstanding.

“So it’s a big loss, especially in a local derby as he is so hungry to do well for Mansfield. But it is only League game and it’s good for him.”

Iacovitti has already played for his country at U17 and U19 level.

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Team spirit shone through to earn point - Striker
mansfieldtown.net, 27th September 2016

Robust striker Pat Hoban believes Stags’ excellent team spirit contributed to tonight’s well-earned 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley.

A typically spirited Mansfield showed endeavour in spades this evening to earn the draw at the Wham Stadium.

Chris Clements’ superbly-hit first half strike was cancelled out by Terry Gornell’s goal for Accrington.

And frontman Hoban, making his first league start since his summer switch from Oxford United, cut a figure of mixed emotions at the final whistle; pleased with earning a point, but frustrated at not being able to claim all three.

The former Dundalk striker said: “I thought we were absolutely excellent in the first half, it was just unfortunate we gave away what I thought was a soft goal. We’ll take a point but it could easily have been three.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/team-spirit-shone-through-to-earn-point-striker-3332667.aspx#eqKCq57DgXLl3bEh.99

“We’ve been so close [to getting three points recently]. The last two games, we’ve had 27 shots, but we’ve needed the rub of the green.”

“We got a goal tonight and the team spirit is excellent.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room is second to none and that’s down to the gaffer putting that in. We’re a tight unit. There’s a good attitude in training and we have a good fire, bite and a will to win.”

Hoban won the majority of headers which came his way and his performance was complemented by some neat link-up play.

Encouraged by gaining his first start of the season for the Stags, the 25-year-old is confident he can continue to improve.

“It wasn’t the ideal start for me, getting injured. I’ve worked hard on the training ground and have had to bide my time.

“I am delighted to be back and it was good to get 75 minutes out there today. The more I play, the more match fitness I’ll get, the sharper I’ll get and the better I’ll get.“

Pat Hoban's interview will be available to view on Stags PlayerHD soon.

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Hoban happy with belated Stags debut last night
chad.co.uk

Pat Hoban was delighted to finally make a full debut for Mansfield Town in last night’s 1-1 draw at Accrington and is now desperate to keep his place and show Stags fans what he is capable of.

The Irish striker, 25, joined the club in the summer after being released by Oxford United.

But, after impressing in pre-season games, Hoban suddenly picked up a pre-season injury and found himself out of the picture.

“It hasn’t been the ideal start for me, getting injured and stuff,” he said.

“I have been working very hard on the training ground and just had to bide my time.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/hoban-happy-with-belated-stags-debut-last-night-1-8151643?

“Players have been doing well. So I was just happy to get out onto the pitch and put a shift in.

“That just the way football is - you have to take the good with the bad. I am just delighted to be back and I feel it was good to get 75 minutes in today and hopefully kick on from that.

“Hopefully I can keep my name on the team sheet. But that’s not up to me.

“The more I play the more match fitness I’ll get, then the better I’ll get and the sharper I’ll get.”

Hoban added: “I thought I had one of my best games for a long time when I played that pre-season friendly against Hull - and that wasn’t even a sniff of what I can do. So hopefully I can bring more of that.

“I thought in the first half last night I was involved in a lot of the play and I was very happy with my performance.

“Second half I didn’t get as much of the ball as I would have liked, but that’s the way it goes. But I am happy with my first start of the season and happy with the way things went.

“Surprisingly I felt like I could have played the full 90, so that’s a good sign for me.”

Stags left bogey club Accrington with a rare point last night and finally ended their goal drought, but Hoban felt that the Stags should have come away with a win.

“It could have been three points tonight, especially the way we played in the first half as I thought we were excellent,” he said.

“The way we approached it, the team spirit, was fantastic. “It was just unfortunate we gave a soft goal away, but we’ll take the point.

“We have been so close. We’ve been inches away from getting goals. The last two games we have had 27 shots. But we haven’t had the rub of the green. It’s football and this happens.

“But we got a goal tonight and I thought we were absolutely excellent.

“We pressed on, we made it really difficult for them and we created lot of chances.

“We got the 1-0 lead I thought we deserved and were just unlucky not to get three points.”

Despite the run of six games without a win and five without a goal, Hoban said the spirit among the players had never dipped and they were always confident things would come good.

He said: “The atmosphere in the dressing room has been absolutely fantastic, next to none, and that’s down to the gaffer putting that in there. We’re all a close unit.

“It’s absolutely massive. If there is no team spirit then you may as well forget about it.

“There is a good attitude in training, the fire and the bite and the will to win.

“If we just keep doing what we’re doing, suddenly things will change and the goals will flow and everyone will be happy.”

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John Coleman video interview
http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2016/09/video-coley-stags-point/?

"We were pretty poor in the first half. We were booed off at half time and you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we've booed off here.
I can't say we can complain about being booed but I just don't see how it benefits anybody.
We were better in the second half.
First half, they were first to every ball, we didn't pass it, we allowed them to do what they wanted.
Second half was a totally different game.
And an interesting performance from the referee. The referee's invented a free kick on the edge of the box (for Mansfield's goal).
We have a similar incident, he blows and everyone thinks he gives a penalty, but he gives a free kick against Jordan Clark.
I think it's got a deflection, the free kick, which is disappointing for us.
It will be interesting to see McConville's goal because everyone on the pitch is adamant that it was onside. It was a very late flag as well, which makes you think that the linesman wasn't 100% sure.
We feel we've thrown two points away with an insipid first half performance.
We didn't defend properly in the first half. We gave them far too much space in midfield. And we didn't really compete at all.
You've got to take your hat off to Mansfield. They came with a game plan. They worked really hard. Pressed us really hard. Tired a lot towards the end which is understandable the way they did press us."

(transcribed by Martin)

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Good week for Terry 28/09/2016
by Dan Jewell
http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2016/09/good-week-for-terry/

Fit again Terry Gornell thinks a first goal of the season and breaking the 100 mark of club appearances constitutes a good week for him.

The striker netted the leveller against Mansfield last night having started a game for the first time since being ruled out by a groin injury last month.

He feels the only downside was that the Reds were unable to win the game and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

“Personally it’s been a good week,” said the 26-yar-old. “I was just pleased to get onto the field on Saturday (at Colchester) and make a difference. I got half an hour and it was my first real bit of game time since my injury. I was pleased to contribute and that we won the game.

“I didn’t realise about the 100 appearances until I saw it on Twitter. I was pleased and proud to find out. I didn’t realise I’d played that many times to be honest!

“To get the goal against Mansfield was pleasing but there was a little bit of frustration in the dressing room afterwards because we wanted the three points. To achieve what we want this season we need to be winning home games and I think we’ve dropped too many points at home already.

“They came to turn the game into a battle and were better than us at it in the first half. In the second half we were a lot better. Earlier on in the season we might well have lost that game. We could’ve gone under and conceded a few more but at 1-0 we were in the game and managed to take a point.

“There was only going to be one winner once we scored. When I scored I did think we’d go on and get a second and maybe even a third. If Sean’s counts then who knows. It’s hard to say when you’re on the pitch but our instinct was that he was onside.”

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