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Archived News from October 2016

MURRAY, BENNING, GARETH AINSWORTH REACTION
19th October 2016 10:30



Murray calls for greater character to be shown
mansfieldtown.net, 15th October 2016

Stags’ boss Adam Murray says he wants side to express themselves more after seeing them held to a 1-1 draw by Wycombe Wanderers at One Call Stadium this afternoon.

Chairboys’ midfielder Matt Bloomfield slotted the ball past Scott Shearer to give the away side a 1-0 lead at the break, before striker Matt Green came off the bench to hammer home an equaliser in front of the North Stand.

The manager introduced Green, who had been struggling with an illness at the beginning of the week, along with fellow substitutes Jack Thomas and Darius Henderson to the action, and speaking after the game he said: “The game was there for us today - if we wanted it for the [first] 60 minutes like we did for the last 30, we win that game.

“I thought Hendo (Darius Henderson) came on again and made the difference but if I’m from the age of 18 to 25, 26, 27, I had fire, I had hunger, don’t get me wrong I was a ‘whapper’ and I was a bit of a lunatic but I wanted to win at everything I did and we shouldn’t have to rely on 30-plus people coming on to change the game.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/manager-calls-for-more-desire-from-players-3364119.aspx#yFol4xGl1HY2RWkF.99

“They’ve come on, they’ve put themselves around, 'beat people up' and got us in the game and once we got a foothold in the game, then we started to play a little bit. I keep saying to the boys, take the ropes off and go and play and go and express yourself and let yourself go.

“We need men, it’s League Two. We all want to play the romantic game and we want to win by playing this fantastic game of football - nobody more than me, as a player I hated having to hook it on and to do the nasty side, but it’s League Two. It’s about knowing what’s effective, what gets you points on the board [and] how to put teams under stress.”

Focussing on the positives from today’s match, Murray praised the home contingent inside One Call Stadium for their support, and also expressed his pleasure at seeing Jack Thomas make his first appearance of the season following a long injury lay-off.

“I thought they were outstanding today.

“I was getting angry on the side because there was no life [in the game] but they kept going, the drum kept going, they kept singing and I think at the end, the reaction they showed there, that’s what we need.

“We need to get him (Jack Thomas) up to match sharpness, we need to get him up to that tempo that he needs to play at. When he’s there it will be like having a new signing, he gives us that legs, he cares, he’s put a couple on a plate today when he’s come on and that’s what he does.”

Supporters can now view Adam Murray’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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Murray lashes players for first hour’s efforts against Wycombe
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray was furious with his players’ efforts for the first hour of today’s 1-1 home draw with Wycombe.

He even threatened his players with banning mobile phones from the club in an effort to make them communicate with each other better.

Once again Stags were reliant on Matt Green coming off the bench to be the hero, bagging an 81st minute equaliser and Murray said:

“I think it would have been criminal if we didn’t get anything out the game. But it was frustrating again.

"I blame society. I have told them in the dressing room I am going to ban all kinds of social media, mobiles phones, the lot, from being in the club as no one talks any more. I think the world has gone.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/murray-lashes-players-for-first-hour-s-efforts-against-wycombe-1-8183629

“No one talks, no one communicates. Then we expect to go onto the football pitch and communication and leadership are going to be there and it doesn’t happen.

“For the first 60 minutes it was like we were stuck in sludge. No one spoke. There was no fire, no aggression, no will to run. The game was there for us today and if we’d wanted it for the last 60 like we did for the last 30 we win that game.

“I felt we missed Jamie McGuire massively today. We missed his leadership, we missed his voice, we missed his aggressiveness.”

Murray continued: “They are the games I want to be involved in. That’s me on that pitch today as I would have put people over the fence.

“It’s such a fine line at the minute between being a very good team and a very bad team.

“If we want to get promoted, it’s there for us. It is as easy or hard as they want it to be. But they’ve got to grasp it.”

Murray and counterpart Gareth Ainsworth were both angry with referee Brett Huxstable’s display and Murray said:

“I thought the ref was poor. He had an ego and attitude, swearing at our players, it’s disappointing.

“The game didn’t get going did it? Every time there was a hustle and bustle he either blew the whistle or he let five or six fouls go and then gave one that wasn’t a foul just to make up for it.

“It was a poor game apart from the last 30 minutes when we actually looked like we’d got a bit of fire and went for it, players actually ran forward and tried to get in the box.

“You can’t have an hour like where it takes me to throw my weight around at half-time to liven people up.

“I need blokes in there, big characters that are going to do it themselves. I’m not their dad or teacher, in terms of getting the cane out. Do your jobs.”

Murray shook things up at the break by sending on Green and Jack Thomas, for his first outing of the season after injury.

Darius Henderson also came on and almost snatched a stoppage time winner.

“The half-time subs made a difference and I think Hendo came on and made a difference too.

“When I was aged 18 to 27, I had hunger. Don’t get me wrong I was a wapper, a bit of a lunatic, but I wanted to win everything I did.

“We shouldn’t have to rely on people coming on to change the game.

“The subs came on, put themselves about, beat people up and got us in the game. Once we got a foothold we started to play a bit.

“I keep saying to the boys, take the ropes off and go and play, express yourselves and let yourself go.

“The game plan was really easy - get it forward, run, play with aggression, play with tempo and, the biggest thing, show you care.

“Credit to them in the last 30 minutes when we came alive, we looked like the team that we are.”

Murray continued: “The lads train hard. But I have seen so many training ground players over the years it’s incredible.

“It’s when you put them in an environment where you’ve got to get your gonads out and it’s man time, I need blokes out there. I am not babysitting. We showed it last week. We had 18/19/20 men last week. So it’s not as if it’s not there. But it’s got to be a consistent thing.

“It’s on their toes. I’ve said I am not carrying people this season. If we want this we’ve got it but we have to turn up week in week out and perform like we can do.

“You can’t do it one week and then think we might get through this game on a five or six and you can’t. This is League Two and it’s the toughest I’ve known it this year.

“If we do that we’ll just hover and I am not up for hovering. I’d rather leave to be honest.

“I am not interested in that. I have too much passion and desire to go through the motion.”

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McGuire battling to be back for Luton after leg scare
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town will be hoping Jamie McGuire will be fit enough for the battle ahead at Luton Town on Saturday after suffering a real scare with a leg injury.

Tough cookie midfielder McGuire was hurt so badly in a challenge in training on Thursday that his leg ballooned in size and he passed out.

Thankfully, hospital examinations could find nothing serious and he was smiling and joking from the stands on Saturday.

“We planned for Jamie to play against Wycombe and were devastated he couldn’t,” said Murray.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mcguire-battling-to-be-back-for-luton-after-leg-scare-1-8188065?

“He took a whack in training on Thursday and we had to rush him to hospital.

“There was a bit of a worry for a few hours, it was quite serious, but thankfully he is okay.

“He’s not going to be too long and it’s a relief he is okay. He’s my player of the month and he gives us that toughness and that leadership in there.”

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Benning frustrated with Wycombe draw
mansfieldtown.net, 15th October 2016

Mansfield Town left-back Mal Benning believes the Stags’ second half performance in today’s 1-1 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers should have been enough to secure all three points.

Stags were held to a draw by a resolute Wycombe Wanderers at One Call Stadium after striker Matt Green scored his fourth goal in his last three games to equalise after Chairboys’ midfielder Matt Bloomfield had put the visitors ahead.

And Benning, who has played in every one of the Stags’ Sky Bet League Two matches this season, believes the improvement of their performance in the second half warranted all three points.

“We all knew [in the] first half we weren’t good enough and the goal was sloppy but the gaffer gave us a good telling-off at half-time and I thought we responded well [in the] second half.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/benning-frustrated-with-wycombe-draw-3364330.aspx#bIiIPJzW8eu2lXmy.99

“I thought it was all us to be honest and we got the goal and obviously Greeny (Matt Green) changed the game again, which is brilliant but it’s just that next step [that we need to take] - winning the game and seeing it out.”

The former Walsall man had a number of efforts on goal during the second half and he admits that he felt he should have done better with them.

“Obviously we created a lot in the last 30 minutes and even myself, I thought I had a couple of good chances where people might have been in better positions than me but I had tunnel vision and obviously should have taken my chances.

“There were a couple today where I thought ‘that should have gone in’ but the ‘keeper made a couple of good saves."

Benning, who joined the club in the summer of 2015, said he and his team-mates dealt with Wycombe’s threat more convincingly in the second half.

“Obviously the gaffer told us all before the game what it was going to be like, we knew what it was going to be like and we didn’t deal with it. [In the] second half we did and I thought we got the better of them.

“[In the] first half I thought there was periods where we needed people, including myself to be honest, to pipe up and get people in position but obviously that’s when it’s not going your way. In the second half it was the same but it was going our way so we were on the up.”

Supporters can view Mal Benning’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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First goal eludes Benning as Stags fail to beat Wycombe
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Malvind Benning’s first goal of the season remained elusive as Mansfield Town were held 1-1 at home by Wycombe Wanderers yesterday.

Benning turned in an all-action display to win the sponsors’ man of the match award and three times came close to his first goal of the season from the left wing back position.

In the end his 81st minute cross saw Darius Henderson tee up Matt Green for an equaliser in another sub sub display for the club’s star striker.

“We created a lot in the last 30 minutes, and I had a couple of good chances where people might have been in better positions than me, but I had tunnel vision and I should have taken my chances,” admitted Benning.

“There were a couple today where I thought they should have gone in, but the keeper’s made a couple of good saves. Those goals come and go and I am waiting for it still.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/first-goal-eludes-benning-as-stags-fail-to-beat-wycombe-1-8183729

Benning and the rest of the players were given a half-time dressing down by boss Adam Murray for a below-par 45 minutes.

“We all knew the first half wasn’t good enough and the goal was sloppy,” added Benning.

“The gaffer did say he needed people, including myself, to pipe up and get people in position.

“He gave us a good telling off at half-time and I thought we responded right.

“The second half was all us to be honest. We got the goal and Greeny changed the game again, which is brilliant.

“It’s just that next step really - winning the game, seeing it out.”

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Wycombe boss blasts referee after Mansfield grab late draw
bucksfreepress.co.uk

WYCOMBE boss Gareth Ainsworth has called on the English Football League to introduce professional full-time referees to League 2.

The Chairboys manager was incensed by some of the decisions which went against his team in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield - and claimed the Stags winner should not have been given for a foul on Danny Rowe in the lead up to Matt Green's 81st minute leveller.

At the full time whistle, Ainsworth stormed from his dug-out and across the pitch to talk to referee Brett Huxtable.

Later, he explained that since managers aren't allowed to talk to referees until half an hour after the match, he wanted to put the North Devon referee on notice that he wanted a word.

During a tetchy second half, Ainsworth could be seen having a string of conversations with the fourth official as Mansfield won a succession of free-kicks.

"What I said to the fourth official remains private," explained Ainsworth. "But it is my firm belief that these referees should be officiating at a professional level.

http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/14804544.Ainsworth__we_need_professional_referees_at_League_2/

"These guys have got other careers, but we need professional referees. I keep harping on about this, but there is money in the game to do this. The Championship have professional referees, so let's do it at Leagues 1 and 2.

"That is my honest opinion and I keep saying it. It is no slight on anyone, just please get them professional because we are professionals. We have got fans who have spent a lot of money to come and be here today and see the lads and cheer them on, and I am reallly proud of them."

Earlier, Matt Bloomfield's 23rd minute strike had looked like winning the game, latching onto a Paul Hayes through ball to produce a cool finish.

That was until Green, who had been ill earlier in the week, came off the subsitute's bench, hooking in from 10 yards after substitute Darius Henderson had nodded down a Mal Benning free-kick.

It denied Wycombe their first away win of the season and, but for a superb last minute save deep into injury time from Jamal Blackman, who dived full stretch to beat out a Henderson pile-driver, it could have been worse.

"That would have been a travesty had we come away with nothing," insisted Ainsworth, who pointed out how only moments earlier Aaron Pierre was unmarked at the far post with a gaping goal, but didn't hit the target

"I was so proud of my players. I thought we played all the good stuff in the first half and a lot of the second half.

"Mansfield were route one - they went very long and big. I don't think I have played a taller team in my career. They are big lads out there, but we did fantastic today."

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Wycombe boss Ainsworth joins Stags boss Murray’s criticism of referee
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth joined with Stags boss Adam Murray in criticising match referee Brett Huxtable after yesterday’s 1-1 draw at One Call Stadium.

The Devon official upset both camps in a scrappy match, and Ainsworth said:

“There was a blatant push (on Danny Rowe)and foul for their goal.

“And I disagree with the decision for the free kick that led to the goal.

“But unless referees get professional in Leagues One and Two, Leagues One and Two will not have a true reflection of every game.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/wycombe-boss-ainsworth-joins-stags-boss-murray-s-criticism-of-referee-1-8183727?

“That is no slight on anyone. Just please get them professional because we are all professionals. That is my honest opinion.

“Our fans have spent a lot of money to come up here today and so I am pleased we got something out of the game for them today. We could have come away with nothing.

“But I am gutted for them and the players that it was not a win.”

Wanderers were just nine minutes away from their first away victory of the season when Matt Green levelled for the Stags.

But Ainsworth said: “I am so proud of the players. We played all of the good stuff in the first half and a lot of it in the second half.

“They were very route one. They went very big and long into us. I don’t think I have played against a taller team in my career. They had some big lads out there.

“We did fantastic, scored a super goal and created good chances.

“There was a bit of a panic at the end and we couldn’t get out of our own half. There was free kick after free kick coming back at us.

“But we ground out a result and that is fantastic. I am really pleased for the boys and the fans.”

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