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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from January 2017

EVANS, BENNETT AND DARREN FERGUSON REACTION
3rd January 2017 22:17



Stags’ efforts warranted more - Evans
mansfieldtown.net, 31st December 2016

Stags’ boss Steve Evans believes his side’s dominance prior to Doncaster’s equaliser in today’s 1-1 draw warranted more than a point against the league-leaders.

Striker Matt Green’s 59th-minute goal complemented the Stags’ dominance for the majority of the game, but Evans’ men conceded a Liam Mandeville equaliser from the penalty spot 13 minutes from time.

And the gaffer says a second goal would have been the perfect reward for his side’s dominance before Rovers got back on level terms.

“I think the game today was in two parts. It was probably 77-78 minutes in the game in which we were the better side by a long way, and probably should have put the game to bed, but that didn’t happen.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/se-donny-3493183.aspx#ziLrZWFGRjefAWGr.99

“[We are a] bit disappointed to have drawn a game in which if we had got the second goal, and we should have had the second goal, then the game would have been dead.

“You have to punish the better teams, because they are always going to be resolute, always going to come back at you. So, we go away disappointed.”

Although the Stags showcased a strong team display, Evans singled out sponsors’ Man-of-the-Match Danny Rose for praise.

“[He got the man-of-the-match] and deservedly so.

“I thought he was a real handful. I said to him before the game if I hadn’t picked him today, he would have been entitled to come in and ask a reason why, because he has been coming on and proving a point.”

The former Rotherham United manager further added that this point and the nature of his side’s performance could prove to be the stepping stone to climb the Sky Bet League Two table, as the side head into the New Year with the away trip to Blackpool in two days.

The boss said: “When you turn up in the morning, you ask your players to put in the minimum, which is work as hard as they have worked today.

“We go into the New Year with a character and a discipline in the team in terms of the performance, and of course we need to add some quality to that.

“We have to freshen up. I think the game in two days, with the amount of free weeks you have got in the Football League, is perhaps a bit unfair. But I understand why, with the Christmas period and New Year period.

“But we are going to go there (Blackpool), and try and put in a determined performance.”

The Stags’ chief concluded by hailing the impact of the fans inside One Call Stadium and hopes to give them something to cheer about in the New Year.

“I think every football match brings in new challenges, and it is going to be tough, but the Mansfield fans are going to enjoy a good 2017.

“I have said it on Boxing Day, and I will say it now - the supporters are the life-blood of the football club. I think today, Mansfield Town fans will go home disappointed because we have not won the game.

“We dominated it for long periods, but they will go home today thinking the lads have given them a real go today.”

Supporters can view Steve Evans’ post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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twitter BBC Nottingham Sport @BBCRNS
Evans on Green : "He works so hard, and he beats himself up if he doesn't score...but he has produced a real good performance today" #Stags

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Stags fans wait on new players announcement after Rovers draw
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 31 December 2016

Mansfield Town supporters are waiting for boss Steve Evans to unveil three more new signings as Stags signed off 2016 with a 1-1 home derby draw with Doncaster Rovers this afternoon.

French striker Yoann Arquin was revealed as the first new face on Monday, but the news was broken only by his own Tweet which Evans said will cost the player a £100 fine.

Three more could be named by tonight with Sheffield Wednesday keeper Jack Kean and Northampton Town midfielder Joel Byrom likely to be two of them.

“We will announce some new names later today subject to the chairman and chief executive ratifying them,” said Evans.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-fans-wait-on-new-players-announcement-after-rovers-draw-1-8312623

“They do the business side. I have been told we’ve got three or four in the building and that gives me great pleasure.

“If Paul and I had been here in the summer this would have been a top of the table clash today - I 100 per cent believe that. We know what it takes to get out of this league and we’ve done it more than once.

“We have some very good players here and we need to help them.

“Players we don’t see as a part of it will get the opportunity to go and play their football somewhere else.

“We have to be fair to these guys. They have been more than professional since the day I walked in.”

He added: “The supporters here are going to enjoy a good 2017. How quickly we can get the players in and settled, we don’t know.

“But the supporters are the lifeblood of the football club and they have been short-changed here since the summer in terms of the players they are having to watch week in, week out with their hard-earned money.

“We are going to keep the better ones of those and add selectively to it. We won’t get them all right but you can put the kettle on we’ll get more right than wrong.”

On today’s 1-1 draw Evans said: “For 77/78 minutes in the game today we were the better side by a long way and probably should have put it to bed. But that didn’t happen.

“Then to be fair to Doncaster, when your manager is Darren Ferguson, you are always going to be resolute and have a go.

“They got the penalty and I think it was a penalty first sight, though I think Tommy Rowe has got the actor of the season for playing for it.

“I also saw CJ Hamilton get chopped when he broke through into the box, but there is no decision given which was frustrating.”

He continued: “We are disappointed to draw a game in which if we’d got the second goal, the game would have been dead.

“You have to punish the better teams as they are always going to be resolute and come back at you.

“We go into the New Year with character and discipline in the team’s performances and we need to add some quality to it.

“I can’t fault the players today. I said to a man at half-time if you match that endeavour in the second half then no one can come in and point the finger. We could hear Darren through the dressing room wall not so happy.

“But match fitness and getting people fit has been an issue for us. You have to say players have not been fit here, I think we showed that a but in the last 10 minutes today. “Going forward they have to be fit. We have put a lot in today but you have to be fit enough to see these games through for 95 minutes.”

Evans announced after today’s game that loanees Alex Iacovitti and Oscar Gobern had been released along with strikers Darius Henderson and Adi Yussuf with more expected to follow them out the door. Yussuf has already managed to secure an 18-month deal at Grismby Town.

Evans will speak to West Brom boss Tony Pulis about loanee centre half Kyle Howkins next week with the player’s loan up after Monday’s trip to Blackpool.

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Bennett says Donny performance should set standard
mansfieldtown.net, 31st December 2016

Stags’ defender Rhys Bennett believes today’s performance against league-leaders Doncaster Rovers shows how good they can be.

Striker Matt Green put the Stags ahead on the hour mark before Liam Mandeville’s late penalty rescued a point for the side at the summit of Sky Bet League Two

And Bennett says the Stags now need to find consistency in their performances in order to climb the Sky Bet League Two table.

“[This] season so far, we have not been consistent enough. And on days like today (against Doncaster), you can see how good we are,” Bennett said.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/bennett-says-donny-performance-should-set-standard-3493157.aspx#A3XRq8sT0IBpxQBg.99

“In terms of League Two, you need to be bang at it every week. And if we do that, we can transform the season.

“Steve Evans has transformed this club, and standards have gone up. Everyone’s giving it their all and playing for their place.

“We will attack the league [in the second-half] and see what happens. That’s what we are going to do.”

The former Rochdale defender said he was thought the Stags performed well against tablet-topping Donny and did what the manager asked of them.

“I think we came out and did everything the gaffer said for us to do - we played the ball, we pressed and stopped them from playing, and we worked really hard. So, I think we deserved the three points.

“I thought we played with a no-fear attitude, and pressed well. We believed that we were as good as them (Doncaster).

“The fans got behind us, and I thought we gave our fans something to cheer, which is great for them and for us.”

The Stags begin their second-half of the season in two days’ time against Blackpool, and the 25-year-old defender said the side have shown the right attitude at the right time.

And with new players set to join the squad, this will add fuel to the side’s ambitions of finishing in the top seven at the end of the season.

Bennett said: “We beat them (Blackpool) six weeks ago so we’ll go there with the same attitude as today, and I think we can get the three points there then.

“We - fans as well as players - are all excited to see the new players coming in. And hopefully, they will add quality to our squad, and then go from there.”

Supporters can view Rhys Bennett’s interview, in full, on Stags PlayerHD.

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DF post Mansfield
doncasterroversfc.co.uk

Darren Ferguson praised his centre-half pairing of Andy Butler and Mathieu Baudry after the draw at Mansfield Town.

The home side made Rovers work for the point, with a work-rate and physical approach that left Butler and Baudry bloodied and bruised afterwards.

Ferguson said: "My two centre-halves were outstanding, very good. We spoke about keeping a high line and winning the first ball, and those two were outstanding.

Read more at http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/df-post-mansfield-3494203.aspx#poeIhQ1jgEDT9T5d.99

"We dealt with the physical side of the game very well, the effort and endeavour was fantastic.

"I'm never happy with a point, but I suppose with the way the game went it is not a bad result. We've just had two away games pretty much local derbies, and four points is not a bad return."

Ferguson felt Rovers could have nicked a win with the chances the created after a change in formation in response to the opening goal, but feels his side are still in a strong position.

He added: "I didn't think they caused us many problems, we just didn't get control of the game until they went ahead. When we did I thought we'd go on to win, and were unfortunate not to with Tommy Rowe's header against a post.

"The players know one or two didn't get to the standards they've set recently. But you get that, and you have to dig in - and we've done that and got a point. We're still seven points ahead of fourth, which is a good gap."

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Ferguson accuses Stags star Green of head-butt
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 31 December 2016

Angry Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson claimed Mansfield Town goal hero Matt Green should have been red-carded before he found the net in today’s 1-1 draw at the One Call Stadium. Liam Mandeville wiped out Green’s opener with a 77th minute penalty equaliser, but Ferguson said: “The boy Green shouldn’t be on the pitch.

“He has head-butted Andy Butler. It is an absolute disgrace what he has done.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/ferguson-accuses-stags-star-green-of-head-butt-1-8312645

“The linesman has seen it and still not sent him (Green) off. They have to look at that, there was no call for it - and he has scored their goal.

“But I only have to focus on our performance.”

He added: “The players knows more than one or two didn’t get to the standards they have recently. But you get that and when you do you have to dig in, and today we dug in and managed to get a point.

“The way the game went I suppose a point was not a bad result.

“We have had two tough away games in a week, local derbies, so four points is not a bad return.

“Our best period in the game was just after they went ahead. But it was not a performance I really enjoyed.

“We had to change our shape to make a difference and we shouldn’t have had to. Players need to adapt when teams match us up.

“They weren’t good enough on the ball, didn’t move the ball quickly enough and allowed them to get in too many tackles, which lifted the home crowd.

“Mansfield treated this as a cup final and we didn’t deal with that, although my two centre halves were outstanding, very very good.

“Mansfield didn’t cause us real problems but we just didn’t get control of the game until they went ahead.

“After that I felt we would go on and win it and we were pretty unfortunate not to with Tommy’s (Rowe) header.”

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