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Archived News from September 2017

EVANS, PEARCE AND RUSSELL SLADE REACTION
15th September 2017 15:35


Stags courageous in Grimsby win, says gaffer
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 09 September 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans described his players as 'courageous' after a 'hard earned' 4-1 victory against Grimsby Town at One Call Stadium this afternoon.

Two penalties from frontman Lee Angol, along with a strike from defender Krystian Pearce and what looks to be confirmed by TV replays as an own-goal, helped the Stags to their second home win of the season, despite Sam Jones' late consolation from the penalty spot for the visitors.

And speaking post-match, the gaffer highlighted the importance of both confidence and courage in the squad and believes the result was thoroughly deserved.

"I think when we got the second goal I thought we could go on and beat them three or four [nil] because the players started to have that little [bit of] belief and confidence," the Stags' chief said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/september/evans-post-grimsby/

"The confidence comes from scoring a goal and getting a two-goal advantage, things that we deserved to do in recent times.

"It's hard earned work and we go back on the training ground. We'll take the win, we don't get carried away.

"I asked the ball players to have some courage to play in front of the fans. We've not won for a few weeks but you need courage to pull it and play and if the Grimsby Town player takes it off you, you need the courage to do it again.

"If I'm being honest, at half-time I was a little bit critical with the boys, working so hard but not working smart and there's a difference but they understood where I was coming from."

The former Leeds United manager was also pleased with the calmness of the dressing room and the belief ingrained in the players that every league game is an opportunity for three points.

"Our dressing room is probably as calm as any dressing room that wins a game.

"I'm watching teams celebrate when they beat us and draw with us. I watch my players walk in today and they walked in with a real calmness because they know they should be winning football matches."

The boss made three changes to his starting XI from last week's draw against Carlisle and he believes that it's important to change his team depending on the type of opposition they face.

"I thought Lee Angol and Kane Hemmings worked so hard for the team today and they covered every blade of grass.

"I thought David Mirfin was outstanding from start to finish. I was delighted with a lot of the players but we've got a good squad here.

"We made two or three changes and we'll probably look to do the same again. This idea that Steve Evans doesn't know his best eleven [is nonsense] - I know what I would play if it was a cup final tomorrow but you can't play the same team to play every type of team."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview.

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Steve Evans hails courage of Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, by SPORTS REPORTER, Saturday 09 September 2017

Delighted Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans hailed his side’s courage after they thumped Grimsby Town 4-1. A brace from skipper Krystian Pearce and two Lee Angol penalties helped Stags wrap up their first win in four attempts. Grimsby pulled a consolation goal back when Sam Jones scored the third penalty of the game with five minutes to go. But it failed to take the shine off the Mansfield victory. Evans said: “I was a bit critical at half-time of the boys, they understood where I was coming from. “I wanted us to work smart as well as hard. “I asked the ball players to have courage to play in front of the fans and we started to pass better in the second half. “It was disappointing to concede the goal, but I have no complaints with the decision. “We have beaten a good Grimsby team today. I have said before that they will be in the top eight or nine and this does not change my mind., “We have dominated possession and our quality was there to see. “I thought Lee Angol and Kane Hemmings worked so hard for the team. You are always pleased when the penalties go in. “The first penalty was courageous, we will take the win, but we will not get carried away. “I thought when we got the second goal we could get three or four because we had belief from that point. “It was a hard earned win, but we will stay calm in the dressing room.” Mansfield took the lead when Angol scored a 34th minute spot-kick after David Mirfin had been upended by Mills. Scott Vernon and Siriki Dembele wasted chances to pull Grimsby level just after the restart. And they were made to pay for it as Mansfield doubled their lead on 54 minutes when skipper Krystian Pearce volleyed home. The points were safe six minutes later when Pearce prodded in a rebound after McKeown had pulled off a superb save to deny Rhys Bennett. Stags made it four when Angol scored from the spot on 79 minutes after he had been brought down. Jones pulled one back for the visitors after Bennett fouled Diallang Jaiyesim.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-hails-courage-of-mansfield-town-1-8745362

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Pearce aiming to build on Grimsby win
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 09 September 2017

Stags' goalscoring centre-half Krystian Pearce hopes today's 4-1 win over Grimsby Town builds momentum ahead of Tuesday's match against Wycombe Wanderers.

Pearce added the hosts' second goal and saw another effort deflect in off Mariners' defender Karleigh Osbourne, in addition to frontman Lee Angol's brace of penalties.

Reflecting on the game, he said: "I think in the first half it was a tight game. We got into the second half and got the second goal and started to calm down and play a bit of football.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/september/pearce-grimsby/

"From there we were disappointed not to keep the clean sheet."

Today's skipper also reaffirmed that automatic promotion is the Stags' goal and hopes this victory can start a run of good results.

"The gaffer spoke before the game and said we need to start winning games and today was the start of it and hopefully we can go on a run and get in the top three."

The former Torquay United man was also adamant that he scored a brace and that his strike was going into the net before taking a deflection.

"It was bending towards the goal and it got a little touch on it which helped it in," he joked.

"I'm not sure they're going to give it me but I'm claiming it."

Pearce believes that there is strong competition for a starting place but insists that he thrives under pressure and wants to keep performing at his best.

"I'm just trying to do everything right and keep my place in the team. There's a lot of competition for places so the standards gone up this season.

"When I got my chance I tried to perform as best I can and I want to keep performing.

"David Mirfin's been excellent and hopefully we can keep our partnership going and keep clean sheets."

Frontman Lee Angol scored two spot kicks in today's victory after Stags had previously missed three, and Pearce was pleased to see the striker's kicks hit the back of the net.

"Well they [the penalties] both went in and that's all that counts, as long as it hits the back of the net I don't care what happens."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view Pearce's post-match interview.

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An Unacceptable Performance - Slade
TOWN boss Russell Slade has deemed the 4-1 defeat to Mansfield Town as unacceptable and is expecting a response from his players at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.
grimsby-townfc.co.uk

Speaking after the game, he said: ''I'm obviously very disappointed with the performance, particularly with the way we've conceded the goals today.

''It was very milky in terms of the defending, they've not really undone us in open play so I said before that you have to value the basics to stand up in one on one situations, defend properly and do our job and we've not done that. ''

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2017/september/an-unacceptable-performance---slade/

On not being ruthless enough

''We could quite easily have equalised after half time, as I say some of our build up play was decent enough and it looked like we could threaten their goal but again, there's probably not that ruthlessness in the final third to go and get that goal at a crucial stage.

''We've lost players in the box, we've talked about that in there and its about individual responsibility and collective responsibility as a team to do our jobs.

''It's frustrating, because some of the things we're doing as a football team are quite positive as we saw last week but this week, we go and shoot ourselves in the foot. It's not the performance you need against a strong physical side.

''You know you've gotta win first and second contact all over the pitch and you've gotta compete for 90 minutes. You can't do it on and off.''

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Grimsby Town 'shot themselves in the foot' in defeat at Mansfield Town, says Russell Slade
Just a week on from their win over Crewe, the Mariners slumped to a dismal defeat at Field Mill

grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, BY JAMES FINDLATER, 9 SEP 2017

A frustrated Russell Slade felt his Grimsby Town side ‘shot themselves in the foot’ with their 4-1 defeat at Mansfield Town.

Two penalties from Lee Angol, a Krystian Pearce strike and a Karleigh Osborne own goal saw the Stags ease to victory, while Sam Jones scored a late consolation for the visitors from the spot.

The result came just a week after the Mariners ended a three-game losing streak in the league with a 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra at Blundell Park.

And, after seeing his side slump back to defeat at Field Mill, Slade felt his side didn’t value the basics enough - a complaint he also made following the defeat at Stevenage.

“I’m obviously very disappointed with the performance, particularly because of the way we’ve conceded the goals,” Slade said.

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-town-shot-themselves-foot-452366

“We were very milky in terms of our defending. They’ve not really undone us in open play, it’s a free-kick, it’s a corner, it’s two penalties.

“I’ve said before you have to value the basics, to stand up in one-on-one situations, defend properly, do your job, and we’ve not done that.

“There were probably three or four free-kicks we’ve conceded five or ten yards outside of the box, and you can’t keep doing that.

“We’re giving them an invitation to launch that ball into the danger area and cause us a problem, and in the end they’ve scored from one of those situations.

Slade added: “It’s frustrating because some of the things we’re doing as a football team are quite positive as we saw last week, but this week we go and shoot ourselves in the foot.

“It’s not the performance you need against a strong, physical side. You know you’ve got to win the first contact and the second contact all over the pitch.

“You’ve got to compete for 90 minutes - you can’t do it on and off during the game.”

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Latest | September 2017