Archived News from January 2018
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EVANS AND NEIL WARNOCK REACTION
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'Game-changing decisions' altered course of cup tie - gaffer
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 16 January 2018 Stags' boss Steve Evans is proud of his players for their performance in this evening's Emirates FA Cup third round replay defeat to Cardiff City, but was left frustrated by two big decisions which went against his side in the 4-1 loss. Bluebirds' centre-half Bruno Ecuele Manga put the visitors ahead in the first half before Stags' top scorer Danny Rose equalised within a minute to ensure the sides were level at the break. Our Championship opponents then ultimately ran out as winners with three second half goals - two courtesy of winger Junior Hoilett and one from forward Anthony Pilkington. And reflecting on tonight's Emirates FA Cup exit, the boss believes Cardiff's first goal should have been ruled out for a foul in the build-up and Hoilett - who went on to score two second half goals - should have seen red for a two-footed challenge on midfielder Alex MacDonald. "We've looked at it back, the first goal's a clear foul and how they've not had a red card in the first half is beyond me. If that's not a red card, we give the game up," the Stags' chief said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/game-changing-decisions-altered-course-of-cup-tie---gaffer/ "The first goal shouldn't stand but I'm proud of the players. It was a proper cup tie. They get a bit of good fortune to go in front; it's a scuffed throw-in that lands at the man's feet and they've got good movement thereafter. "I think when you look at the goal as well, it's a clear push by big [Sean] Morrison who puts it back in the box. "Why it's not a red card, I know I keep going on about it but they're game-changing decisions. "He's straight over the ball. We took his excuse during the game when he got word back to his fourth that it was a slip. Slip? That's not a slip; that's just high, late and over the ball. "It's a red card all day. That's a game changer, it's a cup tie changer. We're out the cup and we have to live by it." Regardless of the two 'game-changing' decisions, the gaffer believes his side should have been heading into the half-time interval with a lead after a 'dominant' first half display. "I think it was harsh to be 1-1 at half-time, we should've been in front. We dominated it. We were dominating the second half in terms of territorially and with the ball and the breaking. "They go 2-1 in front and it's the quick goal, the third one, that kills the cup tie. "In the second period when they get the two quick goals, that allows them to get their good players' foot on the ball. Neil Warnock can say what he likes, it's a proper cup tie at 1-1. "I think he's fortunate to be 1-1, fortunate to have 11 men and they're the decisions you need sometimes in the cup. We spoke about people just doing their jobs; Cardiff players have just done their jobs." The former Leeds United manager praised the support inside One Call Stadium as over 5,000 Stags' fans turned out to roar on his side against the Bluebirds. "The supporters were incredible, they were fantastic. I Neil's words to me at the kick-off were 'this is a real cup tie atmosphere'. "As opposed to at Cardiff where - am I allowed to say it was like a morgue? - well, it was like a morgue! There was no noise. "It was a fantastic atmosphere, the people of Mansfield turned out and they deserve better tonight. "They deserve better and I think when we go away and look at the footage, we'll be proud of our players." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full post-match interview. -------------------- Steve Evans: Mansfield boss anger at 'dreadful decision' by referee Geoff Eltringham http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42718093 Manager Steve Evans has severely criticised referee Geoff Eltringham following Mansfield's 4-1 FA Cup replay defeat by Cardiff City. The Stags boss was particularly frustrated at a decision not to send off Junior Hoilett in the first half. Evans said: "I am not proud of the referee's performance. It was a clear foul for Cardiff's first goal. "How has he not given a red card to one of the most outrageous tackles? It was a really, really dreadful decision." The Stags, who held Championship promotion hopefuls Cardiff to a 0-0 draw in Wales in the initial third-round tie, were briefly level at 1-1 on Tuesday night when Danny Rose scored seconds after Bruno Manga had opened the scoring for the visitors. Hoilett's double and a goal from Anthony Pilkington set Cardiff up with a fourth-round meeting with Premier League leaders Manchester City. "Second half we were in the ascendancy, but we switch off and they get a bit of luck," Evans told BBC Radio Nottingham. "We wish Cardiff well. We are disappointed but I think Cardiff applied themselves really well and were very committed. "The boys were fantastic in spells but the referee was rubbish. There's the word, rubbish." --------------------- FA CUP: Evans furious with referee as big decisions go against Stags chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 16 January 2018 Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans was furious with referee Geoff Eltringham after two huge decisions went against his side in tonight’s 4-1 FA Cup third round home replay with Cardiff City. Evans believed there was a foul that led to City’s opener and that Junior Hoilett should have been sent off before he scored a brace as Cardiff secured the fourth round home glamour tie on offer with Manchester City with three second half goals. Hoilett was only shown a yellow for jumping in on Alex MacDonald after 25 minutes. Evans said: “At 1-1 we were right in the cup tie. But it shouldn’t have been 1-1. “We looked back at it and the first goal is a clear foul and how they’ve not had a red card in the first half is beyond me. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/fa-cup-evans-furious-with-referee-as-big-decisions-go-against-stags-1-8961831 “The referee has been shocking tonight - I have to be careful what I say or I’ll be charged tomorrow. “I am sure there won’t be too many challenges like that in the Manchester City game as the Premier League boys will be putting them away. “It’s a shocking, shocking decision from the referee. He was very, very poor. “He’s (Hoilett) straight over the ball isn’t he? I hope they show it on the highlights. They can’t defend it.” He continued: “We took his (the referee) excuse on the field of play that he got word back from his fourth that it was a slip. “That wasn’t a slip. It was high, late and over the ball and it’s a red card all day. “That’s a game changer. It’s a cup tie changer. “It wasn’t to be. We’re out the cup and we have to live by it.” Stags more than held their own until City netted twice in six second half minutes to take control. “We were by far the better side in the first half and when you look at their goal it’s a clear push,” said Evans. “The referee is right on him so I don’t know how he doesn’t give it. “I think we should have been in front at half-time. We dominated it. “It was the quick goal, the third goal, that killed the cup tie. “We will go again. We’re here again on Saturday and we’ll try to produce a performance that will get us three points. “Once they’d got the two quick goals, that allows the good players to get their foot on the ball.” Evans added: “Neil Warnock can say what he likes, but that was a proper cup tie at 1-1. “I think he’s fortunate to be be 1-1 and have 11 men - and they are decisions that you sometimes need in the cup. “Cardiff have had some real quality on the pitch tonight, my players have been great and the officials have been rubbish. “My lads know they’ve played well and the scoreline doesn’t demonstrate the game. “But the media run with the Championship clubs. “If they report it right they’ll say Cardiff’s first goal was a foul and it’s a red card. So it’s a different game with us 1-0 up and them with 10 men.” The home fans got behind their side superbly and Evans said: “The supporters were incredible - fantastic. “Neil said to me at kick-off this is a proper cup tie atmosphere as opposed to at Cardiff where it was like a morgue. “The public of Mansfield turned out and they deserved better tonight. “We will get the Darren Ferguson type of letter next week saying we should have given a foul there and that should have been a red card and we’re really sorry. “But Cardiff go and play Manchester City and we go back to League Two action. “I am proud of the players. It was a proper cup tie. “We wish Cardiff well. It’s a fantastic day they are going to have.” -------------------- FA CUP: Warnock happy to see Bluebirds go up a gear to beat plucky Stags chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 16 January 2018 Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock was delighted to see his players go up a gear after the break to take control of their FA Cup replay at Mansfield tonight. The Bluebirds went in 1-1 after a thrilling first half but netted twice in six minutes to take a grip before adding a late goal to win 4-1. “I wasn’t too disappointed at half-time,” he said. “I thought our attitude was good and that was the main thing. We were just a little bit lethergic and, up front, we were waiting for things to happen rather than make it happen. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/fa-cup-warnock-happy-to-see-bluebirds-go-up-a-gear-to-beat-plucky-stags-1-8961835 “We just said at half-time let’s get on the front foot and be positive when we are in their half and I thought we were a lot better in the second half.” Although there was a two-division gap between the teams, Warnock said: “It’s hard. “We were playing a team that had only lost once in 20 games, no matter what division they’re in. The way they play you’re up against it every other minute. “You have to compete and in the second half I thought we were super, competing and playing.” Cardiff can now look forward to the visit of Manchester City in round four with Warnock smiling: “You have to beat these teams if you want to win the cup! “They are probably the best in the world at the moment, so it’s great. “We can’t lose whatever the result. “If I am totally honest, if the draw had been different, we’d have been knocked out. “But I decided to put out what was almost a full team tonight and we’ve got our rewards haven’t we? “It’s a great reward isn’t it, but let’s concentrate on the biggest match of the season - Sheffield Wednesday away!” He added: “A big thank you to the fans tonight. That’s the coldest I’ve ever known it watching a game.” ------------------- Cardiff boss Neil Warnock relishing visit of Manchester City A 4-1 win at Mansfield booked a home date with the runaway Premier League leaders. http://sport.bt.com/football/cardiff-boss-neil-warnock-relishing-visit-of-manchester-city-S11364243846088 Neil Warnock is looking forward to welcoming ‘the best team in the world’ after seeing his Cardiff side beat Mansfield 4-1 in their FA Cup third round replay to set up a home clash with Manchester City in the next round. A brace from Junior Hoilett, with further goals from Bruno Ecuele Manga and Anthony Pilkington saw the Bluebirds avoid a potential banana skin pretty comfortably in front of watching City boss Pep Guardiola at a bitterly cold Field Mill. “They’re probably the best in the world at the moment, it’s great, and I think the fans deserve that as we have put a lot in this season,” said a jubilant Warnock. “It’s a great reward. “It’s a great game now because we can’t lose whatever the result and it’s a great bonus for us. To be totally honest, if the draw had been different we would probably have been knocked out, but I decided to put out a virtual first team and we got our rewards.” Warnock revealed he had to have a few words with his team at half-time after Stags striker Danny Rose matched Manga’s effort to send the teams in level at the break. He continued: “I wasn’t too disappointed at half-time, we were just a little bit lethargic. We had one or two words, I didn’t raise my voice to them. “I decided to put Hoilett through the middle as I thought we just needed that spark down there. It was a matter of changing a few things and getting the right result, and we did. “It was hard, we were playing against a team who had lost once in 20-odd games, it doesn’t matter what division they’re in. And the way they play, you’re up against it every minute. You’ve got to play against these teams and compete and I thought in the second half we were super. “Also, a big thank you to the fans tonight, that’s the coldest I have ever known it watching a game and to come all this way, well, great tribute to them and I hope they all get tickets for the City game.” ---------- |
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