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Archived News from April 2021

CLOUGH AND MICHAEL FLYNN REACTION
13th April 2021 17:59


Boss ‘pleased’ by reaction to Newport opener
mansfieldtown.net, Friday 9th April 2021

Manager Nigel Clough was left ‘pleased’ by his side’s response to going a goal down against Newport County, with Tyrese Sinclair’s first professional goal earning a point for the Stags at One Call Stadium.

Two unforced errors in quick succession allowed Exiles’ captain Joss Labadie to open the scoring on 75 minutes in Nottinghamshire, before Sinclair’s well-aimed strike marked a deserved equaliser for the amber and blue.

The boss, despite his frustrations towards the manner in which Mansfield conceded on Friday evening, was left pleased by Stags’ reaction to the Newport goal.

“I thought we had situations and chances to win the game throughout. I didn’t think we were very good at all in the first-half, despite having a great chance in the first few minutes,” he told iFollow Stags.

“Ty [Sinclair] has gone in with a header and he’s unlucky as it’s gone off the goalkeeper’s knee onto the post. Laps [Lapslie] thought it might have been over the line.

“But I didn’t think we were anywhere near where we have been [in the first-half]. I thought the second-half was much improved.

“But once again, our Achilles heel, two mistakes cost us a goal. It was us in the ascendancy, and we hit the post again in the second-half and how the rebound's not gone to a Mansfield shirt I don't know.

“We felt as though we were pressing [for the opener] but George Maris gives the ball away in a dangerous position, the lad hits a reasonable shot and it goes straight through the goalkeeper. So either one of them can stop the goal.

“But with 15 minutes to go, to get a point from that situation and nearly go on and win it, we’re ultimately pleased with that.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/april/boss-pleased-by-reaction-to-newport-opener/

“When we stepped it up a little second-half, I thought we created so many situations and chances. We put some good set plays in and ultimately, we’re just a bit disappointing we didn’t win.

"Stephen Quinn was again outstanding, getting into great positions in the box, cutting it back. We put some good set plays in ourselves, Tyrese put some great corners in.

“We really started with a great deal of urgency [after the Newport goal]. It’s another top team that we’ve more than matched and another that we could’ve beaten here. It’s another point towards safety.”

Nigel Clough says ‘everyone is delighted’ for Sinclair, after the 20-year-old fired home his first senior goal late on.

“It’s lovely for Tyrese to get his first goal,” he added. “I thought he played well again tonight - it’s a big thing when you get your first senior goal in the league.

“Everyone is delighted for him. The only thing is [after scoring and celebrating] you have to get your breath back as they have the ball!

“It was a great finish for him. He went and blocked the lad. Maybe their lad should’ve cleared it, I'm sure Michael will be thinking that, but once he got into that position, it was a great finish.

“He had some good headed chances tonight, but he’s getting into good positions.”

The boss also explained his one alteration of the evening - with Jamie Reid replacing Ollie Clarke - adding that the best way to relieve defensive pressure in the latter stages of matches is to forge attacks.

“When you’re 1-0 down at home, we were going to put him [Reid] on anyway, it was just about who we were going to bring off.

“Ollie Clarke was physically struggling a bit, so he was the obvious one that was coming off anyway.

“Then we got the three up top and I thought we caused them a lot of problems. But that’s the nice thing - the last couple of games, we’ve been drawing [late on], but it’s been us looking for the winner.

“We think that’s the best way of defending the lead or a draw. Us going forward looking for another goal.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow.

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Praise from Nigel Clough for late fightback against Newport County
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Friday 9th April 2021

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough was pleased to see his side grind out a gutsy 1-1 home draw with promotion-chasing Newport County tonight, but frustrated that victory continues to be elusive.

Clough conceded it was a good point against a good side, but with no wins in eight games and relegation fears still not fully put to bed, he remains frustrated.

Tyrese Sinclair's late equaliser - his first goal for the club - earned what had looked an unlikely draw and Clough said: “It is another top team that we have more than matched for large parts of the game and could well have beaten.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/praise-from-nigel-clough-for-late-fightback-against-newport-county-3195653

“They are a good side and if there's one team you don't want to go 1-0 down to with 15 minutes left it's Newport.

“It's frustrating not getting the wins but it's another point on the board towards safety.

“It's a difficult one to say we are pleased with a point as we had chances and situations to win the game.

“I didn't think we were very good at all first half, despite having an early chance. We were nowhere near where we have been.

“Second half we were much improved but then came our Achilles heel again and two mistakes cost us a goal.

“We were in the ascendency and if anyone was going to win it it was us. We'd hit the post again.

“Then George Maris gives the ball away in a very dangerous position. The lad hits a reasonable shot and it goes straight through the goalkeeper.

“So with 15 minutes to go from that situation to get an equaliser and nearly go on and win it I was ultimately pleased with that.”

On Sinclair's goal, he smiled: “It was lovely to see Tyrese get his goal tonight.

“He played well and it's a big thing to get your first senior goal in the league and everyone is delighted for him. It was a great finish.

“The nice thing is in the last couple of games we've been drawing and it's been us looking for the winner. We think that's the best way of defending, going for another goal.

"It would be nice to get that win to make sure we are safe and then we can relax a bit.”

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Point at Mansfield Town could be most important of the season admits Newport Town manager
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Friday 9th April 2021

Newport County manager Michael Flynn said tonight's point in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town could yet be their most important point of the season.

Flynn saw his promotion chasers pegged back by Tyrese Sinclair's late equaliser to allow two vital points to slip away after Joss Labadie had given them a 75th minute lead.

“That was two points dropped as we've taken the lead but then given away a poor goal,” he said.

“I am gutted for them as they have given everything.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/point-at-mansfield-town-could-be-most-important-of-the-season-admits-newport-town-manager-3195660

“But we've come some way if we are disappointed to be drawing at Mansfield as you see their team and their squad - they still have a lot of good League Two players.

“It was a battling performance and an away point.

“You never know, that might still be the most important point of the season for us.

“It's a tough old season with no guarantees. We are not feeling pressure just frustration.”

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REACTION - Michael Flynn: "That may be the most important point of the season"
https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2021/april/michael-flynn-post-mansfield-town/

Manager Michael Flynn was left disappointed that Newport County AFC were unable to hold out for the victory against Mansfield Town - but insists a point could prove to be valuable to his side's promotion hopes.

The Exiles were unable to back up Monday's hard-earned victory over Bolton Wanderers after being pegged back late on in their 1-1 draw at the One Call Stadium.

Joss Labadie put County in front inside the 75th minute when he dispossessed George Maris and squeezed his shot underneath Mansfield goalkeeper Aidan Stone.

Tyrere Sinclair then fired the home side level with six minutes remaining to earn the Stags a share of the spoils in Nottinghamshire.

It saw County maintain their place in seventh in the Sky Bet League Two table, while they put further distance between themselves and the teams chasing down the play-off positions.

But despite strengthening their grip on the top seven, Flynn was frustrated that his side missed out on the opportunity to climb up to fifth.

"It’s two dropped," said Flynn.

"We’ve taken the lead and the goal we gave away was poor from our point of view because we didn’t stop the cross. But I’m gutted for them because they gave everything.

"We’ve come on a long way if we’re disappointed to be drawing at Mansfield because if you look at their squad, they’re still littered with a lot of League Two players.

"I remember a few years back when we got to the play-offs, we were disappointed that we got a point against Macclesfield.

"It was all doom and gloom then but it ended up being the best point that we had."

Nick Townsend came to County's rescue early on when he scrambled to palm Sinclair's header onto the post as the Exiles weathered the early storm from Nigel Clough's side.

And they carved out chances through Joe Ledley and Josh Sheehan in the first half before substitute Lewis Collins added an attacking impetus after the restart, but they were unable to enjoy breathing space between themselves and the Stags.

"We were a little bit tentative at times to pull the trigger," added Flynn.

"Lewis Collins looked really bright when he came on and looked to pass to Jake Scrimshaw, but he should have just hit it because you never know.

"It could go under the goalkeeper, he could make a mistake, it could go in the top corner or it may have gone over the stand, but you’ll never know unless you try.

"But it was a battling performance, we’ve got an away point and we’ll move on to Tuesday."

County will be able to watch the results come on in Saturday before returning to Rodney Parade against Carlisle United on Tuesday evening.

It will be their first of three successive home games in the space of seven days before Flynn's side welcome league leaders Cambridge United and second-placed Cheltenham Town.

"It’s huge because they are one of our rivals," said Flynn ahead of the visit of the Cumbrians, who sit two places adrift of County.

"It’s going to be a tough game and we have to make sure that we’re at it. If we are, hopefully we’ll get the three points that we deserve.

"You can look at other results when you take care of business - and you never know, that may be the most important point of the season."

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Michael Flynn: Newport dropped two points at Mansfield
By Chris Kirwan argussport

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/19223718.michael-flynn-newport-dropped-two-points-mansfield/

“GREEDY” Newport County AFC boss Michael Flynn lamented two points dropped in their League Two promotion push after they conceded a late leveller at Mansfield.

The Exiles looked set to grind out a 1-0 win at Field Mill when Joss Labadie won possession, drove to the box and fired underneath goalkeeper Aidan Stone after 74 minutes.

However, Tyrese Sinclair’s first senior goal with six minutes remaining, when he robbed Liam Shephard with the hint of a foul and slammed home, ensured the Stags got a draw that should ensure they don’t get dragged into a relegation scrap.

Flynn felt that County should have ended their winless streak at Mansfield that stretches back to August 2012.

“It was two points dropped. We took the lead and the goal that we gave away was poor - we didn’t stop the cross, it was a poor clearance and nobody tried to block the shot,” said the manager.

“I am gutted for the players because they gave everything. We have come on some way if we are disappointed to draw at Mansfield because their squad is littered with a lot of good League Two players.

“Because we took the lead, it’s two dropped but it was a battling performance and an away point, we’ll move on to Tuesday.”

County now face a huge week in which play-off hopefuls Carlisle head to Rodney Parade on Tuesday before leaders Cambridge are the visitors on Saturday.

With seven games left this season, Flynn is hopeful that his players will be able to look back fondly at a hard-earned point at Field Mill.

“That might be the most important point of the season; remember a few years back when we were disappointed with a point at Macclesfield," he said, referring to the 2019 goalless draw on matchday 43 that helped the Exiles make the play-offs.

"It was all doom and gloom but ended up being the best point that we had.

“I haven’t got a crystal ball and it might being the worst two points we’ve dropped all season but I’ll look ahead rather than things behind me.

“I am greedy and want to win but we got a point and I’m not going to turn that down.”

Striker Nicky Maynard, who scored the only goal of Monday's win against Bolton, is likely to return to the starting line-up against Carlisle.

He could not play against Mansfield as he is on loan from the Stags.

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