Archived News from August 2021
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Boss: Unleash 'anger and frustration' on Bradford
mansfieldtown.net, Fri 20 Aug 2021 Boss Nigel Clough has said that the frustration and anger of the players was evident after the game on Tuesday at Colchester United, and hopes that Bradford City are on the receiving end of it on Saturday. The Stags suffered a poor penalty decision late in the game at Colchester to prevent a 100% start to the Sky Bet League Two season. Reflecting on the mid-week 1-1 draw in Essex at a news conference this morning, the manager said: “I wish we could have bottled the feeling that we had when we came in at the final whistle on Tuesday. “It would be good to save some of that frustration and anger and unleash it against Bradford on Saturday. “We know we should have had another three points, but we will do our best to get them again this weekend.” Tomorrow’s opponents, Bradford City, have matched Stags’ start to the league campaign with two wins and a draw. Speaking about the Bantam’s visit to One all Stadium, the manager said: “Bradford as a whole are a solid team with some good flair players that can cause problems. “They are considered promotion contenders, and rightly so. Derek Adams, their manager, has a good promotion record, and he has also brought in some good players. read more at https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/august/boss-unleash-anger-and-frustration-on-bradford/ “I consider Bradford as one of the last remaining sleeping giants. Any club that can attract up to 20,000 fans for a home fixture is going to give them some spending power, and, in this division, it understandably is going make them a favourite to be promoted. “However, we are looking forward to the game and we will do our best to get three points against them.” Ahead of a return to One Call Stadium tomorrow, the Stags’ chief highlighted the role which the Mansfield supporters had played in the opening two victories at home. “I think the fans are absolutely vital - they have kept us going right up to the end of each game, and it is great to have them behind us. “Against Bristol Rovers [on the opening day] they kept us going and we got a last-minute penalty winner. “Against Newport County it was different in that we were 2-1 up, but the fans gave us the encouragement and strength to hold on to that lead and eventually get the three points. “The passion and energy from the fans has been vital in both games and will continue to be so throughout the season - in both home and away fixtures. “We appreciate their support, and we hope they are enjoying watching us.” Watch the manager’s interview in full now via http://www.mansfieldtown.net/ifollow Buy tickets for the big game now online at http://www.stagstickets.co.uk ---------------------- Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags, Fri 20 Aug 2021: On the penalty at Colchester: "Andy Garner went in to see him (the ref) after the game and the referee's phrase was he bundled him over. Andy said to him there's one thing he didn't do was bundle him over, there might have been the slightest of contact." "Danny Johnson's hitting the goalkeeper a lot at the moment. He's a bit frustrated because he's getting in some very good positions, and we're creating the chances for him. It's only a matter of time before they go in." On Andy Cook: "Yeah he probably will come with a point to prove. But he's got nothing to prove to us. Cooky wanted to leave. He didn't want to stay at Mansfield and hence his move. But he's in good form and he's a danger." On Jimmy Knowles going out on loan: "Jimmy's got to go out and play. He was down the pecking order. He struggled a bit in pre-season in the games and in training. "It's brilliant for go and experience that fresh challenge. He didn't play enough games at Notts County although it was good for him being around a first team. He only played four full games. "So we're hoping he'll get some more football up there. The Scottish Championship is a good standard of football. We'll see how he's looking in a few months time. "There were a couple of enquiries from Conference clubs, and this one (Greenock Morton) came up through his agent and Jimmy quite fancied it." Nigel Clough told Jake Garner (interview on iFollow Stags): On the central defender he's trying to sign: “We think we’re getting closer. We’d hope to tie something up next week but it’s edging closer.” On injuries: "James Perch had 4 stitches above his eye, bandaged up. But it didn't cause him a problem for the rest of the game." Q: Hopefully beautiful weather tomorrow... Nigel Clough: "We'd rather it be cool with a bit of rain!" ---------------------- Mansfield "just another game" for Bradford City striker Cook thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, By Simon Parker ANDY Cook insists he has no score to settle in this weekend’s City reunion with Mansfield. Tuesday’s hat-trick hero left the Stags for Valley Parade after failing to nail down a regular starting slot. Cook made only eight starts in 20 league appearances for Mansfield last season before joining the Bantams initially on loan at the end of January. But the striker is adamant he has nothing to prove as he prepares to square up to his old club in a battle between two of the early League Two pacesetters. He said: “It’s gone now. I knew it was early in the season (going back to Mansfield) but it’s just another game for me. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19521306.mansfield-just-another-game-bradford-city-striker-cook/ “They’ve started well so it’s one we definitely want to win. That’s what we’re going there to do, no doubt about it. “I’m coming back with a set of lads that I’m comfortable with. We’re playing well and there’s no reason why we can’t get the three points and keep the good start going.” Cook’s hat-trick against Stevenage was the fifth of his career with a fourth different club - and second in the league. His last treble came for Walsall at Gillingham in January 2019. But he had never got one entirely in the first half before. “It was the perfect start,” he said. “I can’t complain, especially as we got the win. “It was playing on my mind a little bit that I hadn’t scored. But I want to contribute to the team and if that means not scoring goals but taking defenders out the game, then so be it. “But I was buzzing as soon as that first cross came in. I knew where it was going. “It felt like it was just chance after chance after that. I’m over the moon with it all but the most important thing was the win.” City are second after three games on seven points - goal difference ahead of their next opponents. Cook can sense a growing confidence within the squad. “We know what we want to do at the end of the year. We’re all in it together and we just play as a team. “There are no individuals. We all just want to win. “We scored four at home and we want to make the place as dominant as we can. “Last year I was playing with no fans. Saturday and Tuesday were unbelievable. “I had goosebumps coming out on Saturday because of the noise and it was the same the other night. It’s different class. “We need to keep the fans onside by putting in good performances. “We’ve proved we can get goals from all over the pitch. You saw Naz (Niall Canavan) get one at the end - everyone is going to chip in. “It’s unbelievable playing in a team like this when you know the chances are going to come.” Adams knows the impact that Cook can make on the team this season. He said: “Andy wants to do well for the football club and be the top goal-scorer. “We’ve worked extremely hard with him over the summer to make sure he's in as good conditioning as he can be.” ------------------- Team news: Bradford City wait on Angol hamstring problem thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, By Simon Parker CITY are waiting on whether Lee Angol can feature at Mansfield. The striker went off in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Stevenage with a hamstring problem. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/19524542.team-news-bradford-city-wait-angol-hamstring-problem/ Derek Adams said: “Lee has gone for a scan today so we’re just waiting for the results to come back. We’ll have to wait and see. “There’s no update on Levi (Sutton), Abo Eisa is going to be out four weeks and Oscar Threlkeld is still coming back. They are the only ones possibly out for Saturday.” The Bantams boss reaffirmed how pleased he was to send the fans home happy after the midweek win. “We played ever so well against a team that had been unbeaten this season,” he added. “It’s the first time for many a year that Bradford City have won their first two home games of the season, so the players have taken huge confidence from that.” --------------------- ADAMS CONFIDENT AHEAD OF ‘DIFFICULT’ MANSFIELD TEST https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2021/august/adams-confident-ahead-of-difficult-mansfield-test/ Derek Adams insists confidence is running throughout his City squad, though is expecting another “difficult” test when his side visit Mansfield Town on Saturday. City are set to be cheered on by over 1,600 travelling supporters at the One Call Stadium this weekend, with their hosts having also enjoyed an unbeaten start to the league campaign. Adams is aware of the threats the Stags will present, but feels the confidence of his players following Tuesday’s victory over Stevenage. He said: “It will be another difficult game, as Mansfield are again on good form and have not lost yet. “We go into it full of confidence, after a great victory the other night where we beat another side who had won both their opening two matches and not conceded a goal. “The goals we scored and the chances we created were very pleasing aspects. “It was an important game for us, and the first time we have won our first two home games of the season in several years. “We were very pleased, and know we have to continue the good work at Mansfield.” With what will be the Bantams’ first sold-out away end of the campaign - and since March 2020 - Adams is once again looking forward to being backed by a healthy contingent of City supporters in Nottinghamshire. This, he believes, will spur his players on even more, with them desperate to again put smiles on the fans’ faces, and ensure they are sent home happy. The Bantams boss added: “We are aware the tickets were not the cheapest, so to have more or less sold out our allocation and be taking over 1,600 supporters to Mansfield is fantastic. “Our fans will make it a brilliant atmosphere, and it is again our job to try and send them home happy - with something to cheer - as we did on Tuesday.” Tickets for Saturday can now only be secured from the box office at the Utilita Energy Stadium - with less than 30 remaining - and will be taken OFF SALE at 3.30PM TOMORROW (Friday August 20). ------------------- |
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