Archived News from September 2021
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ANDY GARNER: GORDON AND STIRK PICK UP INJURIES
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Aim to build on ‘really big point’ - coach
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 21st September 2021 Mansfield Town are determined to build on Saturday’s ‘really big point’ at home to Rochdale, when they visit high-fliers Leyton Orient this weekend, first team coach Andy Garner said today. The 55-year-old revealed at a news conference this afternoon that Stags’ depleted squad are now waiting on fresh injury news, with defender Kellan Gordon and midfielder Ryan Stirk both set to for scans this week. The duo join James Perch, Richard Nartey, Will Forrester and Stephen Quinn on the current list of absentees for the Stags. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/september/andy-garner-pre-orient/ “Kel Gordon has gone for a scan as he has a little bit of a knee problem. We’re waiting on results of that,” he told iFollow Stags. “Stirky [Ryan Stirk] got a bit of a twist on his ankle when he came on [against Rochdale]. Again, we’re awaiting results of a scan on that one. “Until we know [the results], we’ll [have to wait to] see what their outcomes are. They’re obviously a doubt for Saturday. “We’re down to the bare numbers, but we’ve already picked a side [for Leyton Orient game]. We have a side to go out there and one capable of getting something. “It probably just leaves us a little bit short on the bench and in numbers. We don’t want any more injuries, that is for sure.” Despite the current injury list, Garner says Stags will take the positives from a ‘really big point’ against Rochdale ahead of Saturday’s match at second-placed Leyton Orient. “There’s not been too much wrong [with the performances], it’s just the mistakes [that are costing us]. We made one [mistake against Rochdale] and we’ve been punished again,” he added. “That’s how it is at the moment, and we can’t do anything about it until we stop making mistakes. “[We had a] great start, starting with two wins. It could’ve been three at Colchester, so it was a fantastic start for us. “Then, all of a sudden, it’s gone a bit pear-shaped, which I don’t think we expected. But it’s happened. Losing Perchy [James Perch] has been a massive reason for that. “We managed to get the point [against Rochdale] and we take the positives out of it. It stops the run of bad results for us, so we can now have a good week and look forward to Saturday. “The pleasing thing for me on Saturday was the crowd, I thought they were fantastic. I thought they got behind us really well on Saturday and when we got the goal, there was only team I thought were going to win it. “The fans played a massive part on Saturday and the staff want to thank them for that, as we’re hoping that it’s a really big point for us.” Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash in the capital, Garner added: “Leyton Orient are on a good run at the moment, so it will be a hard game, but we keep telling the players that there is nothing to fear. “We just want to play our game, work as hard as we possibly can and see what happens. “They [Leyton Orient] are a team playing with confidence and are second in the league. But he [Kenny Jackett, Orient manager] will know we’re no pushovers. “We’ll be ready and we’ll do everything we possibly can to get a result. We have great belief in this squad and we’re trying our very best in awkward circumstances, in terms of players getting injured.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Andy Garner’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------------------------- Andy Garner says Mansfield Town are facing a test of character chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Tuesday 21st September 2021 Andy Garner believes Mansfield Town’s depleted squad is currently facing a massive test of character. Defender James Perch was ruled out for the season after fracturing his skull to add to the already injured Will Forrester and Richard Nartey on the sidelines. It got even worse for Stags this week when it was revealed Kellan Gordon (knee injury) and Ryan Stirk (twisted ankle) are currently awaiting the results of scans. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/andy-garner-says-mansfield-town-are-facing-a-test-of-character-3391332 “We are threadbare at the moment in terms of players, but there is no sitting around sulking about it,” the Stags first team coach said. “We feel losing (James) Perchy is a massive reason for the poor run. We have brought people in on loan and they get injured, so it's one of those things you have to deal with. “It is a test of the squad’s character, but it was a test on Saturday, when you’ve lost four in a row and go 1-0 down at home.” Garner now hopes the point earned against Rochdale can act as a catalyst for a better run of results. “Confidence has been low, there is no doubt, but hopefully the point on Saturday changes things for us,” he added. “We got a point and we take the positives out of it. It stops the run of bad results for us and we can look forward to the weekend now. “What has happened is gone now and this can be a good point if we can build on it. “We made one mistake and got punished against Rochdale, that is how it is at the moment and we can't do anything about it until we stop making mistakes. “The encouraging thing was we got the goal back and were not far off winning the game.” But Garner knows Stags must be on their game if they are to get a positive result at Leyton Orient this weekend. He added: “We are down to the bare bones but we have already picked a side to go out there and a side capable of getting something at Orient. “It just leaves us short on the benchand in numbers. We have to be careful this week, but we will have a team ready to go. “Orient are a team growing in confidence like we were at the beginning of the season - they are on a good run but they will know that we will give them a hard game. “It will be a hard game, but there is nothing to fear. We won't go there frightened no matter what the squad is and we will go and play our own game and see what happens. “We will make sure we are ready to go at 3pm and will try everything we can to get the three points.” ---------------------- Stags working harder than ever - defender mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 21st September 2021 Defender Farrend Rawson says the Stags are ‘working harder and running harder’ as they target an improvement on recent results. The former Forest Green Rovers man spoke in Tuesday afternoon’s news conference at The RH Academy, days after his encouraging display at home to Rochdale. The 25-year-old says that Mansfield are ‘learning’ as the season progresses, while discussing the strong team spirit within the Stags’ camp. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/september/faz-pre-orient/ “We’ve had some good games and some bad games,” he said, reflecting on the season so far. “We’re learning loads of things. We’ve brought in quite a few players and we’re all gelling. “We have a good team spirit here and everyone is behind each other. We’ve had a lot of good chances [in our matches], but it’s been individual errors or a little bit of luck that’s costing us. “I’ve been in a lot of changing rooms and the lads here are class. We’re all behind each other. If you go on a little run like we have, confidence can be a little low, but if you watched training, you wouldn’t be able to tell. We’re working harder and running harder. “We’re supporting each other and in times like these, that’s how teams grow. We have to roll our sleeves up as we have good players here. “It doesn’t help losing certain people like James Perch, but at the end of the day, we can’t look for excuses. We have to work hard and make it right.” Looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture away at high-flying Leyton Orient, Rawson says Mansfield will have to ‘show a bit of grit’ to get a result in the capital. “We [want to] concentrate on ourselves,” he explained to iFollow Stags. “I think that’s the most important thing. If we get too muddled up about the opposition, we can forget about our own game. “We’re trying to build something, so it’s about us. We have the utmost respect for them [Leyton Orient], but we’re going to go out there and try to play our football. “We’ve had some tough tests so far [this season]. There are no easy games and they [Orient] have scored a lot of goals, so we’ll have to be on high alert. “We’ll have to be switched on, talking, commanding, and show a bit of grit. I have no doubt that we will and we’re all looking forward to it.” Reflecting on a promising display at the heart of the Mansfield defence last time out - a 1-1 draw against Rochdale at One Call Stadium - Rawson revealed that he went ‘back to basics’ for the game. “My job is to defend and we conceded a goal [against Rochdale] so I’m not too happy about that. I thought we could’ve kept a clean sheet and we’re working hard towards that. “On a personal note, I’m always learning and I’m enjoying my football. Is it my best performance [of the season]? I’ll leave that for people to decide and concentrate on my job. “When you’re going through a tough patch and lost a couple in a row, nerves and anxiety can creep in. So, when that happens, the best thing you can do is go back to basics. “Do the basics right, and once you can do that, you can build your confidence back up. Saturday was all about doing the basics; scrapping and fighting to try and get a result to stop the rot.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Farrend’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------------- Faz Rawson confident Mansfield Town will start to deliver chad.co.uk, Tuesday, 21st September 2021 Stags defender Faz Rawson is confident the results will start to come. Mansfield picked up a point at home to Rochdale last time out to snap a five game losing streak in all competitions. It left Rawson confident that there were enough positives in the 1-1 draw to believe a change in fortunes are just around the corner. “We are learning and have a really good team spirit,” he said. “The manager is getting his method across and we are playing well in a lot of games. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/faz-rawson-confident-mansfield-town-will-start-to-deliver-3391164 “It will take time to gel, but the performances are always high and I feel the results will follow. “The results have not matched the performances. We have performed pretty well in most games and it has been bad luck or individual errors that are costing us. “It doesn't help losing certain people like James Perch, but we have to work hard and make it right. “The morale in the group is always amazing, the lads are class and are all behind each other. “If you go on a run like we have then confidence is a bit lower and you can question things. You look at yourself in the mirror at times, but that is not a bad thing. “If you watch training you wouldn’t be able to tell. We are all working hard and running hard, we are getting right behind each other. “It’s moments like that where teams grow and it's a matter of time. We have got good enough players here. We are coming good.” Stags will face one of their toughest tests to date on Saturday when they travel to face a second-placed Leyton Orient side boasting the league’s joint top marksman in Harry Smith. But, while aware of the dangers that await, Rawson knows Stags must simply focus on their own game. “Personally I never concentrate on the opponents too much,” he said. “We need to take care of ourselves, if we play well the rest takes care of itself. “(Harry) Smith is a big lad and a handful, the whole back four will need to be alert when he is around and he will need special attention. “But if we get too worried about the opposition we forget about our own game, it's about us not them. “We have the utmost respect for them, but we will go out and play our football. We have had some tough tests so far and played good teams. “There are no easy games. Orient have scored a lot and we will have to be switched on - talking, commanding and showing grit. I have no doubt that we will. “We are all working hard and are looking forward to it.” ------------------------------ Leyton Orient must be wary of Mansfield Town's strike force by Jacob Ranson, September 21, 2021 https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/sport/leyton-orient-v-mansfield-town-match-preview-8336112 Leyton Orient must be wary of Mansfield Town’s strike force of Danny Johnson and Ollie Hawkins this weekend. The O’s will play host to the Stags at the Breyer Group Stadium on Saturday as they look to continue building momentum. Kenny Jackett’s side currently sit second in League Two after eight games while Mansfield sit 20th. Assistant manager Joe Gallen said: “I do know he (Danny Johnson) had a particularly good spell here last year, scoring goals up front in a 4-3-3 formation as the number nine, he is one that we will respect and have to look after in terms of him not scoring against his old club. “There is another player called Ollie Hawkins, we had at a previous club, they’re a very combination. Very good pair with a very good balance between the pair of them. “We’re going to have to work very hard in order to try shut them out next week.” Defender Dan Happe could be a doubt depending how things go this week but Shadrach Ogie is ready to step in if called upon. “I don’t quite know what the injury was. He has been feeling his groin on and off now for a couple of weeks, so I'm wondering if that has flared up. If Dan Happe is not fit, we have an able replacement in Shadrach Ogie, who has made a really good start to the season as Dan has. “We’ve got some strength and depth, so if one player isn’t quite right, we should have someone to step in and fill his boots.” Gallen also provided an injury update on Adam Thompson and Paul Smyth. “Adam Thompson is outside running and is in the process of getting back into training with the group. He’s not there yet, I'm sure he’ll have another week outside, and then hopefully he’ll be back out training with us regularly. “Paul Smyth is making very good progress, we’re looking forward to getting Paul back out there, and he’s close to joining in with the group. “It could be this week, it might be the end of this week. We’re looking forward to getting Paul back in the mix, but he’s got to work very hard in order to get into the team.” --------------------------- |
Latest | September 2021