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Archived News from December 2021

CLOUGH, FORRESTER, DONCASTER REACTION
7th December 2021 0:14


That was as good as we’ve been for a while - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 4th December 2021

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes the second-half of his team’s excellent 3-2 triumph away at Doncaster in the Emirates FA Cup second round was the best the Stags have played all season.

Mansfield have now made it to the third round of the FA Cup in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1979-80 and 1980-81 after reaching the same stage of the competition last season.

The boss was pleased that his side were able to control the second-half of the game with some superb passing football.

“That second 45 [minutes] was as good as we’ve been for a while,” he said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/december/that-was-as-good-as-weve-been--manager/

“I thought the first-half we controlled. I thought the timings of our goals were very important.

“To get one back straight away [after the break] didn’t give them time to settle. It was a great flick at the near post by George Lapslie and Will Forrester got his first goal for us.”

George Lapslie’s slick match winner was the pick of the Mansfield goals at Keepmoat Stadium. The manager praised the Stags for taking the work on neat link-up play from the training ground to the game.

“Laps is in [a great] position for the second one but at last [an excellent passing move like] the third one has gone in.

“We score goals like that in training but at last we managed to put one in like that in a game. It should give us the confidence to play more like that and score more goals like that.

“The third goal was a brilliant, brilliant move.

“That’s what we do in training every day. We play one touch, two touch in and around the penalty area and everything is designed to get shots off and create chances.”

The Stags were backed by 3,292 supporters for the match. The boss felt the sold out away following helped Mansfield display free-flowing attacks in the second-half.

“Don’t underestimate the significance of that,” he said.

“We kicked towards them in the second-half and it makes a hell of a difference.

“I think we enjoyed it and they did [too] which is brilliant.

“We kept the ball [well in front of the supporters] and we nearly got a fourth ourselves. That was the idea, be nice and solid but you don’t stop looking for that fourth.”

Despite an encouraging performance from the Stags, the manager revealed he had to tackle a selection headache in the build-up to the game.

“We had a team picked yesterday, that changed at lunch time [yesterday] when we lost Oli Hawkins.”

When asked the reason for Hawkins’ exclusion from the matchday squad the manager said: “[He’s] Ill. The same as Faz Rawson.

“Faz Rawson had a bit of food poisoning or something on Wednesday and he’s just been wiped out.

“Oli Hawkins has got a bit of this flu that’s going around. He didn’t train Wednesday; he came in Friday but then woke up this morning not feeling great at all.

“With Stephen McLaughlin going off that was eight players we were without today. Five or six defenders and two of our main strikers in Oli Hawkins and Danny Johnson.”

After fine displays away from home in the first two Emirates FA Cup games this season, the manager hopes the Stags can host their fixture in the third round.

“We’re due a home draw so we’ll take anybody at home.

“It would be nice because Dagenham was the only home draw we’ve had in the last couple of seasons [in the Emirates FA Cup].

“It would be nice for our fans not having to go anywhere they could have a great day at One Call.”

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Nigel Clough told Craig Priest for Mansfield 103.2:

"Stephen McLaughlin will be a doubt for Tuesday night."

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Losing key players late on fails to stop Mansfield Town achieving FA Cup glory at Doncaster Rovers.
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 4th December 2021

Manager Nigel Clough said today's 3-2 FA Cup second round win at League One neighbours Doncaster Rovers was even more impressive considering Mansfield Town were missing even more key players.

Faz Rawson and Oli Hawkins were ruled out with illness while Stephen McLaughlin was injured in the first half.

But two goals from George Lapslie and one from Will Forrester saw Stags come from behind and then, after conceding a late second, hold out for a place in the prestigious third round draw.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/losing-key-players-late-on-fails-to-stop-mansfield-town-achieving-fa-cup-glory-at-doncaster-rovers-3482588

“With Stephen McLaughlin going off that was eight players we were without today - five or six defenders and our two main strikers,” said Clough.

“In that context it's even a better result.

“Faz Rawson got a bit of food poisoning or something on Wednesday that wiped him out.

“Oli Hawkins has got a bit of this flu that's going around. He didn't train Wednesday, came in Friday and did a little bit, and then woke up this morning not feeling great at all.

“We had a team picked yesterday. That changed at lunchtime when we lost Oli Hawkins. We started with a formation, changed it halfway through the first half and then again at half-time.”

On the game, itself, Clough added: “I am relieved as I was a bit frustrated at half-time with the way we had performed

“But from kick off in the second half, the second 45 was as good as we've been for a while

“I thought we controlled the first half completely but conceded an unbelievably poor goal. We then controlled the game without having any efforts on goal.

“We had a little chat at half-time and got things sorted in the second half.

“We lost Oli Hawkins about half 11 this morning, then to lose Macca at half-time we had to change it round a little bit

“It probably helped us as I don't think in normal circumstances we'd been using Jordan Bowery and George Lapslie as wing backs.”

Forrester's equaliser came just after half-time and Clough said: “Timings of goals are very important and to get one back straight away didn't give them time to settle.

“Don't underestimate the significance of us kicking towards our fans in the second half either - it makes a hell of a difference. I think they enjoyed it and we did too.”

Stags' third was a great team goal and Clough said: “That third goal is one that anyone who watches us training knows, we score goals like that in training quite often and at last we've put one in during a game.

“I hope it gives us the confidence to play more stuff like that and score more goals like that as it was a brilliant effort.”

Stags saw out the five added minutes without mishap and Clough said:

“We kept the ball and almost scored a fourth ourselves.

“Be nice and solid but don't stop looking for that fourth goal. We had one or two situations at their end and we generally kept the ball away from our goal.

“The only one disappointed in there is Nathan Bishop as the ratio of goals he is conceding at the moment to the number of shots he is having is incredibly harsh.

“I'm not sure how he's not keeping clean sheets. Whenever the opposition have an effort it's ending up in the back of our net.”

The third round draw is on Monday night and Clough added: “We are due a home draw so we will take anyone at home.

“You either want one that gives you a chance of getting through to the fourth round or you take the glory.

“It would be nice for our fans to be at home and not have to go anywhere and let's have a good day in January at the One Call.”

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Big week continues for in-form Mansfield Town with visit of strugglers Carlisle United
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas

With two crucial home league games to follow Saturday's sparkling FA Cup win at Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough emphasised what an important week this is in their season ahead of Tuesday night's visit of struggling Carlisle United.

But Clough said if his side reproduced Saturday's sparkling second half showing at the Keepmoat Stadium, few sides in League Two would be able to live with them as they chalked up their seventh win in eight outings.

“It's a big week with us with the FA Cup and then two home games in the league,” he said.

“It's got off to a good start with the win at Doncaster. But Carlisle will be a whole different prospect on Tuesday night.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/big-week-continues-for-in-form-mansfield-town-with-visit-of-strugglers-carlisle-united-3484394

“They are fighting for their lives - as we are still and have been for the last few weeks.

“But if we do what we did in the second half at Doncaster, you saw a League One side struggling to cope with it and a League Two side will be the same. We mustn't step off it.

“I just hope the confidence of Saturday can be carried over into Tuesday night.”

Mansfield will definitely be without the injured Kellan Gordon and suspended Oli Hawkins.

“We will see what we're like injury-wise and get a team on the pitch,” he said.

“Kellan's knee is a bit sore at the moment so we're not quite sure how long he will be.

“He is having a bit of rest time and we will see how it settles down in the next few weeks.

“We will hopefully have Faz Rawson back from illness.”

He continued: “Oli Hawkins will be suspended, unfortunately, because of his daft booking at Crawley last week.

“With us having defenders out he covers us back there as well so we were stretched at Doncaster on Saturday.

“We do miss him. Last week at Crawley he scored one and made one and he's been a bit of a talisman for us so far this season.

“But it gives opportunities to other players and that's the main thing.”

After three successive away games and four of the last five away from home, Clough is looking forward to getting back to the One Call Stadium.

“It seems like we've spent an awfully long time on the road over the last few weeks,” he said.

“It seems a long time since we last played at the One Call, so it will be nice to be back there for a couple of games and we will do everything we can to get three points and get us up towards that top half.”

If Rawson is available again, then Stoke loan defender Will Forrester will be hoping he did enough on Saturday to keep his place tomorrow, having netted the equaliser.

“Will was one we signed in the last part of the transfer window, but to compete, not just as cover,” said Clough.

“Unfortunately he has been injured for six to eight weeks, so it's only in the last few weeks we've really seen him.

“He's now started two or three games and looks competent and I think he's getting better.

“It's a big step up from U23 football to league football. But that's why he's here on loan - to get that experience.”

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Forrester ecstatic after cup victory
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 4th December 2021

Mansfield Town defender Will Forrester says ‘it was brilliant’ to score on his first FA Cup start for the Stags.

The 20-year-old headed Mansfield level three minutes after half-time, sparking a 3-2 comeback victory for the amber and blue over League One side Doncaster Rovers.

Forrester’s first Mansfield goal came following a well-taken corner.

“It was a flick on and I lost my man at the back post,” said Forrester. “It just came to me perfectly.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/december/forrester-ecstatic-after-cup-victory/

“I got a bit carried away [with] the celebration. [I] got in with the crowd [and] got a yellow card but it was all worth it.”

The on-loan Stoke City man felt that Mansfield were on top for most of the tie.

“It’s always going to be difficult coming to a [team in the] league above,” he said. “I know they’re struggling but they’ve still got good quality.

“I thought first half we were good but we eased off them a bit. Then [in the] second half I thought every single person was excellent.

“[We] fully deserved the win and [we] could have scored even more.

“I don’t think they were really troubling us. Obviously, they scored that second goal and we did well to see it out in the end.”

The centre-back has settled in well at the club and hopes the team can continue their strong run of form.

“The standard [in training] is really good,” Forrester said. “Before [this strong run of form] we were struggling to take it into games. Now it’s all coming together and we’ve still got more to give. We just need to kick on.

“I’m really enjoying my time here. I had a bit of a setback with my ankle [but] as soon as I came in the lads were all brilliant with me.

“It’s taken a bit of time to get my chance so I appreciate the gaffer for believing in me and hopefully I can do well for the team.

“We’ve won seven out of eight. We’ve got so much confidence and we’ve come here and shown what we can do. Hopefully, we can carry it on into the league and push back up [the table] where we belong.”

Forrester was impressed by Mansfield’s army of followers in South Yorkshire.

“The fans were amazing,” he said. “They’re the twelfth man.

“I think today they helped us win the game and all the way through the game they were fantastic.

“Even [during] the warm-up they kept singing their songs. They are really good and we appreciate them all.

“Give us one of the big ones [in the next round]. Anyone, we’ll take them on.

“Whoever we get we’ll go into the game full of confidence and hopefully we’ll get something from the game.”

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Day to remember for loanee Will Forrester as Mansfield Town march on in FA Cup
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 4th December 2021

Stoke City loanee Will Forrester had a day to remember as he netted his first goal for Mansfield Town in his first ever FA Cup tie in today's 3-2 win at League One Doncaster Rovers.

Forrester has only recently been in the squad at last after shaking off an ankle injury he had when signed, but loved every minute of today.

“It was a brilliant day. I have had to wait a long time to start games since I came here,” he smiled.

“I have had a tough few months out, but hopefully I can now kick on and play as many games as possible.

“To score my first goal for Mansfield in front of 3,300 fans, I can't explain it really. The fans were amazing. They were the 12th man and helped us win the game.

“They were fantastic throughout the game, even in the warm-up they were singing non-stop. We appreciated it.

“It was a flick on and I lost my man at the back post. It just came at me perfectly and I got carried away with the celebrations.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/day-to-remember-for-loanee-will-forrester-as-mansfield-town-march-on-in-fa-cup-3482612

“I got myself in with the crowd and got myself a yellow card but it was all worth it in the end.”

He added: “Our third goal has got to be up there with the goals of this round.

“We thoroughly deserved the win and could have probably scored a few more.

“It was always going to be difficult going away to a league above. They are struggling but they're still going to have good quality.

“But we've now won seven out of eight and we've got so much confidence.

“We've come here and shown what we can do and hopefully we can carry it on in the league and push back up where we belong.

“It's all coming together, though we have still got more to give.”

Forrester thanked boss Nigel Clough for the chance he has been given and vowed to keep his shirt.

“I am really enjoying my time here,” he said.

“Obviously I had a bit of a setback with my ankle which delayed things. But as soon as I came in the lads were all brilliant with me.

“I appreciate the gaffer for believing in me and hopefully I can now do well for the team and keep my place.”

Forester and the rest of the side will have a keen eye on Monday's night's third round draw and Forrester said: “Give us one of the big ones -United, City, anyone. That would be nice. Whoever we get we will go into it full of confidence.”

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Doncaster Rovers caretaker wants better fitness and more responsibility from his players after Mansfield Town loss
doncasterfreepress, By Liam Hoden, Saturday 4th December 2021

Gary McSheffrey insists his Doncaster Rovers players simply must get their fitness up to speed to handle the demands of the fixture list.

With only a small squad from which to select due to injuries and unavailability, the caretaker manager says those ready to play must be able to cope with plenty of game time.

And he felt that was not the case for some during his first game in charge as Rovers exited the FA Cup at the hands of Mansfield Town.

“They’ve had a tough week, playing Wednesday night and we’re thin on numbers,” McSheffrey said. “People are going to get a lot of game time and you’ve got to get up to speed and maybe improve your fitness.

“The big one in the second half for maybe a 20 minute period was they looked so much more energetic in the attacking half. It changed in midfield, they kept getting first contact onto any loose ball and we weren’t there to press so they could turn easily and get forward.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-caretaker-wants-better-fitness-and-more-responsibility-from-his-players-after-mansfield-town-loss-3482741

“It was just the energy level and the distances. We got penned back in a bit and the back three was dealing with quite a bit of stuff.

“But then we have to get onto the loose ball faster and track runners.

“I thought in the first half we came out well, we pressed them quite aggressively and forced errors and with a bit more cutting edge and quality in possession and decision making, we could have gone in at the break two or three up.

“Maybe if we had a bit more energy in the final third that maybe we could have gone in more than one up.”

Branden Horton netted after seven minutes to put Rovers ahead but while they controlled the first half, they could not add to their tally.

Mansfield scored just three minutes into the second half through William Forrester and never looked back, with George Lapslie bagging a quickfire brace to put them in command in front of more than 3,200 travelling fans.

McSheffrey felt his side should have been able to respond to the shift in momentum early in the second half much better and was disappointed in his more senior players.

“There comes a point where you have to take responsibility as individuals,” he said.

“We had three experienced defenders on the pitch initially. I had to move Tommy Rowe out because I thought it would make a difference keeping the ball when we cleared it or did try to play forward.

“But getting the message on is quite difficult. You can see the momentum but the last thing I want is for it to seem like I’m panicking.

“Will they work it out themselves? Will Tommy, Tom Anderson or Kyle Knoyle pull Lirak Hasani a bit deeper and be more solid, close the gaps?

“Sometimes they’ve got to work that out themselves. You’re asking them to do it but I don't think we fully committed to it.”

Rowe pulled a late goal back for Rovers but they could not find the equaliser and were dumped out of the cup at the second round stage.

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McSheffrey reflects on first game in charge
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2021/december/mcsheffrey-reflects-on-first-game-in-charge/

Gary McSheffrey spoke to the media after Rovers were beaten 3-2 by Mansfield Town in the Emirates FA Cup second round.

Three second-half goals did the damage for the Stags, with Rovers unable to capitalise on Branden Horton’s early opener.

On not getting through:

“Obviously we’re disappointed not to get the result. I thought in the first-half we came out well and pressed them aggressively.

“With a bit more quality and cutting edge in decision making I felt that we could have gone further ahead.

“They made a change in personnel and shape at half-time and that seemed to swing the momentum in their favour.”

On struggling to deal with Mansfield in the second-half:

“For 15 minutes we didn’t have an answer for them and you could see they were winning first contacts all over the pitch.

“Their midfield had more energy and we struggled to stop them from coming at us as the game went on.

“We tried to ride the storm and get up the pitch a bit quicker, I think we have to be better at managing games in certain periods.”

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@EmiratesFACup
This is the first time @mansfieldtownfc has made it to the third round in consecutive seasons since 1979-80 and 1980-81 Memo

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Rhys oates @OatesRhys
What a birthday this has been! Ive finally warmed up. The fans were class as usual Clapping hands sign onto Tuesday now Soccer ball

Nathan Bishop @natthb13
12th man for us today. What a fan base! Thank you
What a team, what a feeling! #UTS


John Radford @JRadfordMTFC
Magnificent victory... matched by a superb support from the 3,292 Stags’ fans.
Thank you for your outstanding backing today.
A proud chairman.
Bring on round three!
COYS!!!

David Sharpe @DavidSharpe91
Well that was an enjoyable 2nd half!! Well done to the lads, Nigel and staff. Some performance!! Supporters were incredible! A very lively away end! Now to look forward to the 3rd round draw!

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