Archived News from January 2022
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CLOUGH, McLAUGHLIN, MARK COOPER REACTION
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‘That’s as good as it gets’ - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 22nd January 2022 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes this afternoon’s heroic ten-man victory away at Barrow is ‘as good it gets’. The win equals a club record of seven successive league victories. Speaking to the media following the game, the boss praised the team’s character throughout the triumph in Cumbria. “[We won under] Unbelievable circumstances. We played nearly an hour with ten men,” the manager said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/january/thats-as-good-as-it-gets---manager/ “[ We showed] Outstanding effort. The closing down, restricting them to chances, to get another goal with ten men [was excellent]. “Probably under the circumstances that’s as good as it gets this season.” Despite having a man less, the gaffer stuck to his game plan of pressing the opposition in their own half. “We pressed them high up the pitch which with ten men I don’t think most teams do,” he said. “When they did come into our penalty area we dealt with it the vast majority of times. “I don’t think Nathan Bishop has had too much to do in the second period. “If you do go down to ten men, I think having the lead gives you an added impetus and something really to hold on to. “We felt that at half-time. “That five or ten minutes before half-time we got through and we were fine in the second half.” The manager was impressed with his side’s intensity as the Stags took the lead after just 40 seconds through Rhys Oates. “That’s won us the game as much as anything; scoring a goal after 40 odd seconds away from home. “We kick-off, go forward, win a corner and we score from that. “It gives everybody a lift and gives you something to hang on to.” "Bit unlucky with the goal we conceded. Faz Rawson said it hit him, then hit their lad, and crept in the corner off the post. Jordan Bowery impressed in several positions and scored Mansfield’s crucial third goal in front of the Stags’ supporters. “I think we’ve all had a wonderful day, you saw that at the end [with the squad celebrating with the travelling fans],” the boss said. “To equal the record of seven consecutive wins in the Football League in the way we did today made it extra special. “Jordan’s got up and put another goal in for us. “He’s [Bowery] played off the front man, right wing-back and then he’s got the all-important third goal. “He’s had a good day.” The Stags’ chief was left pleased at the team's ability to win in a different manner to the recent performances. “The belief you get from it being a different sort of victory today is quite significant. “To see out 50-60 minutes with ten men and score a goal [and] get the three points [was excellent]. “The season could have swung a little bit today [had the Stags not recorded such an impressive win]. “If we’d drawn 2-2 or even lost 3-2 today, which is more than possible, then the momentum could’ve swung today. “But, we’ve pulled it out the bag and we’ve kept the momentum going.” Recent January acquisition Lucas Akins made his Stags debut off the bench. The boss was impressed by his contribution. “I thought he was brilliant for the 15 minutes he came on,” said the manager. “It was just about being sensible. He held the ball up and looked a threat, everything we’ve seen Lucas do for many years. “It’s brilliant to have him at last, we’ve been trying for about a year. “Clubs don’t want to let good players go and with what he’s done for Burton, he’s been there seven and a half years “Averaging 40 games a season, player of the year, community player of the year - absolutely incredible. “He’s looking forward now to a fresh challenge.” -------------------- Clough also told iFollow Stags: On the players possibly going out and coming in: “We’re getting some young lads out still. I think there’s 10 gone out now out on loan, and a couple of permanents. "We’re looking at that number to get to 15 and maybe add one more new face next week.” Clough told Craig Priest for Mansfield 103.2: "Faz shouldn't have gone in for that challenge (for the second yellow card)". "You can do it (win with 10 men) if you're organised. You've still got to be positive. Stephen Quinn led the charge with Rhys Oates, closing them down on the edge of their own penalty area. Made it uncomfortable for them and difficult for them to create chances." "Lucas (Akins) is a real alternative to Rhys Oates. He hasn't got the pace that Rhys has, but he'll do the same sort of work, and the same sort of runs, and be a nuisance to defenders." "We might have Ollie Clarke back for next Saturday. That's what we need, a strong 18-19 for the last part of the season." "We're going to try to bring in another player this week, just on a short term contract to the end of the season. "And then we'll keep pressing on the loans: Ryan Burke, we'll try and get him out to get him some football. "Corey O'Keeffe is a close to a move. "Then we've just got to sort out what we're doing with Richard Nartey with his loan as well." -------------------- Nigel Clough delivers his verdict on Mansfield Town's 'pivotal' win at Barrow - and gives his view on Farrend Rawson red card chad.co.uk, Saturday 22nd January 2022 Proud Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough hailed his side’s 3-1 win at Barrow as ‘as good as it gets.’ Stags shrugged off Farrend Rawson’s 39th minute red-card to secure a record-equalling seventh straight league wins in the Football League. One-time Barrow loanee Jordan Bowery headed a match clincher after 67 minutes, adding to Rhys Oates’ opener after 40 seconds and Stephen McLaughlin’s latest goal after 25 minutes. “To go down to ten men for nearly an hour and win like that is a staggering effort,” Clough said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-clough-delivers-his-verdict-on-mansfield-towns-pivotal-win-at-barrow-and-gives-his-view-on-farrend-rawson-red-card-3538044 “The organisation, the closing down and restricting their chances and getting another goal, is as good as it gets this season under the circumstances. “We pressed them high up the pitch, which most teams don't do with ten men. We dealt with them when they got into our third and Nathan Bishop didn’t have much to do. “The work-rate was brilliant. We were a bit worried about getting through to half-time when we saw five minutes injury time go up. “We reorganised and we were fine in the second half. Scoring a goal after 40 seconds away from home gave us all a lift and something to hang on to.” Clough also believes it could prove to be a pivotal victory over the course of the season and a win that can breed even more confidence. “This was a different type of victory and the extra belief you can get from it can be significant,” he said. “The season and the momentum could have swung a bit today if we had lost. It was pivotal today and I was more worried about this game than Forest Green.” The Stags boss also felt Rawson had been hard done to by the referee. “I have no problem with the second yellow card given to Faz but the first one was unbelievably harsh,” said Clough. “We didn’t even think it was a foul, never mind a yellow. He never touched the striker and the ref got it wrong. "Even the centre forward said to him you never touched me, I bought that one. “It didn't affect the result, but only because of our hard work. To equal the record in the way we did today made it extra special.” ------------------------- We showed resilience to win - McLaughlin mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 22nd January 2022 Left back Stephen McLaughlin says that defensive resilience was key for Mansfield to overcome a ‘tough task’ and defeat Barrow 1-3, despite being reduced to ten men. Mansfield’s defence remained resolute in the key stages of the Sky Bet League Two affair despite Stags' centre back Farrend Rawson being dismissed before half-time. McLaughlin had coolly netted in the 25th minute to put Mansfield 1-2 ahead. That was before the Irishman guided a flawless free-kick delivery onto the head of Jordan Bowery to seal the points for Stags on 68 minutes. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/january/we-showed-resilience-to-win---mclaughlin/ The 31-year-old credited Mansfield’s magnificent performance to gain maximum points from a difficult fixture. “That [win is] massive especially [with] going down to ten men,” he said. “It’s a very good result for us. “We knew it was going to be a tough task. This is a very difficult place to come, and to play the way that we did [was] a credit to everyone. “We knew that set pieces were going to be a big problem for them. We just had to get the delivery right and get someone on the end of it. “Sometimes free kicks can be floated into the right area. I fed it into the back stick area [and] took the ‘keeper out of it and it was a great header from him [Bowery]. “We knew it was going to be tough for them to break us down because we’re such a unit and we defend very well. “Bish [Nathan Bishop] I don’t think had a big save to make in the end. We defended well [and] we made it very, very difficult for them.” McLaughlin also contributed to Mansfield’s cause in attack as well as in defence. The full-back riffled home a knock down from John-Joe O’Toole on 25 minutes to eye-catchingly notch Stags back in front. “It [the ball] came off JJ’s head,” he said. “He came to the front post and there was a flick on, and I wasn’t picked up. I had all the time on the world. “I was just concerned on keeping it down and it slid into the side of the net. I just needed to get good contact on it, that was the main thing.” Mansfield’s number three alluded to the immense role played by the 358 travelling Stags fans in the team’s heroic victory. “They [the fans] went all the way to Forest Green in good numbers too, for the game to be called off after four minutes,” said McLaughlin. “Then [for them] to travel here and bring that crowd again it’s unbelievable. “I haven’t had that kind of following [before in my career]. “We’re ever so grateful [for it], every one of us. It really lifts us for the game when we hear it. It gives [us] that extra yard. We appreciate it. “[They] give us something to fight for, we’ve got to send them home happy.” -------------------- Stephen McLaughlin praises Mansfield Town's character after battling win at Barrow. chad.co.uk, Saturday 22nd January 2022 Goalscorer Stephen McLaughlin praised the character on show after ten man Mansfield’s 3-1 win at Barrow. It gave Stags a record equalling seven successive football league wins in the process to further bolster their promotion charge. They did it the hard way after Farrend Rawson saw red in the 39th minute with Mansfield already 2-1 up. Jordan Bowery then struck midway through the second half to seal the deal. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stephen-mclaughlin-praises-mansfield-towns-character-after-battling-win-at-barrow-3538070 “It is some achievement to have equalled the record,” he said. “That is football and it is some run that we are on. “It shows the character in the squad. We are together as a group and we knew it would be tough for them to break us down because we are a tight unit. We changed our shape, but we were not going to just sit in for the whole second half “We wanted another goal and we knew set pieces would be a problem for them. “We were really looking forward to the Forest Green game so it was good to play today. “We knew it would be tough and to play how we did was a credit to everyone. We had to work hard to stop them from creating chances. “We stayed in our shape and we did it very well. When it came into our box we headed it clear, we pressed them, we squeezed the pitch and we made it very difficult for them.” “It is a massive result for us. It is a very good result for us, but it is done now and we are on to the next. “We are taking it game by game and not getting too far ahead of ourselves.” -------------------- Cooper blasts Barrow AFC's 'horrendous defending' in Mansfield Town defeat nwemail.co.uk Fuming Barrow AFC boss Mark Cooper slammed his side’s lack of desire in their 3-1 defeat to in-form Mansfield Town. The Bluebirds had seemingly turned the corner after a positive performance in their heartbreaking nine-goal thriller FA Cup third round defeat at Barnsley and a first away league win since October at Colchester United. But ten-man Mansfield secured an impressive seventh straight league win thanks to goals from Rhys Oates, Stephen McLaughlin and Jordan Bowery at Holker Street. James Jones levelled for the hosts in the first half and Farrend Rawson was sent off with 51 minutes left, with the visitors 2-1 up. But it wasn’t enough for Barrow, who remained seven points above the relegation zone. And it was the manner in which Barrow conceded which infuriated the manager. Angry Cooper said: “You can’t win a game of football if you concede three free headers in your own box from set pieces. It makes the game impossible to win because obviously you have to score four goals. “You have to have a want and a desire to want to stick your head on the ball. https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19869712.cooper-blasts-barrow-afcs--horrendous-defending-mansfield-town-defeat/ “The worrying thing for me is we have defenders who are out of contract in the summer so they’ve either signed pre contracts somewhere else of aren’t bothered about staying. “If you don’t and you give the opposition a leg up it becomes a difficult afternoon and that’s what we did. “Your centre halves have got to head the ball that’s predominantly their job. They have to be big and strong and head it. “They know from when they are eight or nine years old you have to keep heading the ball. “It’s League Two; the ball’s going to keep coming in your box. There’s nothing clever about it. “All three goals are balls delivered into the box and their forwards had more desire to win the ball. It’s as simple as that and why we lost the game.” “It’s frustrating for me because we put some good performances together,” added Cooper. “We kept crossing it against the biggest centre halves in the league. “It’s a culmination of gifting them goals and being behind. “If we defend like that I’ll be frightened to death. “The difference between the two teams was one set of defenders wanted to head the ball and the other didn’t. It’s clear and simple. “I don’t like singling out players and I’ve stuck by them all season, but that defensively was horrendous.” ----------------------- Barrow boss says team did not have desire to win https://cumbriacrack.com/2022/01/22/barrow-boss-says-team-did-not-have-desire-to-win/ Barrow boss Mark Cooper didn’t mince his words after his side had lost 3-1 at home to Mansfield Town. “It was a lack of desire by our centre-backs. They just didn’t want to head the ball enough and their forwards did. “Three goals from set-pieces were all down to us not having enough desire where it mattered,” he said. ------------------- John Radford A tremendous showing of character, attitude and guile to equal a club record of seven consecutive league victories. What a win! The #Stags are on the up!!! COYS!!! David Sharpe @DavidSharpe91 Immense character from the boys!! Seven straight league wins and 30 points taken from a possible 33. Incredible!! #Stags Yellow circleBlue circle Rhys oates @OatesRhys Massive win yesterday! Great battle from the whole team and 7 wins on the bounce always nice to get another goal aswell Marek Stech @Stechy100 Massive win yesterday,brilliant performance from the boys,7 straight wins in the row equal a club record Ollie Banks @obanks_14 Time to stick together now, not good enough today at all. Let’s go and put things right on Tuesday! ---------------- |
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