Archived News from February 2022
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CLOUGH, HAWKINS, JOEY BARTON REACTION
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Defending was ‘best’ part of performance - boss
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 12th February 2022 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes his side’s defending was the ‘best part of our game’ in the 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers this afternoon. The boss’ team have now extended their excellent run of form in the league to 11 games without defeat. Speaking to iFollow Stags, the manager expressed his pride at the way his side limited Rovers to little chances in the game. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/february/defending-was-best-part-of-performance---boss/ “I thought that was the best part of our game today, the defending,” he said. “I thought Oli Hawkins especially [was impressive], every ball into our box we dealt with. “Despite the pressure they’ve put us under, I don’t think Nathan Bishop has had a shot [to save].” "The back four did well, and we went to a back five in the last 20 minutes. The result is the Stags’ third clean sheet in four matches and just their second match without scoring in 14 outings. “In the end, [we’re] very pleased [with a point]. “[We were] Frustrated with the first-half because we dominated the game and didn’t do enough to go and get a goal in that time. “The game never lasts that way or stays the same after half-time. “They’ve [Bristol Rovers] come out [for the second-half] and all of a sudden put us under pressure far more than the first 45 minutes and it was a different game. “That’s why we were a little bit upset at half-time that we hadn’t done more in the first-half. “This is the next stage now for the players to sense when there’s a game there for the taking, for the winning. “Don’t give a team the opportunity to come back into it. “If you get a goal or two [then] they can have their spell with our two goal lead and we’ll defend accordingly.” The gaffer also stated that he expected more in the final third: “It was difficult conditions again. [The] Wind is blowing around which isn’t helping, but I thought our attacking play was poor in and around the penalty area. “Even the likes of Jamie Murphy looked a yard off it today. “Oatesy, I think if he’s fresh [then] he goes past people and goes clear a couple of times today, but he got caught by the defenders. “We weren’t quite at it. "We started with a three up there with Jordan and Oates and Jamie Murphy just off them. We didn't enough from those 3 in terms of an end product. "Quinny looked a bit tired today. “After the effort that’s gone in on Tuesday, [we made] a couple of changes. “It just shows the need that when we get to March and April and we get to Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday - we’ll change four or five.” The contest saw a debut for new loan signing Matty Longstaff. “I thought he did alright. It’s a completely different game for him, coming here from Newcastle,” said the Stags’ chief. “He keeps it [the ball] between him and the centre-halves and everything. “We’re trying to encourage him to be a little bit more positive and proactive and go and make something happen for us. “We’re very pleased with his physical output, certainly. “I thought he competed all the way through [the contest]. “It’s much, much tougher sometimes playing lower down [in the divisions].” The manager also provided an update on the absence of full-back Stephen McLaughlin. “He got a bang on the head [in the win over Colchester in midweek]. “He felt a bit of a headache afterwards. We don’t take chances on anything like that and we missed him today. “We missed his natural left foot and his quality. “Lucas filled in there and did what he could but he felt a little bit tired after the other night as well. That (Tuesday) was his first start since early December.” Striker Rhys Oates was withdrawn due to injury, the boss revealed it’s too early to give a timescale on his return. “He felt his thigh I think,” he said. “He was sprinting in this corner and felt it. “We’re not quite sure yet [the seriousness of the injury] but hopefully it’s not too serious.” "We've got a game on Monday night in the Premier League Cup, we can play 3 over-age players, so Danny (Johnson) will have a run, Faz Rawson, we'll see how Kieran Wallace is because he's not quite 100% yet. Watch the manager's interview in full now by clicking here. -------------------------- Nigel Clough told Craig Priest for Mansfield 103.2 about McLaughlin: "Hopefully he'll be back training by the middle of the week ready for next Saturday." -------------------- Nigel Clough told Martin Shaw, about the penalty claim: “I think he (Collins) put his leg into JJ (O’Toole), but I wasn’t 100% sure as I was a long way away, but the referee was very close to it. I think it was one of those where JJ stopped and he (Collins) went into him. I’d like to see it back. We had enough decisions go against in the first half of the season and we’re still due a few!” ------------------- Rovers’ point ‘important’, declares defender mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 12th February 2022 Mansfield Town centre-back Oli Hawkins says the team’s hard-fought point away to Bristol Rovers was an ‘important’ one as it preserves Stags’ unbeaten run and as importantly their ‘momentum’. Hawkins, who can also play up front, was deployed at the heart of Mansfield’s defence, who kept Rovers’ attacking players at bay to seal out a 0-0 draw for the Stags. The ex-Ipswich player has been fielded at centre back for much of the season and the result at The Memorial Stadium registered a third clean sheet for the Amber and Blue in four matches. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/february/rovers-point-important-declares-defender/ The number 12 believes Mansfield’s draw will be reflected on as valuable. “[It was] an important point from a tough place to come and a clean sheet,” he said. “We want to win these games at any cost but we’ll probably look back on it and say it’s a good draw. “We had a lot of possession [in the] first half. I think it was a game of two halves. The second half we had to dig in. We had a few errors in the first five minutes we had to overcome, but the rest of the half we [did] well and [we] didn’t really give them a sniff [of goal]. “We defended well [and] kept a clean sheet. The positive is [that it is] no loss and a clean sheet.” On what Mansfield’s incredible unbeaten run is down to, Hawkins said: “Just the togetherness of everyone, the manager, the staff, the players. “Everyone is happy. Everyone is looking forward to coming in and training, and [we’re] looking forward to the games. “The way everything is run [here] is brilliant and that’s the key to it.” Throughout Mansfield’s 11-game unbeaten run in the league, Hawkins has found great success in his role at centre back. The 29-year-old was initially brought into the club as a striker, but is relishing his deployment in defence. “I came here as a striker and a striker is still in my blood, but I’m really enjoying centre half at the moment,” Hawkins told iFollow Stags. “I’m looking forward to each game to try and keep a clean sheet and defend as well as I can to become a better centre half. “I’m hoping I can keep playing well there and the team wins so we can get promoted.” In order to maximise Mansfield’s chance of promotion, Hawkins believes the team need to replicate their approach to home matches in their upcoming away fixtures. Previewing Stags’ clash at Newport next week, the Londoner said: “We’ve just got to do the same as we do at home.” “We’ve got to be on the front foot early, take our chances, get the lead and then defend well when we need to. “We know our home ground is a fortress with the fans and the way we play. We’re confident enough to know we aren’t going to lose many at home. “Our away form isn’t bad either, we don’t lose many. We need to just keep taking our chances when they come and we’ll have enough to win these games. “We just want to try and stay unbeaten, so winning and drawing is key for us at the moment. We’ve got to keep this momentum [going].” Watch the defender's interview in full now by clicking here. ---------------------- Joey Barton gives verdict on crucial penalty call in Bristol Rovers' draw with Mansfield Town bristolpost.co.uk, By Sam Frost, Bristol Rovers reporter, 12 FEB 2022 Joey Barton believes Bristol Rovers were denied a "stonewall penalty" in the 0-0 draw against Mansfield Town at the Mem on Saturday. After struggling against a stiff wind in the first half, the Gas surged into life after the break and enjoyed a spell of dominance until Aaron Collins appeared to be tripped by John-Joe O'Toole just after the hour. Despite certain appeals from Barton's players and the Gasheads on the terraces, referee John Busby booked Collins for perceived simulation - a decision that perplexed the Rovers boss. Mansfield were the division's form side ahead of the game, going unbeaten in 10 games, and they held on for a point despite being on the back foot in the second period. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joey-barton-gives-verdict-crucial-6649820 Barton believes the referee's call defined the afternoon. "It’s a stonewall penalty," he said. "We’ve watched officials Tuesday night miss a ball being three yards over the line for the opposition, so nothing that I see at this level surprises me anymore. "I think he’s the only man in the stadium who doesn’t think that’s a penalty. I think even every person involved with Mansfield knows that’s a penalty. "It's disappointing because it would have been a really good three points, three points I felt we deserved on the balance of play in the second half. "I felt we were the side pushing on and really trying to win it, but in tight games against teams that are closely matched, you’re relying on - if there is a big call to be made - the ref has to get it right. If he’d have done that, we’d have won the game today. "I’m disappointed, but it’s another point on the board and we have to dust ourselves down and go again Tuesday." Rovers remained in 14th place in League Two and 10 points adrift of the play-off places after the draw. Mansfield occupy sixth position. After the Collins incident, Rovers lost their head of steam with Mansfield's experience and game management skills taking the sting out of the crowd and the contest. "For us, maybe it was that refereeing decision (affected our momentum)", Barton added. "You get a penalty there and you score to go 1-0 up - which should’ve done because it’s a stonewaller - then the fans get behind you and you push on for a second and a third goal. The League Two season is in full swing for Joey Barton and Bristol Rovers and you won't miss a beat with our free newsletter. All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Gas, delivered straight to your inbox, every day at 12:00. It's completely free and you can sign up HERE "You have to give them (Mansfield) credit. They have players who know how to run the clock down with the amount of fouls they bought. Barton said he was "puzzled" by Mr Busby's explanation of the decision at full time. "I’ve watched the replay back and what he thinks he’s seen, he hasn’t seen because what he described to me hasn’t happened. "What am I going to get out of it now? What’s the point? I’m sick of wasting energy shouting at officials, I’ve done enough of that on the sideline there trying to influence it. "We’ve got to do more and take it away from the officials. We’ve got to keep pushing on and create more opportunities and take the game out of the officials’ hands. "We’ve just got to be better." ----------------------- Mansfield Town used the ‘dark arts’ well to gain point says Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton chad.co.uk Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton believes his side were denied a stonewall penalty and that Mansfield Town's experienced players used the 'dark arts' of football well to leave the Memorial Ground with a point in Saturday's 0-0 draw. “You get a penalty there and you score to go 1-0 up - which we should’ve done because it’s a stonewaller - then the fans get behind you and you push on for a second and a third goal,” he said. “Second half, the players really fed the terraces and the terraces responded, which created that wave of pressure. “But you have to give Mansfield credit. They have players who know how to run the clock down, and in the first half, the amount of fouls they bought - kicked it, screamed and dived on the floor. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stags-used-the-dark-arts-of-football-well-joey-barton-3567012 “I said to our lads, and maybe that’s the reason we’ve got two 19-year-olds and two 20-year-olds, they are the dark arts that you have to learn. “Using the referee, using someone overcommitting to a challenge to buy a foul and relieve the pressure. “It’s part of our journey and we’ve got to learn to manage the game out when we’re under pressure like Mansfield did when they were under pressure because they were on the ropes. “But their experience and wily old foxes in there knew how to buy a foul, knew how to slow it down, knew how to get 30 yards extra when they had a throw-in. “Again, it’s all part of our learning. If we get pressure, we’ve got to keep that pressure on and turn that pressure into points, but I’m really pleased with the second half. “I thought the response was good and if the official made the decision he had to make, we would have won the game.” Barton and his players were left incensed when referee John Bushby waved away the huge shouts for a penalty. Aaron Collins went down inside the box and to make matters worse he was controversially booked for diving. “It’s a stonewall penalty. We’ve watched officials Tuesday night miss a ball being three yards over the line for the opposition, so nothing that I see at this level surprises me any more,” said Barton. “I think he’s the only man in the stadium who doesn’t think that’s a penalty. I think even every person involved with Mansfield knows that’s a penalty. “I spoke to the referee and his explanation puzzled me. I’ve watched the replay back and what he thinks he’s seen, he hasn’t seen because what he described to me hasn’t happened. “We’ve got to do more and take it away from the officials. We’ve got to keep pushing on and create more opportunities and take the game out of the officials’ hands. We’ve just got to be better. “So, it's disappointing because it would have been a really good three points, three points I felt we deserved on the balance of play in the second half. “I felt we were the side pushing on and really trying to win it. I know there were some moments but apart from that no real clear-cut moments. “But in tight games against teams that are closely matched, you’re relying on, if there is a big call to be made, the ref has to get it right. If he’d have done that, we’d have won the game today. “I’m disappointed, but it’s another point on the board and we have to dust ourselves down and go again Tuesday. He added: “They’re a lot more experienced than us and they’ve got that winning formula from the run they’ve been on. “I think they looked like the team who were really happy with a point here today. Obviously, it keeps them in the ascendency. “We knew it was going to be tricky and to be fair they kept us scrapping and pushed back until half time. But we knew in the second half we’d improve and I thought right across the board the lads were superb. “The conditions in the first half contributed to it being a game of two halves.” ------------------- |
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