Archived News from April 2022
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CLOUGH AND OATES ON OLDHAM WIN &PREVIEW HARTLEPOOL
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Nothing else matters but results now, says Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough as Stags begin last 10 games countdown at Hartlepool United
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Monday 28th March 2022 As promotion-chasing Mansfield Town begin their final countdown of 10 games at Hartlepool United tomorrow night, boss Nigel Clough said results are all that matters now. Stags are a single point outside the players and only four points off the automatic spots with three games in hand and Clough said: “It is one of our games in hand so it's very important we get something - a point even. “It puts you on the same points as the play-off teams with a game in hand still. If we could get another win, then brilliant, but we certainly want to avoid defeat. “They have to focus individually and as a team. No matter what's happened or how tired we feel, with 10 unbelievably important games, 15 hours of football, we just have to raise it for that time we are out on the pitch. read more at https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nothing-else-matters-but-results-now-says-mansfield-town-boss-nigel-clough-as-stags-begin-last-10-games-countdown-at-hartlepool-united-3630534 “We are not bothered about training now for the last five or six weeks of the season. Nothing else matters, just those 10 games. “There will be one or two carrying knocks, but you have to put it to the back of your mind and say this is all that matters, starting tomorrow night. “You might feel tired and not quite 100 per cent, but it doesn't matter - give it all you've got.” Stags beat Hartlepool 3-2 in a Boxing Day thriller but much of the action was hard to see as heavy fog swamped the One Call stadium. “I hardly saw it - and that was as dramatic a game as you'll get as well,” said Clough. “We were 2-0 down, came back to lead 3-2 and then they had one disallowed in injury time. “It was very dramatic and an important win for us at the time. “I think that was only Graeme's (boss Graeme Lee) second or third game in charge. He's since had time to work with them and I think they've improved. “We had someone at the game at Northampton on Saturday and there was very little in it. “They are a good strong home side, though in the first half of the season they were good at home and in the second half it's reversed a little bit and they have been quite good on the road. It is always one of those difficult places to go. “Away at Hartlepool, they say, if you don't fancy it you're half beaten before you get there.” Stags snatched a last gasp 2-1 win at Oldham on Saturday and Clough said: “We had that euphoria you get when you get a goal with almost the last kick of the game. But then reality sinks in a little bit and we realise we were not as good as we'd hoped to be on the day. “We'd said how good Oldham could be and they caused us problems throughout the game. Then we got a break, but over the whole season it was no more than we deserved. “We have scored two late goals in the last two games and taken six points, so I think that is our luck evening out over the season. “The League Two table incredible. I have never seen it where all four teams in the play-offs are currently on the same amount of points. “We are just a point back from them with a game or two in hand, so it is incredibly tight all the way down to 10th - and even 11th have still got a chance of making the play-offs. “We should have got at least a point at Tranmere and a point at Port Vale. Just those two points would have put us ahead of the play-off pack. “We can't do anything about that now, but we have reacted well with the two wins and now we want to get a good result tomorrow to take into the Northampton game on Saturday.” Clough said it was impossible to guess how the last 10 games would go in such an open division. “After the previous seven months I don't think you can try to estimate or guess where you're going to get points from,” he said. “When we had that run, no way could you say in the next 14 games you're not going to get a win. “Likewise I don't think anyone could then predict we'd win 19 out of the next 26 in all competitions. “Of the last 10 games we will take each one as it comes. Each one seems to get harder as well because of the run we're on and playing Saturday/Tuesday. “It's very important we're fighting for something. “A few of them have battled at the other end of the table, but it's a different sort of mentality needed. “We feel the expectation of the crowd - home or away - and rightly so. We are in the midst of a great run and that should be part of dealing with it.” He added: “We are playing six out of seven games away - and they're not round the corner either. We don't seem to have many local games in League Two. “It is a fifth successive away game at Hartlepool and it's tough when you're on the road. “No team in the country is better away than they are at home. “You have to take each game as it comes. With the injuries and illness we have you can't plan too far ahead. “I read about Sir Alex Ferguson going into the end of the season with his European games, knowing what team he'd play two or three weeks ahead. “If you have that good a squad you can do that, but it's very difficult when you're carrying as many knocks as we are.” Stags have worries over half a dozen players for tomorrow. “We have had one or two go down with illness over the weekend, then there are a few carrying knocks,” said Clough. “Matty Longstaff got a whack, Quinny got a whack, Macca's got a whack. “Five or six of them are a doubt under normal circumstances. Whether we can get them out there tomorrow night or not we will wait and see.” --------------------- We need to ‘raise it’ for the last ten - manager mansfieldtown.net, Monday 28th March 2022 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says his squad will look to ‘raise it’ for the remaining ten matches of the Sky Bet League Two campaign as the race for promotion edges towards the business end of the season. The Stags can go into the play-off positions with victory away at Hartlepool tomorrow night, despite having played fewer games than their League One-chasing rivals. Speaking in a news conference ahead of the clash at Suit Direct Stadium, the gaffer called for his players to focus entirely on the remaining ‘unbelievably important games’. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/march/we-need-to-raise-it-for-the-last-ten---manager/ “We’ve got ten games to go,” said the boss. “[They are] Ten unbelievably important games. “[It’s] Fifteen hours of football, we’ve just got to raise it for that time that we’re out on the pitch. “Nothing else matters really, just those ten games.” The current play-off position holders all sit on 63 points. The manager hopes his players can take advantage the games in hand on those above them in what is one of the closest promotions battles for years. “It’s incredible,” said Nigel. “I’ve never seen it where all four teams in the play-offs are currently on the same amount of points. “We’re just a point back from them with a game or two in hand. “It’s incredibly tight all the way down to tenth. “I think even eleventh have still got a chance of making the play-offs.” The Stags’ chief was pleased at the way his side fought to the end in the weekend’s dramatic, late victory over relegation-fighting Oldham. “It’s that sort of euphoria when you do get a goal with almost the last kick of the game. “Then reality sinks in that we weren’t as good as we hoped to be on the day. “We said how good Oldham could be and they caused us problems throughout the game. “We get a lucky break, it [the ball] hits the inside of the post and Laps [George Lapslie] is following it in [for the winner]. “It can go anywhere off the post, it dropped to Laps’ feet, and he managed to bundle it in. “Over 36,40 games we’ve played this season in all comps, [it was] no more than we deserved.” The Stags’ next opponents, Hartlepool, currently sit in 13th place in Sky Bet League Two. The boss expects a tough match in County Durham. “I think they’ve improved,” the gaffer said. “We had somebody obviously at the game against Northampton on Saturday and there was very little in it. “They’re a good, strong home side. “In the first half of the season they were good at home and then it’s reversed a little bit and they’ve been quite good on the road. “It’s always one of those difficult places to go. “If you don’t fancy it, you’re half beaten before you get there.” As the manager’s squad approach the remaining ten matches, the boss was keen to point out the unpredictability of the division. “After the previous seven months I don’t think you can estimate or guess where you’re going to get points from. “When we had that run [without a victory], no way could you sit down and say [in] 12,13,14 games you’re not going to get a win. “Likewise, I don’t think anybody could predict that we were going to win 19 out of the next 26 in all competitions. “[In] The last ten, [we’ll take] each one as it comes. “It one seems to get harder as well because of the run we’re in and the [playing] Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. “It’s tough when you’re on the road. “No team in the country is better away from home than they are at home.” The boss issued an update on the squad’s injury situation ahead of tomorrow evening’s fixture. “We’ve had one or two go down with illness over the weekend,” he said. “There was a few carrying knocks [after the Oldham win]. “Matty Longstaff’s got a whack, Quinny’s got a whack, Macca’s got a whack. “There’s about four, five, six of them that are doubts. “Under normal circumstances whether we’d get them out there tomorrow night; we’ll see. “There’s half a dozen carrying things at the moment.” James Perch, who started the previous three league matches, is someone the manager expects to play a key part in the run-in. “[It’s] Remarkable really. I think he’s [Perch] going to be a key player for us in the last ten games, on and off the pitch. “He’s one that exudes the calmness that you need in these situations. “We put together a few very, very good moves on Saturday at Oldham - we’ve just got to do more of that.” Watch the manager's interview in full now by clicking here. -------------------- Stay patient says boss Nigel Clough as Mansfield Town prepare for two huge six-pointers against rivals Northampton Town and Forest Green Rovers chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Monday 28th March 2022 Mansfield Town go into two massive six-pointers in four days with boss Nigel Clough telling his side to stay patient and keep playing their football right to the end. Stags face Northampton Town at home on Saturday, who are currently in the third and final automatic promotion spot and just three points ahead of Mansfield, who have two games in hand, before a long trip to face table-topping Forest Green on Tuesday. Stags are aiming for a new club record of 11 home league wins in a row on Saturday and Clough said: “If we can get something from the home game with Northampton, that's vital. “It will be one of our biggest of the season, no doubt. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stay-patient-says-boss-nigel-clough-as-mansfield-town-prepare-for-two-huge-six-pointers-against-rivals-northampton-town-and-forest-green-rovers-3634439 “It will feel similar to the Exeter one a couple of weeks ago, when we played on the Friday night. “If you can get a positive result against one of your rivals, who are currently in an automatic spot, it makes a huge difference. “Then Tuesday at Forest Green will be our most difficult game of the season. “It's really unfortunate how the fixtures have fallen with so many away games in one spell and also the fact we've got to play the best team in the league twice in your last eight games. But we can't do much about that. “I certainly hope come the last game of the season, they are already celebrating promotion.” Clough has told his players, no matter what, to hold their nerve with his style of football which yielded late wins at Rochdale and Oldham. “It is a matter of not changing,” he said. “You have to keep doing the right things and you're in with a shout of getting a late goal. “That's always been the case. When I started out at Forest we had the likes of Ian Bowyer and Garry Birtles saying you keep doing the right thing to the end, irrespective of the position of the game. “We don't want people shooting from 40 yards because you're 1-0 down. “You keep playing, you keep getting the ball into the right areas and sometimes it will work and you'll get a goal, sometimes it won't. But it won't if you start doing daft things.” With promotion expectations rising by the day and only five weeks of the season left, Clough said having experienced James Perch back in the side could be a key factor to success. “I think he is going to be a key player for us in the last 10 games, on and off the pitch,” he said. “He is the one that exhumes the calmness that you need in these situations. We get a little bit panicky at times, whacking the ball when we don't need to. “When we relax and play like we can, we put together some very good moves. We've just got to more of that. “It is going to help. I am not sure of the 18 or 19 in the current squad, how many have actually been in this situation with nine games to go where we have a chance of finishing in the top seven. There's not many.” It will be roadworn Stags’ first home game in six with two more gruelling away trips to follow. ------------------ Kellan Gordon may not return for Mansfield Town until next season chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Monday 28th March 2022 Mansfield Town defender Kellan Gordon may now not be back in action until next season. The 24-year-old has not played since the end of October and only made eight appearances before a knee injury put him out and with which he has had several setbacks since. “We are not sure about him yet,” said boss Nigel Clough. “He's back on the grass doing a bit of work and joining in the warm-ups and things like that, but no contact as yet. “It's one of those where, for the sake of a few games, we won't rush him back or risk him being injured for the summer. “If he can come back for the last few games then brilliant. If not we will make sure he is ready for pre-season.” Clough continued: “He has had one or two setbacks. His knee has caused him a few problems which is why it's important we try to get it right. “There is no point in him trying to come back and breaking down again. “We will concentrate all our efforts on making sure he is 100 per cent right before he comes back, whether it's the end of this season or next.” --------------------- Rhys Oates told Craig Priest: "I haven't scored many tap-ins this season. I scored a little flicked header at Barrow, and one came off my shin against Salford. Craig Priest: "James Perch is a laying a bit of a claim to your goal on Saturday". Oates: "No chance. He tried telling me straight away that it came off his knee, but I'm not having it. It might have taken a touch, but it was going in anyway." On the second goal: "When I first hit it, I thought it was going in. But it doesn't matter who scores, it's a 95th minute winner, as long as we get the three points." ---------------------- Hartlepool United hero Rhys Oates returns aiming to help Mansfield Town give him back to back promotions chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Monday 28th March 2022 Mansfield Town's leading scorer Rhys Oates returns to the scene of his greatest time in football so far at Hartlepool United tomorrow night hoping to edge Stags closer to promotion. Oates was player of the year and top scorer as Hartlepool burst back into the EFL last season, but he quit to join Stags with the ambition of tasting more glory. “Back to back promotions would be very nice,” he smiled as Stags head into one of three games in hand they have to close a four-point gap at the top three. “We have 10 games to go and hopefully we can get as many points as we can and get automatic. read more at https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united-hero-rhys-oates-returns-aiming-to-help-mansfield-town-give-him-back-to-back-promotions-3630597 “The aim is automatic as we have the games in hand, but they're never going to be easy and we have a lot of Saturday/Tuesdays coming up. “It's going to be tough but with the squad we've got, we can rotate. It's not like we've just got 11 players. “We have a good 18/19 players capable of starting the games. So, if we keep playing like we are doing, we can do it. “We've just got to be positive in everything we do, keep working hard and concentrate on every aspect of the game and try to keep clean sheets. We need to keep going and see where we end up on 7th May.” Oates is looking forward to his return to Victoria Park. “I enjoyed last season there - I scored a lot of goals and promotion topped it off,” he said. “It will be nice to go back there and see some old faces, see the old lads, and it should be a good day - but hopefully we take the three points. “I did three years there before I moved to Morecambe and then went back there last season so I had four years there. “I have to try to see it as just another game, but obviously playing a big part in last season's promotion with them, that was probably the best day of my life in terms of football.” So Oates admitted his move to Mansfield was a big decision. “It was a very tough decision and not one that I took lightly,” he said. “But I just thought Mansfield is a big club with aspirations to get promoted. “Having just had a promotion, I wanted that feeling again. “Also, it's closer to home for me, so it's nice to be around the family all the time. That was one of the main reasons too. “It feels like my decision has been justified, especially playing week in, week out and getting the goals. I can' really complain about the decision I made.” Having experienced it so recently, Oates believes Stags also have what it takes to gain promotion. “It takes what we've shown in the last few games,” he said. “Even if you're not playing great, you just need to do what you can to win games. Take it game by game and pick up as many points as you can. “It's about togetherness and we've got that in bundles in this squad. Everyone gets on and it's just a great set of lads. “We all need to stick together and whoever is playing, just back each other. “It is mentally tough but you just have to keep concentrating. “With all the games we've got coming up Saturday/Tuesday, you've just got to keep at it and keep concentrating every minute.” He added: “The fans have been amazing throughout the season, even with the amount of Saturday/Tuesday games we've had, they have travelled in their numbers. “I hope they stick behind us and keep being the 12th man and we will do everything we can. “You do it for the fans - they are a big part of the club.” Oates scored one and made one in Saturday's late 2-1 win at Oldham, taking his season's tally to 11. “It's been good and I have just to keep doing it for the next 10 games - that's the plan,” he smiled. “It's nice to get goals and get into double figures, like I did last week. “But getting the three points is all that matters really. “With scoring 18 goals last season, getting into double figures was my target this season and then just kick on and see how many I can get from now.” Oates is certainly enjoying playing under Nigel Clough. “He is a great gaffer. He's got so much experience in the game,” he said. “He tells you how he wants you to play and you know what you're doing in the game. “He's great around the training ground and stuff. He know when you need a rest. If you tell him you need one he will give you a rest. “He lets you look after yourself as long as you're right for the next game.” --------------------- Striker salutes Stags’ spirit mansfieldtown.net, Monday 28th March 2022 In-form striker Rhys Oates has hailed the spirit of the Stags’ squad ahead of Mansfield’s final ten games of the season. Nigel Clough’s men travel to Hartlepool United tomorrow night (Tuesday) and would sit just a point and a place outside the automatic positions in Sky Bet League Two with a victory in the north east as the race for promotion hots up. Leading talisman Oates has played a significant part in Stags’ meteoric rise up the table, and notched his 11th goal of the season in a dramatic 2-1 victory at Oldham last Saturday. Reflecting on the game at a news conference this afternoon, the 27-year-old said: “I think we started quite well, we had a couple of chances in the first ten minutes. After they got the goal we didn’t carry on playing how we know we can play. “The gaffer made a change at half-time and I think we were better in the second-half. We created a lot of chances, had a lot of shots on goal and luckily came away with a win in the end. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/march/striker-salutes-stags-spirit/ “The last two games, Rochdale and Oldham, we’ve not played the best but we’ve managed to get the three points in both of them and that’s all that matters at this stage of the season.” Oates pin-pointed the spirit in the dressing room as one characteristic in Stags’ commendable run of form. “We’ve got togetherness in bundles in this squad,” he said. “Everyone gets on. It’s just a great set of lads here and we just need to stick together, back each other and aim for three points every week.” Oates is set to return to his former employers, Hartlepool, tomorrow, from whom he left to join the Stags last summer. “I enjoyed last season there and scored a lot of goals. “Promotion [from the National League] topped it off. It’ll be nice to go back there and see some old faces.” Meanwhile, the ex-Barnsley trainee revealed that he has already reached one personal milestone this season, by acquiring double-figure goals. “It’s nice to get goals and get into double figures but it’s just about getting the three points that really matters. “With getting 17-18 goals last season, getting double figures was my target this season. I’ll just kick on and see how many I can get now.” Previewing the final ten games of the season, he said: “Even if you’re not playing great, you need to do what you can to win games. We’ll just take it game by game and pick up as many points as we can. “It’s mentally tough but you’ve just got to keep concentrating with all the games we have coming up. “Our fans have been amazing throughout the season. No doubt they’ll travel in their numbers again tomorrow.” ---------------------- |
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