Archived News from April 2022
|
ANDY GARNER, MARIS AND LEWIS YOUNG REACTION
|
 |
|
Coach lauds 'excellent' home display
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 23rd April 2022 Mansfield Town’s first team coach Andy Garner says ‘we were excellent today’ as the Stags climbed back into the play-off positions in Sky Bet League Two with a professional 2-0 home win over Crawley Town. Forwards Jamie Murphy and Lucas Akins bagged their first goals for the club following the pairs’ arrival in January. Speaking to the local media post-match, the coach praised Mansfield’s dominant display against tough opposition. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/april/coach-lauds-excellent-home-display/ “I thought we were excellent today against a good side,” said Andy. “We had to be at our best and I think at times we played some fantastic football. “[We scored] Two fantastic goals as well.” Jamie Murphy netted his first in Stags’ colours with an expertly taken volley on 26 minutes. “[It was] Very similar to the one at Carlisle but unfortunately that wasn’t given. “[It was a] Fantastic move, a fantastic cross and he’s [Murphy] got a superb side foot on it into the net.” Lucas Akins sealed the victory for Mansfield in the second-half. Andy was pleased to see the forward score his first since arriving in the January transfer window. “[With] Lucas; we’re so relieved for him that he’s got a goal, it’s been playing on his mind for a long-time now,” the first team coach said. “We keep trying to tell him to just relax, settle down [and] it will come. “I’m so happy for him that he’s got a goal, and a good goal as well - a great header. “We’ve known him a long time, he gives everything he’s got.” "He has to work hard because his touch is that bad at times that he's got to try and get it back!" “We also know the other side of him when he hasn't scored goals and it's affected him. “We have to calm him down and talk to him. Hopefully this will help him massively and he will go on and score a few more.” Top scorer Rhys Oates returned to the Stags’ starting XI following a four-match absence with a thigh injury. “We missed him [Oates]; you can’t deny that,” said Andy. “He played really well again today. “He’s obviously devastated that he hasn’t scored a goal but [he’s got] that sheer pace and he gets a shot off. “[He’s] Very unlucky that he hasn’t scored. “[It was] A fantastic performance and we’re delighted he’s back.” Midfielder George Maris started the encounter at home to the Red Devils. The midfielder had recently found opportunities hard to come by in the starting XI. “He’s come in [Maris] and proved a point really. “Maybe he’s wondered why he hasn’t played as many games recently but that’s down to us [the coaches]. “We brought him in today and he’s put on a fantastic performance. “We’re delighted with him.” Mansfield were backed by over 5,000 supporters this afternoon at One Call Stadium. Andy praised the fans’ impact today and throughout the campaign. “From day one, even when we went on the really bad run that we had, they’ve [the fans] always been behind us,” he said. “They’ve always been our 12th man in getting us over the line [in games]. “[There were] A little bit of nerves in the first 20 minutes. “As soon as you get that [first] goal that settles everybody down a little bit and then we can go on and play; that’s what the crowd want to see.” To watch the first team coaches interview, click here. -------------------- Andy Garner told Craig Priest for Mansfield 103.2: "When we don't make many mistakes then we're a hard team to beat. "I thought JJ was very good. I thought Perchy was outstanding, his calmness on the ball and his positional play was fantastic. ---------------------- Mansfield Town coach Andy Garner hails vital win against in-form Crawley Town that revived promotion hopes chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 23rd April 2022 Mansfield Town first team coach Andy Garner hailed his side's crucial 2-0 win over in-form Crawley Town that revived Stags' promotion hopes after two defeats. Stags even had some of their rivals drop points and Garner smiled: “We knew how important it was today - the fans knew and the players knew. “We had to win a football match and thankfully we did that today. “We can't do anything about anyone else's results but it's nice when they slip up a bit and we win. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-coach-andy-garner-hails-vital-win-against-in-form-crawley-town-that-revived-promotion-hopes-3666160 “That win was massive and even better was the performance they put on - I thought we were excellent today against a good side who have had results on their travels. So we had to be at our best. “I think at times we played some fantastic football and scored two fantastic goals.” Jamie Murphy put Stags ahead with his first goal for the club on 26 minutes. But the points were sealed by striker Lucas Akins' long awaited first goal for Mansfield. “I am so relieved for Lucas that he has got a goal as it's been playing on his mind for a long time now,” said Garner. “We told him to relax, settle down and it would come and I am so happy for him. It was a great header too. “We have known him for a long time and he gives everything he's got. “We also know the other side of him when he hasn't scored goals and it's affected him. “We have to calm him down and talk to him. Hopefully this will help him massively and he will go on and score a few more.” Stags had top scorer Rhys Oates back from a thigh strain and Garner said: “It was incredible to have Rhys back. We've missed him, you can't deny that. He played really well again today. “He is obviously devastated he didn't score a goal but it's that sheer pace and he gets a shot off. He was very unlucky not to score but it was a fantastic performance.” Stags now face Steve Evans' Stevenage at home on Tuesday with automatic promotion and a play-off spots still possible. ----------------- Midfielder: Experience could count in final three mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 23rd April 2022 Mansfield Town midfielder George Maris is confident that the Stags’ ‘experienced heads’ and ‘composure’ will see them through the final games of the season after the team convincingly overcame Crawley Town 2-0 at One Call Stadium. The Mansfield number 10 made his first start for the club since the 2-0 away victory over Bradford City on 26 February 2022. Crawley were reduced to ten men in the 69th minute when James Tilley was dismissed following a second yellow card and Maris believes Mansfield capitalised on the situation to defeat a ‘good team’. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/april/midfielder-experience-could-count-in-final-three/ “I know everyone says it’s sometimes harder against ten men and it genuinely is. They sit back and make you break them down,” said the 26-year-old. “Straight away we got the goal and it took the pressure off [us], we could just enjoy our football then. “They’re a good team, they’ve beaten some of the top teams in the league and they always seem to be a bogey team for people. So to beat them 2-0 and to have the chances that we had was brilliant, it could’ve been three or four in the end. “We did well, [it was] a good game and a good result for us.” The midfielder enjoyed his first start in two months as he helped the Stags return to winning ways. Maris told the local media: “It was nice [to start the game], it’s been a while. It took me ten minutes or so to feel my lungs and get going again but after that I felt good. Hopefully I can carry on starting now and keep my fitness up.” Mansfield have three crucial games of the season remaining, the first of which in three days’ time as the Stags host Steve Evans’ Stevenage. Maris hopes to help the side in their final push for promotion. On whether Mansfield’s sights are set on the automatic places, he said: “It’s got to be. We’ve got a game in hand so [we’ll try to] win that and see how it goes. “All we can do is win our games and not worry about the teams above us, hopefully it takes us to where we want to be. “We’ve got some experienced heads down there who’ve been through this before, they’re guiding us through really well. It’s just about being composed. We’ll play our own game, that’s what has been getting us results and long may it continue.” The former Cambridge United man says that Mansfield can use their incredible home form to their advantage in the run-in. “We’re good here [at One Call Stadium],” he said. “If [in the] worse case we do get play offs, then teams aren’t going to want to come here and play us. “[We’ve] got two games at home so hopefully [we] win them both and see where it takes us. “Any game at home, the boys look forward to. “The fans have been brilliant all season especially now we’re winning. They’ve been right behind us, they push us over the line. “As soon as we finished, we all looked at the results to see where we were, and to see where a win would take us on Tuesday night. It’s exciting. It’s nice to be playing for something at this stage of the season, hopefully we win the [last] three [games] and get this team promoted.” Watch the midfielder's interview by clicking here. ------------------------ Mansfield Town midfielder George Maris delighted with recall and excited over promotion chances chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 23rd April 2022 Mansfield Town midfield ace George Maris was delighted by his recall in today's 2-0 home win over Crawley Town and said the experienced players were helping guide the squad as they chase promotion with three games to go. Maris, who came on as a sub, despite suffering Covid, at Carlisle and started today said: “It is exciting. It's nice to be playing for something at this stage of the season. “Hopefully we can win the three and get this team promoted. “We can't change the way we play and we have some experienced heads in there who have been through this and they are guiding us through really well. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-midfielder-george-maris-delighted-with-recall-and-excited-over-promotion-chances-3666172 “It was nice to be back - it's been a while. It took me 10 minutes or so to fill my lungs a bit and get going. But after that I felt good and hopefully I can carry on starting and keep my fitness up. “I have not enjoyed the last two months sat on the bench. No player likes that, so I was happy to see my name on the sheet and I hope now I can be a mainstay in the team.” Crawley had won five of their last six games and Maris said: “Crawley are a good team and they have beaten some good sides. They always seem to be a bogey team for some people, so to beat them 2-0 and have the chances we had was brilliant. “We are at our best when are free-flowing and we keep the ball. They couldn't get near us today and our composure on the ball won us the game.” Stags could still yet win automatic promotion or make the play-offs and Maris said: “We have a game in hand so win that and we will see where it goes. “All we can do is try to win our games and not worry about the teams above us. “Hopefully it takes us to where we want to be. “Having two of the last three at home is massive. We are good here. “At worst case, if we do get play-offs no team is going to want to come here and play us.” -------------------- Rhys oates @OatesRhys 3 to go! Let’s keep pushing ------------------- Crawley Town assistant boss Lewis Young praises Mansfield Town after defeat completes a nightmare 24 hours for the Red Devils chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 23rd April 2022 Crawley Town assistant boss Lewis Young had nothing but praise for Mansfield Town after the Stags saw the Red Devils off 2-0 to complete a nightmare 24 hours for them. Young was left in charge after manager John Yews was last night suspended by the club over allegations of “serious and credible accusations” that he used discriminatory language and behaviour towards his players. “You have to give credit to Mansfield,” he said. “I thought they were really good on the day. They were the much better team for long periods. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/crawley-town-assistant-boss-lewis-young-praises-mansfield-town-after-defeat-completes-a-nightmare-24-hours-for-the-red-devils-3666164 “They really put us under pressure in areas we haven't had for a while. Fair play to them. “They are going great guns and are right up there in that lottery of the play-offs and that's where we want to strive to be. “They've done a job on us today and played very well. “It just shows how far we've come as a club and as a group that we've come to Mansfield away and are disappointed not to get anything.” On the managerial situation, he said: “It's been a long 24 hour period for the boys and staff. “As crazy as it sounds after a 2-0 loss I have great pride in the group, just sticking together and going out there trying their best. That's all we ask. “It was disappointing to see the run come to an end as we've been really decent in recent games. Five wins out of six doesn't just happen by chance. “Even with 10 men neat the end we still had the composure and quality at times to play and create chances. It just shows the character in the group.” He added: “It's disappointing that mini run of three wins on the bounce has come to an end but that doesn't mean we don't try to win the last three on the bounce. “We now have to dust ourselves down as we go into a local derby on Tuesday. “We are one point away from last season and should have massive pride in that. “The season is not over yet. We have three games to go and we're still building.” ---------------- |
Latest | April 2022