Archived News from April 2023
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GARNER, WALLACE, STEVE EVANS REACTION
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Stags ‘incredible’ in Stevenage win - Garner
mansfieldtown.net, Sat 22 April 2023 First team coach Andy Garner heralded Mansfield’s ‘incredible effort and determination’ to see out a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over third placed Stevenage. The hosts grabbed a go-ahead goal through James Gale on 11 minutes and defended assuredly to claim all three points. Andy was delighted with the effort of each Mansfield player. “[It was] unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable, I’m overwhelmed honestly,” he told iFollow Stags after the game. “I think the players have been absolutely fantastic. I can’t speak highly enough of them. The effort and the determination, to keep that ball out of the net and the work rate [was] absolutely incredible. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/april/stags-incredible-in-stevenage-win---garner/ “On the back of Tuesday night [in the 1-0 win against Newport], [it’s] another massive effort. They’ve been two fantastic games. “[We] needed every single one of them [today], every ounce of energy that they’d got and they produced that today. “It might not have been a spectacle in terms of football but [it was] 96 minutes of total hard work, total commitment [and] total effort. With that you get three points and your just deserts.” "And people like Perchy and Quinny, I don't know what to say. The effort and the age that they're at, they're absolutely fantastic professionals. "It wasn't all about the football side today. We tried, don't get me wrong, but when you're running on low, it's not easy playing nice football. Also the pitch, we couldn't get any water on the pitch. It's a big difference when the pitch is dry, rather than getting some water on it so we can pass it around a bit. "So today it had to be the other side of it for getting the three points. Twenty-one year-old Mansfield forward Gale netted his second goal in as many games. The ex-Long Eaton United man was in the right place at the right time to feather Davis Keillor-Dunn’s edge-of-the-box effort into the net and Andy was delighted for the youngster. On whether it was James Gale’s goal, he said: “I think so. He went running off celebrating so I assume it was him. I’ve not seen it back and there’s a little tap in or whatever. “When it hit the back of the net, wow. I just looked at the linesman to see if he had his flag up. “[It] was a great start to get the goal. It just shows you how important the first goal is. The emphasis is on them, when they’re 1-0 down and they’ve got to chase the game a little bit.” On the injury Gale picked up on 21 minutes, he said: “I’ve not actually seen him yet. I thought it was a bit of a head injury. We’ll have to have a look but I hope he’s okay.” Stags were boosted pre-match by the return of George Maris and Will Swan to the bench. Andy provided an update: “[George Maris, Louis Reed and Will Swan could all] do ten minutes,” he said. “We didn’t want Oatesy [Rhys Oates] to have as much [play time as he did] but we were forced into doing it. “We kept our word with George having ten minutes and Reedy. We didn’t risk Swanny. “Swanny [will] be all right for Tuesday hopefully. We’ll get Swanny in training on Monday. We’ll do a little bit and he’ll be ready to go on Tuesday on the bench.” -------------------------------- Andy Garner so proud as tired Mansfield Town hold on for ‘staggering win’ over rivals chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Sat 22 April 2023 Mansfield Town first team coach Andy Garner described today's hard-earned 1-0 home win over promotion rivals Stevenage as 'staggering' and said the players were on their knees by the end. With eight players missing and matchwinner James Gale of with a head injury by the 21st minutes, Stags tired rapidly in the second half but clung on to survive a powerful aerial bombardment from the visitors, who remain top three. “We've won 1-0 and I would have taken that all day at 3pm. We are so proud of the players with the week they've had and the injuries we've got,” said Garner. “That win was staggering. The only disappointing thing is we haven't moved anywhere. “We must be the only team that get six points and don't move anywhere. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/andy-garner-so-proud-as-tired-mansfield-town-hold-on-for-staggering-win-over-rivals-4115104?fbclid=IwAR3UHODNZbIIpab43Jm6l1rcG9m-8PhTgPK9ocAFSjIxvZdmTBmjCfcD4YA “But we can't do much about other results so we will dust ourselves down and get ready to for a nice, little easy game against Orient on Tuesday.” The six added minutes seemed to last a lifetime and Garner said: “It was hard watching near the end. “We all want the three points and were just hoping and praying when the ball went into the box we got it cleared. “It didn't help when Christy Pym got smashed into and they played on. I thought the officials were extremely poor today. “I don't think they gave us a lot at all and that challenge on Pymy summed it up. It was a blatant foul. “We all knew it was going to be like that today. It was a massive effort at Newport on Tuesday - a lot went into that result. Then we had to travel back. “Then we had Stevenage putting it on us in the last 10 minutes and got through it. “We have had to manage a lot of balls into our box today but the desire, courage and effort to keep that ball out of the net was absolutely fantastic.” He added: “I can't speak highly enough of them and I hope the crowd appreciate it too. “The lads were on their knees. We had players on the bench who couldn't really go on so all they could do was try. “If James Gale isn't right for Tuesday then that will be nine injured. “It is what it is. They will have tomorrow off, be back in Monday and see how they feel and see if we can get some energy back into their bodies.” --------------------------- We gave it our all in Stevenage win - Wallace mansfieldtown.net, Sat 22 April 2023 Mansfield Town midfielder Kieran Wallace says the Stags put everything on the line to secure all three points following a well-fought 1-0 win against Stevenage in an enthralling encounter at One Call Stadium. The 28-year-old helped steer Mansfield to a clean sheet following James Gale’s goal on 11 minutes. Assessing a significant three points against the Boro, Kieran said: “We battled hard. We put everything on the line again and emptied the tank again and we’re happy with the win. “We’ve got to do it all over again on Tuesday night [against Leyton Orient]. There’s only three games to go and all the other teams are winning as well which puts pressure on us. “[Today] it was a tug of war. Our backs were against the wall [in the] second-half and we really dug deep again like we did on Tuesday night against Newport. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/april/we-gave-it-our-all-in-stevenage-win---wallace/ “We’re delighted to come away with the three points.” When asked what was the most pleasing part of the game following the fixture, Wallace said: “Obviously [we’re] satisfied with the clean sheet. Apart from Pymy (Christy Pym) making a great save in the first-half I don’t think they had many chances from what I remember. “I don't think we let too many clear cut or obvious chances away and that’s obviously a good sign. “I’ve got a headache again, I headed the ball a lot. “It was a battle out there and we always knew that with the way Stevenage play, it wasn’t a surprise for us. “We stood up to it well and I thought we played well in the end.” Stags produced a resolute defensive display in the latter stages which also saw Riley Harbottle enter the fray, in place of Rhys Oates, to help see out the remainder of the clash. “They put a lot of pressure on us but I don’t think they created too much. “When they did get close I thought Pymy swept up well and did well in goal. “I thought the two centre-halves [Alfie Kilgour and James Perch] were outstanding. “We were comfortable, I thought. “We’ve kept up with the pack again haven’t we. We’re closing in on the automatics. Hopefully if we get the three points again [on Tuesday against Leyton Orient] we can get into the play-offs and really kick on. “The lads are obviously buzzing and happy that we managed to get the three points. “We know Tuesday is going to come around the corner [very quickly] and it’ll be here before we know it.” ------------------------ Kieran Wallace delighted with hard-eared clean sheet as Mansfield Town stay with the pace by beating rivals Stevenage chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Sat 22 April 2023 Mansfield Town defensive midfielder Kieran Wallace was delighted to the Stags pick up a clean sheet and survive a late barrage as they saw of promotion rivals Stevenage 1-0 today. An 11th minute James Gale deflection won the day as Stags battled on with their lengthy injury list and players out on their knees by the end. “It was a real tug of war - our backs were against the wall second half and we really dug deep again, similar to Tuesday night's win at Newport,” said Wallace. “So we were delighted to come away with the three points. “We were also delighted with a clean sheet. Apart from one save from Christy Pym in the first half I don't think they had many chances. “Although we were penned in second half I don't think we let them have too many chances, which is a good sign. I thought the two centre halves were outstanding. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/kieran-wallace-delighted-with-hard-eared-clean-sheet-as-mansfield-town-stay-with-the-pace-by-beating-rivals-stevenage-4115123?fbclid=IwAR0I-UqnoDBOtcpm3qewkqmvPPrVozCzJHYQ6L_NoyCk6dEvF3v3SAW3wfo “We had to battle hard, put everything on the line and empty the tank again.” Despite two wins in five days, Stags continue to stay outside the play-off places on goal difference but have two more home games to come this week. “Obviously all the other teams are winning as well which puts more pressure on us so we have to do it all again on Tuesday night with just three games to go,” he said. “We know how Stevenage play so it wasn't a surprise to us and we stood up to it well. “I thought we were quite comfortable up until the six added minutes then we did look a bit more uncomfortable. “We have kept up with the play-off pack and are closing in on the automatics. “The end is in sight for the season so we have to give it everything. “Tuesday is our game in hand, but Leyton Orient are champions and champions for a reason. Let's hope they have a few drinks and celebrate. But we will be ready for them on Tuesday night.” ------------------------- Stevenage boss Steve Evans - Mansfield Town fans’ barracking is a backhanded compliment to me chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Sat 22 April 2023 Stevenage's former Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans suffered an afternoon of barracking by home fans as Stags pipped their promotion rivals 1-0 this afternoon. It was the second time the abuse had been aimed at Evans, who quit the club to join Peterborough when Stags were looking set for promotion and then missed out. “I don't want to talk about them (the home fans),” he said. “That's the second time they've done it. They're entitled to do it the first time, not a second time. “It is a complete backhanded compliment as the best manager that's possibly ever been here since Ian Greaves was me. That's a fact statistically “They will do it next time no doubt and be allowed to come out with some behaviour that is absolutely disgraceful. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/stevenage-boss-steve-evans-mansfield-town-fans-barracking-is-a-backhanded-compliment-to-me-4115099 “But I wish this football club every success. I have an absolutely outstanding relationship with the owners and I wish them well.” A game of few chances was settled by an 11th minute deflected goal by James Gale with the tiring, injury-hit Stags bravely surviving a late barrage from the visitors “There was nothing between the sides. It was two good sides who played very poorly on the day and it could have gone either way,” said Evans. “It was always going to be a magic goal that won it or the luckiest goal of the season - and they had the fortune of the luckiest goal. “It trickled over the line it was that bad a deflection. “So we'll take the defeat and move on to Tuesday. “I don't think there was a clear cut chance in the game for either side which befits the lack of quality in a game in which there was a lot at stake. “There were plenty of good players on the pitch so there was no lack of quality in general terms. Just a lack of quality on the day. We just didn't turn up and play. “The last 15 minutes we've thrown the sink and had a gamble but it didn't happen for us today.” Stevenage stay in the top three and head for Swindon Town on Tuesday. “Swindon are a good side and they've won very easily today,” added Evans. “They will give us problems, but we'll freshen it up and hopefully we can get back to winning ways. “We are lacking numbers and were without six players at Mansfield that would have played and were a big part of what we were doing earlier in the season. “One thing we have is fantastic characters in the dressing room. We would not be where we are with just three games to go if we didn't.” ----------------------- Stevenage Boss Receives Message From Rival’s Owners therealefl.co.uk, April 26, 2023, by Conor Perrett https://therealefl.co.uk/2023/04/26/stevenage-boss-receives-message-from-rivals-owners/ Stevenage manager Steve Evans has revealed he has been in recent contact with Mansfield Town owners John and Carolyn Radford, in a post-match interview. After a 1-0 victory against Swindon on Tuesday evening, Stevenage looks likely for automatic promotion, however, after losing to former club Mansfield on the weekend, the 60-year-old received various messages from people involved at the League Two club. What Were The Messages About? Last weekend Stevenage travelled to face Mansfield in a clash where both teams desperately needed three points. The home side came out on top in a 1-0 victory, and Evans has seen said people inside the club, including owners John and Carolyn Radford, messaged him after the game. The Scottish manager explained he would like to keep the text private, however, said: “It was very humble” from his former bosses. The History Between The Two Steve Evans are plenty of history dating back to the Stags, managing them for several seasons. After getting the sack from Championship side Leeds, Evans dropped down to League Two for Mansfield, however, ditched and left the club during an important spell. The Stags were fighting for promotion near the top of the league when Evens packed his bags for League One side Peterborough at the end of February. His late departure was not received well amongst the Mansfield fans and club hierarchy, as they were outraged by the way he left. Will Stevenage Be In League One Next Season? After their first away victory in two months, Boro now sits 3rd in League Two with two games remaining. The gap between them and 4th is now up to four points, with a win-all bet sealing their confirmation in League One next year. With their remaining fixtures against Grimsby and Barrow, who have nothing left to play for in the league, Stevenage could be singing about promotion as early as Saturday. What’s Been Said: Speaking to the media after the 1-0 victory against Swindon, Evans got on the topic of his conversation with Mansfield’s owners. “There were people messaging me who are Mansfield-minded saying when we win on Tuesday and you get beat, we will be a point behind you and we are coming to get you Evans. “It was quite interesting that the Radford family, both John and Carolyn, texted me to say that, well I will not say what they said because that’s private, but it was very humble. “Saturday is a huge game, but if we don’t deal with Saturday, then we need to go to Barrow and deal with Barrow, so it is one game at a time.” Writer’s View Some Mansfield fans may not be able to forgive Evans as much as it seems the owners have, however, it’s nice to see positive communication between the two parties. ---------------------- instagram: David Sharpe: 9 unbeaten. Boys are giving everything they've got. Will Swan: Good to be back. twitter and facebook: John Radford @JRadfordMTFC Absolutely brilliant victory. What a performance from our players this afternoon; determined, whole-hearted and a never-say-die attitude from start to end. Well done to Nigel and the players, and our fans for their magnificent support. Now on to Tuesday! COYS!!! ---------------------- |
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