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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from September 2012

MACC PREVIEWS
28th September 2012 15:15


note by Martin - heavy rain all day on Monday must put the game in doubt. Stay tuned to mansfieldtown.net for any news of a possible postponement.

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Cox targets new striker
mansfieldtown.net, 24th September 2012

Manager Paul Cox is hoping to sign a new striker to strengthen his attacking options.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-targets-new-striker-386653.aspx

Cox has been deprived of attacking alternatives in recent weeks following the three match suspension of hot shot Matt Green, Nick Wright's ankle problem and Ben Hutchinson still recovering from an achilles injury.

Long-term absentee Ross Dyer is out for the season, leaving Matt Rhead and Jake Speight available as the only out-and-out strikers in the past two matches.

And speaking at this morning's press meeting, Cox didn't rule out the prospect of a new signing before tomorrow night's trip to Macclesfield, weather permitting.

“It's a possibility that we could have someone in before tomorrow night, but a lot will need to be done before that and I'll have to do some wheeling and dealing,” said Cox.

“We went into Saturday with two fit strikers in the entire squad and with a club with aspirations like ourselves, then I don't think this will benefit us. The two boys have done well. Speight is on five goals at the minute and Rheady always puts himself around.

“In the second half we played with a central midfielder up front and if we have aspirations then we are going to have to compete with the likes of Luton and clubs like that.

“We're expected to be up there and challenging (in the table), but to go into a long period of games with two fit strikers isn't the best scenario. A striker coming in would freshen us up.”

Ahead of tomorrow's trip to the Moss Ross, Cox will again be without Matt Green, who will serve the last of a three game suspension. Nick Wright (knee), Jamie Hand (knee), Gary Roberts (ankle) and Ross Dyer are all ruled out, while the game could come too soon for Ben Hutchinson

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Stags on a striker search ahead of Macclesfield trip
chad.co.uk, Monday 24 September 2012

STAGS are on a striker search ahead of tomorrow night's tough trip to in-form Macclesfield Town.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-on-a-striker-search-ahead-of-macclesfield-trip-1-4956424

With only two fit and available strikers, Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox is hoping chairman John Radford will allow him to bring in another forward for the game at the the Moss Rose, which both sides are hoping will go ahead with two days of heavy rain forecast.

“We went into Saturday with two fit strikers in the entire squad,” said Cox.

“If we are a club with aspirations, we have to compete with the likes of Luton.

“In the second half I had to play a central midfielder up front, though that's nothing against Anthony Howell, who I thought did well.

“I have a couple of options and would love to bring a striker in for tomorrow. I may have to do a bit of wheeling and dealing before that can happen.”

Macclesfield dropped to fourth place on Saturday after a 2-1 home defeat by promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers, but Cox knows how hard it will be tomorrow.

“They have the best scoring record in our league, though they are only one of three who have scored more than us.

“But we don't want to go up there and try to win 5-4. I want to us to be solid and stop conceding sloppy goals.

“The two we gave away in such a short space of time after leading at Telford on Saturday were criminal.”

He added: “We need to lose our anxiety. Being one of the pre-season favourites to win the league, some of the players seem to be carrying it around. We need to get this monkey off our backs and learn to enjoy playing football again. We need to play with a bit of freedom and a smile on our faces.

“We are more than aware of what Macclesfield are capable of. We have to go there with a stronger mindset.”

Matt Green completes his three-game suspension tomorrow.

Injured pair Nick Wright and Andy Todd have an outside chance of making the squad but Ben Hutchinson needs time to regain some fitness after a lay-off with an Achille's tendon injury

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Mansfield Town need to show resolve to thwart rampant Macclesfield
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 Nottingham Post

AS Mansfield make the trip over the Cat and Fiddle this evening for their trip to Macclesfield, there is a statistic manager Paul Cox and his side know all about.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-16980456-detail/story.html

The Moss Rose outfit, relegated from the Football League last term, are the Blue Square Bet Premier's leading goalscorers after ten games of the campaign.

They have found the back of the net on 21 occasions and on home soil, have won four of their five matches.

Given the Stags have shipped 20 times already – 15 of which have been on their travels – means any frailties tonight could be ruthlessly exposed, as they were when Stags drew 2-2 against ten-man AFC Telford at the weekend.

But given Mansfield have been performing at the other end, notching 19 times to be the division's joint-third top scorers, means Cox has reason to be optimistic.

He just wants the penny to finally drop and his side to get back to being one that is watertight at the back.

To do that, he believes it is all in the head.

"If you look at it we are not far behind Macclesfield in terms of goals scored," said Cox. "There are only two or three sides that have scored more than us this season.

"Our Achilles heel at the minute is we are conceding sloppy goals and that is something we need to rectify. Last season we defended well as a side, as a unit and we need to get back to doing that.

"It is the right mind-set I am looking for and when we go in front, we need to shut up shop, we don't concede. As a team we have to think like that.

"We are six points off top, one point off the play-off places and are in the pack. We go into this game and it is an important one for us.

"We are well aware of what Macclesfield are capable of and we need a stronger mind-set.

"They have just been relegated from the Football League and have had a good start. They are up there for a reason and score a lot of goals.

"It will be a tough test and it is a learning curve for us. We go away from home and it is not about trying to win 5-4. We need the solidity of last season and to do that we have to be mentally stronger."

On Saturday, the Stags went ahead early on only to gift two goals away in quick succession before Jake Speight scored from the spot before half-time, after Liam Chilvers was sent off for a push on the striker.

Cox wants his side to learn from that experience.

"When you go away from home and score early on, like we did on Saturday, you think to yourself get a foothold in the game, keep a clean sheet and then you come away with three points," said Cox.

"But to give the two sloppy goals away was criminal. The boys worked hard and we have to start using our heads a little bit better and be more ruthless with each other.

"We scored and within five minutes we were 2-1 down and chasing the game. Then we got back into it and Telford were down to ten men and you think be positive.

"I wanted them to be braver in the final third and more patient but Telford did superbly.

"I have told them to put a smile on their face and enjoy it. One of the things when labelled early season favourites is that some people take it as a positive and some carry it around with them.

"We just have to get this monkey off our back and start enjoying our football whatever the scenario. We have to play with a bit of freedom.

"It is such an open league that anybody with a bit of consistency can do well."

Five wins, four defeats and one draw shows how the Stags season has been up and down so far, sitting in ninth on 16 points.

But three points tonight will set them up nicely before they head into a home match against the other side relegated from the Football League, Hereford, at the weekend.

To do that, they need to stop shipping goals.

And Macclesfield will provide a sterner test than most, given the firepower they have displayed so far this season

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Macclesfield manager Steve King keen to see a reaction
September 25, 2012
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/macclesfield_town/s/1589573_macclesfield-manager-steve-king-keen-to-see-a-reaction

On the back of two below-par showings, Macclesfield manager Steve King is keen for his men to redeem themselves by shooting down the Stags tonight.

Macc suffered their first home loss of the season – to title contenders Forest Green – on Saturday and King is hoping his squad will get back on track against Mansfield, another side he's tipping to at least make the play-offs.

“We bounced back after we lost against Luton,” said King after Forest Green's 93rd-minute winner.

“We went out and got a few wins and a draw. If the likes of the Wrexhams and Lutons are the bar then we're not far off, we'll give anyone a game.

“On the evidence we've given a good account of ourselves against the top sides. Mansfield have got a big budget, so it's going to be another tough game.”

Now fourth in the table, Macc will be without winger John Paul Kissock, who was sent off in the Forest Green defeat

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