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Archived News from October 2013

CHESTERFIELD JPT PREVIEWS
11th October 2013 19:16


A reminder that there is no extra time. If the scores are level at the end of 90 mins, it goes straight to penalties

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Boss hints at team changes
mansfieldtown.net, 7th October 2013

Manager Paul Cox has hinted that he could make changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round match with Chesterfield.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/boss-hints-at-team-changes-1101479.aspx#D01dc33OxC62LsFo.99

Our team, who defeated The Spireites at the Proact Stadium just nine days ago, slipped to fifth position in Sky Bet League Two, following a 4-1 loss to Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Cox said: “The game tomorrow is an opportunity for me to give one or two players some game-time, so they can put themselves in the shop window for our next match.

“It’ll be a good game for whoever plays, but I’ve not made my mind up yet. The team might need freshening up a little bit, but not wholesale challenges.

“I’d like to give one or two players who have been ‘champing at the bit’ some game-time, and give those players, who have had 10 tough games, a breather.

“The game is a local derby in a cup competition, and I’m not a manager that will put out a weakened team. It’s a football match and we want to win it.”

Our boss also stated that he wants our players to learn from Saturday’s defeat to Hartlepool, which was our first at One Call Stadium since January.

“I don’t just want a response. I want us to learn from what happened,” continued Cox.

“I think sub-consciousness is a powerful tool. We didn’t deliberately go out to take our foot off the pedal, but it’s those games where I want the boys to really turn the screw.

“I don’t think we turned up in a physical or technical way on Saturday.”

He added: “The match at Chesterfield took a lot out of both sets of players and sometimes, its human nature that players need a little bit of time to recover.

“You always hurt when you lose matches, but there isn’t any panic. Good players don’t become bad players and we’ve put it down to a bad day at the office.”

Apart from Chris Clements, who is sidelined with a knee injury, our boss has a full squad available for selection - including centre-back Martin Riley, who has now completed a three-match ban.

Paul Cox's full pre-match interview can be heard on Stags Player.

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Mansfield Town under orders to show response against Chesterfield after Hartlepool horrow show
chad.co.uk, 07 October 2013

Mansfield Town’s players have been ordered to show a response to Saturday’s 4-1 home drubbing by Hartlepool United when neighbours Chesterfield visit for tomorrow night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie at the One Call Stadium (7.45pm).

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-under-orders-to-show-response-against-chesterfield-after-hartlepool-horrow-show-1-6122510

But manager Paul Cox also said he may tweak the side here and there to rest one or two tired pairs of legs.

The Spireites will want revenge after Stags pulled off a superb 1-0 win at the Proact Stadium just over a week ago, though on Saturday the leaders threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 at Morecambe.

Stags had also been in tip-top form until Saturday’s shock home reversal against struggling Hartlepool and Cox said: “I want us to learn by what happened on Saturday. The sub-conscious is a powerful tool. Players didn’t deliberately take their foot off the pedal.

“But there had been a lot of plaudits and pats on the back all week after we had started the season really well.

“The lads have done okay, but it’s matches like Saturday’s when you want the boys to turn the screw and show what they are capable of and I don’t think we turned up physically or technically.”

Cox stressed he wants to do well in the JPT, but would make the odd change here and there.

“It gives me the opportunity to chuck one or two in and give them a bit of game time and a chance to put themselves in the shop window for Saturday,” he said.

“I will have a look at one or two things in training. But I won’t be making wholesale changes.

“I do have one eye on Saturday which is a very big game for us. But I am not the sort of manager who would put a team of kids or reserves out.

“This is a local derby and the people who are paying to watch the game deserve to see a proper match.

“We have had 10 tough games so far, 11 including Tranmere, so there may also be one or two players who have played on with knocks who need a breather for a game.

“Chesterfield have lost two on the bounce now and conceded four goals as well. It shows shows you how much the derby game took out of both sets of players, physically and mentally.

“It happened to us last season as well. When we played Kidderminster after the Liverpool game we were dead.

“There is a bit of hurt here but no panic. Good players don’t become bad players. Saturday was part of our learning curve. We need to get back on the horse in the next two games. You have no divine right to just turn up and expect to go home with the spoils.”

The win at Chesterfield saw Stags set up to defend and frustrate the home side and catch them on the break which worked a treat. However, he admitted at home the onus would be on Mansfield to make the running.

“Obviously being at home is a different kettle of fish on our own pitch - though you probably wouldn’t have thought that on Saturday,” said Cox.

“There are not many times we lose here on our own ground and we have to play on the front foot.”

Mansfield welcome back central defender Martin Riley after completing a three-game ban while the Spireites will be missing midfield ace Gary Roberts after he was sent-off against Mansfield in the last encounter.

Fans cannot enter the stadium tomorrow (Tuesday) without having bought a ticket in advance and all ticket sales will end at 4pm on the day of the game.

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Mansfield Town aim for double-quick double over Chesterfield
Nottingham Post, Tuesday, October 08, 2013

MANSFIELD Town are determined to complete a double in double-quick time over Chesterfield.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/story-19901502-detail/story.html?

The Stags face their bitter rivals in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the One Call Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

It was only ten days ago that Paul Cox's men beat the Spireites 1-0 away in League Two in their first league derby in six years.

And if they can win again in front of their own fans it will be the perfect lift for the club, after a 4-1 league defeat on home soil to Hartlepool United on Saturday.

"It's a local derby, it's a cup competition and I'm not a manager that will put out a team of kids or reserves because people pay to come and watch us and they deserve to see a proper match," said Cox.

"It's a football match and we want to try and win it, it's as simple as that, especially with the added spice of it being a derby."

Cox is still likely to make a few changes to his side for the tie and he is demanding all of his players bounce back quickly from only their third defeat of the season.

"I don't just want a response, I want us to learn by what happened," he added.

"I don't think we deliberately went out and took our foot off the pedal.

"But I said after the game we've had a lot of pats on the back and a lot of plaudits because we've started the season off really well.

"That was only our second defeat in ten games so the lads have done OK.

"But it's those game where I really want the boys to turn the screw and to really show what we are capable of and I don't think we turned up in a physical or technical way."

Mansfield Town v Chesterfield: Match preview
Nottingham Post

PAUL Cox hopes Mansfield Town's surprise 4-1 home defeat to Hartlepool United is a wake-up call that will oust any lingering complacency.

The Stags were expected to add to their eight-game unbeaten run against former Forest player Colin Cooper's men, but instead suffered a first home defeat of the season.

Two goals from Jack Compton and one each for Andy Monkhouse and James Poole did the damage, with Sam Clucas bagging the Stags' goal from a penalty.

Now Cox wants to see his players redouble their efforts to ensure their good early-season work in establishing themselves as one of League Two's front runners does not go to waste.

"People say there's not a lot you can say about a performance like that. You can, it's just that most of it would not be printable," he said.

"We were awful, it was a bad day at the office and we got exactly what we deserved, which was nothing.

"The most disappointing thing for me was not that we lost, because we were never going to go through the whole of the season losing just one game, but the manner in which we lost.

"We just weren't at the races and didn't have that strong work ethic that we normally do for whatever reason - and that hurts.

"I've told the players that they can have that one; that we can write it off. But I don't want this to be happening again in a hurry and we have to put it right.

"We might only have lost two games in ten, but that's two games too many for me. I've called for consistency in performance and that's what I want to see."

Cox's troops have a near-instant chance to redeem themselves when derby rivals Chesterfield visit tonight (7.45pm) in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The Stags will be looking for a repeat of their 1-0 away win the week before against their local rivals as they look to get back to winning ways ahead of their next league fixture on Saturday against Bristol Rovers - which is also at the One Call Stadium.

He said: "Whoever goes out there, I want them to be reaching the high standards we have set for ourselves and show they deserve to be part of the team.

"I don't think we have fringe players. I think everyone in the squad is a good player and should be ready to step up and show their worth."

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Chesterfield: Cook forgets week of catastrophe to focus on JPT derby
http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-cook-forgets-week-of-catastrophe-to-focus-on-jpt-derby-1-6124053

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook said his side will look to put a ‘catastrophic’ seven days behind them when they take on Mansfield Town in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The Spireites are hurting after two consecutive league defeats, which began with a derby-day disappointment against the Stags and followed with a second-half collapse at Morecambe.

But the league will be put to one side tonight at Field Mill as Chesterfield make their first steps in a tournament that holds precious memories for supporters, after the club’s success at Wembley in 2011.

Cook said: “We’ll certainly try our best to win the trophy. We’ve created a mentality at the club where we don’t like losing. To have lost twice in seven days is a catastrophe for us.

“There’s a long journey ahead and we’ll have more bumpy rides than we have done so far, but at the end of the season that’s the time to discuss the season.”

The Spireites go into the clash without a recognised left-back after Ritchie Humphreys was ruled out with a hernia problem. Humphreys is set to see a specialist and is the latest name to be added to a lengthy injury list.

Drew Talbot is expected to miss out, while Nathan Smith (ankle), Marc Richards (thigh) and Armand Gnanduillet (knee) are also sidelined.

Cook added: “As a club you don’t go into local derbies with weakened teams. We will be full strength tomorrow night. We’ll take great support and we’ll try and win the game.”

Ian Evatt will captain the side once more following his first 90 minutes in competitive football at the Globe Arena on Saturday.

He said: “It’s an ideal chance for us to put things right. That’s the thing with football, there’s always another match around the corner.

“We were bitterly disappointed to lose [against Stags in the league] but I’m sure we’ll put things right.”

Mansfield were beaten 4-1 at home to Hartlepool on Saturday.

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