Archived News from March 2014
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COX, McGUIRE, COLIN COOPER REACTION
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Players should take plaudits - Cox
mansfieldtown.net Boss Paul Cox has heaped praise on his players, following our enthralling 4-2 victory away at Hartlepool United in Sky Bet League Two. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/players-should-take-plaudits-cox-1445779.aspx#yRg3RyrOH5O047Zz.99 The Stags scored three times in the last 20 minutes to secure three important points, which lifted us up to 17th position in the table, seven points above the relegation zone. Cox also applauded the travelling Stags’ faithful who made the long journey to Victoria Park, but has now urged his team to fully focus on Saturday’s match at home to AFC Wimbledon. “I don t want to take any of the credit,” said Cox. “The boys worked tremendously hard for 90 minutes and performed really well. “We played some great football in the second half, getting the ball out wide, looking like a thorn in Hartlepool’s side. “The players deserve all of the credit and get the accolades, but it’s only one win. “We’ve warmed down properly and taken on board the right fluids, because we’ve got another important game on Saturday. “I’m more concerned with just picking up points now, heading up the table and getting to the 50 points mark. If we can get to 50 points or close to it, we are another step closer to our goal. “We want to win as many games between now and the end of the season. I want the same hunger and desire shown from this match.” He added: “Also, a special mention to our supporters, because they travelled all this way on a Tuesday night, so a massive ‘thank you’ to them. Once again they got behind the boys brilliantly and pushed us over the line.” Meanwhile, our manager admitted that last night’s match was the most enjoyable game of the season, as his side came up against a team, who were unbeaten in their last five home games and aiming for a place in the Play-Offs. Cox continued: “It’s probably the most enjoyable game this season in terms of looking at Hartlepool’s recent record. “We’ve travelled up here and looking at their home record before the game, you would say it was frightening. 12 goals scored, conceding none and four wins out of five. “I knew with other fixtures, if we got a result here or even a point, it would be an important one. “We were fortunate that ‘Mazza’ (Alan Marriott) pulled off a great save from the penalty. Those are little bits and bobs in a football match that can change the outcome. “The spirit and the desire of the players to win games at this stage of the season is fantastic and they deserve a lot of credit.” ------------------ McGuire buzzing after victory mansfieldtown.net Midfielder Jamie McGuire believes last night’s 4-2 victory at Hartlepool United was our most important result of the season. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/mcguire-buzzing-after-victory-1445860.aspx?#rC17q1TqWYhdG5hH.99 Our team climbed up to 17th position in Sky Bet League Two, after a magnificent night at Victoria Park, which saw us score three goals in the last 20 minutes. James Jennings fired us ahead midway through the first half, only for Marlon Harewood to level the scoring just before the half-hour mark. After Harewood had a spot-kick saved by Alan Marriott in the final minute of normal time at the end of the first period, Luke James eventually put the hosts ahead shortly after the re-start. However, our team roared back as Jennings’ free-kick made it 2-2, before late strikes by Matt Rhead and Jamie McGuire gave us an all-important three points. Reflecting on his own goal, which was scored in stoppage-time, McGuire said: “It was kind of bouncing around in the middle as I came on to it. I’ve seen Jake Speight to the side of me, but I’ve taken it on; striking the ball and it went into the bottom-right corner. “There was so much relief when that went in, because we were only 3-2 up and that made it 4-2, so I’m buzzing with three points on the board and happy going back home. “You’ve got to say it was the best result of the season, because we are down there at the moment. We drew on Saturday and picked up three points here, which was the main thing. “The lads were brilliant. From the players that started, to the substitutes that came on and the gaffer who made some brave decisions. “Everything came together for us - it was a good all round performance tonight from the boys.” McGuire believed we could still win the game at 2-1 down, and praised the performance of goalkeeper Marriott. McGuire continued: “I think we need a special mention to ‘Mazza’ (Alan Marriott), because he has made the penalty save. Then (Martin) Riley has headed the ball over the bar from the rebound so another mention to him. “The belief was always there. We train hard, we work hard, we win as a team, draw as a team and lose as a team, which we have proved. “We dug deep, had enough chances and could have potentially scored more. However, we got four goals and overall it was a good performance and three points on the board.” ------------------- Mansfield town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26623785 "The boys have put in a great shift. That second-half performance warranted the win. "We were a bit annoyed with the second goal that went in, I thought it was sloppy defending. "We want to enjoy the win but it's feet firmly back on the ground. "They're a tremendous group, they keep ramming everything back down my throat and that's what I want." ---------------- Manager Cox says give the players all the credit after Stags storm to win at Hartlepool chad.co.uk Paul Cox admitted using reverse psychology at half-time and was also happy his switch to 4-4-2 paid off with three sterling substitutions, but the Stags boss still refused to take the credit for tonight’s memorable 4-2 win at in-form Hartlepool United. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/manager-cox-says-give-the-players-all-the-credit-after-stags-storm-to-win-at-hartlepool-1-6521546 In a sensational game Stags led 1-0, the home side levelled and missed a penalty before going 2-1 up soon after the break, only to see Cox’s changes revitalise the visitors and storm to what could be one of the most important wins in the club’s history. “That was probably the most enjoyable result of the season when you looks at how far we have to travel tonight and Hartlepool’s recent home record, which could be said to be frightening,” said Cox. “But I thought the boys were excellent tonight with the work ethic they put in. “I gave them a round of you know whats at half-time which was a bit of reverse psychology from me as I didn’t think we were that bad. “I just knew the game was quite an important one for us and even a draw would be a good result. “I thought we had done well for the first 25 minutes but then took our foot off the pedal and let Hartlepool back into it. “Let’s not forget Alan Marriott made a fine penalty save just before the break as things like that change the outlook of games. “After half-time we tinkered with the shape and freshened things up a bit, and in the end it was one-way traffic and we could have scored a couple more. “We conceded a sloppy goal just after half-time when we were about to go 4-4-2 anyway. “We put on Sam Clucas, Lindon Meikle and Jake Speight and I thought all three affected the game. “But the boys deserve all the credit, not the manager. They worked tremendously hard for 100 minutes with the time added on.” He added: “I though James Jennings miskicked for the equaliser. But I will take them however they go in. I don’t care if they go in off someone’s backside which is what Ollie Palmer needs right now as he played so well again tonight. “He and Matt Rhead are becoming a real handful together for any side in this league. “I have said to the boys to enjoy it tonight as that’s what we are in this for. But we must then prepare properly for Saturday when we have another massive game. I want to get us past that 50 point mark and achieve our goal of staying in the League as soon as possible. “I want us to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season and show the same hunger and desire we did tonight.” Cox concluded: “A big thank you to the supporters who came all the way up here on a wet and cold Tuesday night and got behind the team and helped us over the line.” -------------------- It Was A Harsh Lesson - Cooper Read more at http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/article/250314-cooper-post-mansfield-town-1445337.aspx?#rvm7J6CSQcMEaDox.99 Colin Cooper has told his players they must respond positively after an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance led to defeat against Mansfield Town on Tuesday night. The Pools boss had problems with all four goals scored by the visitors as they ran out 4-2 victors on a hugely disappointing night at Victoria Park. Cooper will now sit down and reflect on the footage with his squad ahead of the weekend clash with Cheltneham Town during which he expects a strong reaction. “I think if you look at the nature of the goals from our point of view they aren’t great,” he told Pools Player. “We’ve not conceded here in the last five and not been beaten here for a good while so it’s hard to take but there are lessons to be learnt from all four goals. “Do the Mansfield players do anything special to score their goals? The answer is now and for our younger players in particular that’s a harsh lesson and we have to make it a one-off. “My job is to analyse and you learn more when you lose if I’m brutally honest - the free-flowing football and the goals we’ve scored in the last few home games is very nice but that wasn’t good viewing tonight. “For the first time in a while we’ve lost at home and now we need to be men and react when we play at home again on Saturday.” --------------------- Hartlepool United players to watch video nasty following 4-2 Mansfield Town defeat by Richard Mennear, richard.mennear@jpress.co.uk http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/ COLIN Cooper’s Hartlepool United players will sit down to watch a video nasty after a devastating 4-2 home defeat to Mansfield Town all but ended their play-off hopes. http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-united-players-to-watch-video-nasty-following-4-2-mansfield-town-defeat-1-6522933 The Pools gaffer insists the result, and the second-half performance in particular, is a harsh lesson for his players who will sit down at the training ground when they return on Thursday to analyse the goals conceded. Going into the game, 11th-placed Pools who are now nine points off the top seven, were formidable at home with four wins in five unbeaten matches. But injuries to key Pools players mid-way through the second-half forced Cooper into making three quick substitutions, with Mansfield also bringing on recruits and switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 formation and the Pools defence couldn’t cope. Pools were leading 2-1 thanks to goals from Marlon Harewood and Luke James’ 15th of the season but when the injured trio of Harewood, Darren Holden and Jack Compton had to give way that swung the momentum in Paul Cox side’s favour. On came club captain Antony Sweeney - who would also later depart with a nasty looking leg injury - James Poole and debutant Dan Jones at left-back but Pools struggled with Mansfield’s physical and direct approach, conceding three sloppy goals in the final 20 minutes. Cooper admitted afterwards it wasn’t good enough and said his players will all sit down and analyse what went wrong. The 47-year-old said: “If you look at the nature of the goals from our point of view it isn’t great. “We hadn’t conceded a goal here in the last five and been unbeaten in that time so this is hard to take but all I have said to the players is there are lessons to be learned. “It is one where we have to sit down together and have a look and make sure we don’t repeat that against Cheltenham Town on Saturday. “The lads will be surprised by the nature of the goals when they watch them back because it is totally out of character but with all due respect it does happen now and again. That doesn’t make it any easier but it is my job to analyse and you learn more when you lose. “The question I asked them was if you look at yourself as an individual is there anything you could do better to stop the ball coming into our box because they don’t do anything special to score those goals. “For the young players in particular it is a harsh lesson and we have to make sure it is a one-off.” Cooper said the ball for Mansfield’s first goal should have been dealt with, the equalising James Jennings goal from the free-kick was not “pretty to watch”, while he said more could have been done to stop the third headed goal from Matt Rhead. “We have a challenge now,” added Cooper. “For the first time in a long while we have lost at home and we have another home game on Saturday. “I need to see some men take to the pitch, sometimes it is hard to play Saturday after a Tuesday defeat.” He told SportMail: “I feel for them to a certain degree. People were shouting at me from the crowd, saying “that is not good enough”. “Give them a bit of credit, they are doing okay.” There was a couple of strong performances amongst the gloom and doom - Brad Walker, playing in a holding position in place of the suspended Simon Walton and live wire James. Cooper added: “I have to say the pass from Brad into Luke for the first goal, the take and the finish was top class. “Both of them were very good.” - RICHARD MENNEAR --------------------- James Jennings @JamesJennings03 Get in there!Great result & team spirit from the boys tonight! Nice to score 2 goals!! Great support from the fans who travelled #stags Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6 Get the f*** in!!!! What a second half performance from the boys!! #stags Nice to win and complain about the ref. How he has given a penalty against Sutts i will never know. Got 100% of the ball! Lord Oliver Palmer @OliverJPalmer Great win tonight! Great character an a footstep in the right direction. Great support from all the fans who travelled! Lindon Meikle @lindonmeikle Worst peno given btw! Seems like every1 is against us..... Shove that result up your arses! #stags #Mtfc #BANG JAMIE MCGUIRE @JAMIEMCGUIRE23 Great win lastnite happy to get a goal ! Lads were different class ! Credit to the fans for traveling up lastnite great support ---------------------- |
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