Archived News from September 2014
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COX, EVTIMOV, GARY ROWETT REACTION
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We deserved a point - Cox mansfieldtown.net, 30th August 2014 Boss reflects on first home defeat of the 2014/15 campaign. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/we-deserved-a-point-cox-1885976.aspx#QuwEFGQDvIizhset.99 Manager Paul Cox admits our team were left feeling bitterly frustrated after today’s narrow 2-1 home defeat to high-flying Burton Albion, but insists we must be ‘cuter’ going forward. The Brewers, who have now assumed top spot in Sky Bet League Two, opened the scoring just before half-time when Alex MacDonald’s deflected shot just crept beyond the dive of debutant goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov. Callum McFadzean doubled the Brewers’ lead in the second half, but Matt Rhead quickly headed home to set up a grandstand finale. However, it wasn’t to be for our team, as despite their brave performance, Burton, who had just 10 men in the dying exchanges after Robbie Weir was shown a straight red card, defended bravely to secure three points. “The boys were a little bit puzzled in [the dressing room] and they’ve come in probably the most frustrated they’ve been all season,” said Cox, who was speaking in his post-match interview. “It’s disappointing with the two goals that we conceded. We were in possession and gave the ball away in bad areas, but apart from that I can’t remember Dimi having a shot to save of any note. “I just think in both boxes we’ve got to be a little bit better. The ball must have gone into their boxes, 20-25 times in the second half. We picked up some great positions, won the first ball, but we need that person who is going to attack the second ball in. “So it’s disappointing - especially when you come up against a team that are in the top three. If (Burton Albion) are your benchmark, we’re not far away now in certain areas. “But we need to kill teams in that last third when we get good possession and we create chances. It’s just a story of both boxes at the minute - putting our chances away in one box and being resolute in the other.” Our boss also wants our players to gamble more when inside the opposition penalty area, in order to boost our attacking threat. He continued: “What made us a good team, coming round the corner last year after Christmas, was when we did overload the box going forward, we went and gambled. Players went and got on the end of things and put the ball in the back of the net. “It’s just getting that belief out of the players now to want to go and score goals - especially at home, when teams are going to come here and maybe sit back and invite you on a little bit.” Cox concluded: “I’m just disappointed that we haven’t come away with anything from the game, because I thought the least we deserved was a point. Dare I say it, if we’d been a little bit ‘cuter’, we may have even come away with three [points].” Paul Cox’s full post-match interview will be available on Stags Player later tonight. To subscribe, click here. -------------------- Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28906701 Mansfield manager Paul Cox talks to BBC Radio Nottingham following his side's 2-1 defeat to Burton. "I didn't think we deserved to lose today. I thought the lads gave everything and showed a tremendous desire and attitude. "I think we were in possession of the ball for both goals and our lack of sophistication cost us. "We need to concentrate more. We need to be better in both boxes." Burton manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28906701 "It was hard fought against a team that are very direct in their play - and they're good at it. "I felt as though we coped with it really well, particularly early on in the second half to break away after scoring the first goal with a little bit of fortune. "Our forward play could have been a little more incisive, and I was a little worried the conditions might play into their hands in the second half, but we were very strong. "We broke away and our second goal was an excellent, excellent goal." ----------------- Disappointed Cox admits Stags need a finisher chad.co.uk Stags boss Paul Cox was disappointed to lose to a Burton side that sent few shots at them all afternoon, but conceded Mansfield are short of an X-factor striker who can turn their chances into goals. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/disappointed-cox-admits-stags-need-a-finisher-1-6814313 Albion’s gritty 2-1 win at One Call Stadium today put them top of the table. But it took a deflected Alex MacDonald goal just before the break to send them on their way. Callum McFadzean made it 2-0 on 71 minutes before Matt Rhead pulled one back. The game then ended with a red card for Robbie Weir, who headbutted Jamie McGuire after McGuire seemed to stamp on him. Stags defender Martin Riley also seemed to throw a punch in a last minute dust-up in the Burton box which went unpunished by referee Darren Drysdale, who has so often upset Stags with his decisions in the past. “I was disappointed not to come away with anything,” said Cox. “We deserved at least a draw and, dare I say it, had we been a bit cuter, maybe all three points. “That’s the most frustrated I’ve been all season. The boys have come in puzzled how they’ve lost. “I can’t remember Dimitar having a shot to save, yet they’ve scored twice. “You can say they were lucky but I want myself and the players to start being lucky too. I want my players to shoot and try to affect the game in the last third. You would be amazed at what happens if you hit the target. “I thought we were the better side without actually giving too much of a threat in the last third. Their first goal came massively against the run of play and we were up against a strong wind too. “We have got to be a bit better in both boxes and we are perhaps missing one or two ingredients to polish off all the hard work we are putting in. “We are short of a fox in the box to get on the end of Matt Rhead’s flicks - a bit of X-factor - but we know they don’t grow on trees.” He added: “There are no excuses. We were up against one of the best teams in the division. “Burton will be in the top three at the end of the year, so if we take them a benchmark we are not far away in certain areas. “Burton are resolute and do what they do well. They keep clean sheets and nick goals when they need them.” On the red card and clashes near the end, he said: “It was a hot-blooded game and the closest we have to a local derby now. “I didn’t see the Jamie McGuire incident and, at the end, I though it was a full blown fist in Martin Riley’s face. It’s not like him to react. He is not that way inclined. “The boys worked extremely hard but, when they had the sending-off, I think we panicked and the quality of the balls we put into the box could have been a lot better.” Burton boss Gary Rowett was unhappy with referee Drysdale’s decisions, and said: “It was a hard-fought win against a team who are very direct in their play, which they are good at. “We coped with it really well, particularly early on in the second half. “We were perhaps fortunate to get the first goal, I thought our forward play could have been more incisive. “But our second goal was excellent and we hit the bar and had one or two other opportunities as well “You know you are going to come under pressure and you want the referee to make decisions. “It was a difficult game to referee but by letting one or two things go and not dealing with them it just spiralled into an absolute scrap and a fight, which suited Mansfield and the way they want to play. “I was disappointed with one or two things on the afternoon but very pleased with the three points that we thoroughly deserved.” On the red card, he added: “Until I have seen the video it is difficult to comment but all the players around him said he has not done anything. “They say he was stamped on and as he got up the two players put their heads together, but Robbie says he has not headbutted Maguire which is what the referee says. I will have to have a look at it again. “There were several worse tackles that went unpunished, which was unjust. “I am not here to criticise officials, but he made it difficult to manage afterwards. I will go and have a chat with the referee. “I have told the lads I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goal and we have got to be better than that. “It was a straight ball down the middle and a very poor goal to concede. “This is the first phase of the season. We have had seven games in 21 days, including against a Premier League team and a Championship team, and we have six wins and a draw. “I have got to be immensely proud of the start we have made, but it is just a start. That is all it is and we won’t get carried away.” --------------------- Rowett hails battling Burton sportinglife.com Gary Rowett: Critical of the referee's performance The victory left the Brewers unbeaten, but Rowett was angry to see Robbie Weir sent off by referee Darren Drysdale for an alleged head-butt on Jamie McGuire three minutes from time. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-two/news/article/422/9449614/-? The visitors thought McGuire should have seen a red card for stamping on Weir and that home defender Martin Riley should have joined him for a punch in a mass confrontation in the seventh minute of stoppage time. A goal in each half from Alex MacDonald and Callum McFadzean had Burton in charge of a very tight affair, but home striker Matt Rhead pulled one back for Mansfield before tempers began to fray. "It was a hard-fought win against a team who are very direct in their play, which they are good at," said Rowett. "You know you are going to come under pressure and you want the referee to make decisions. "It was a difficult game to referee but by letting one or two things go and not dealing with them it just spiralled into an absolute scrap and a fight, which suited Mansfield and the way they want to play. "I was disappointed with one or two things but very pleased with the three points that we thoroughly deserved." On Weir's red card, Rowett said: "Until I have seen the video it is difficult to comment but all the players around him said he has not done anything. "They say he was stamped on and as he got up the two players put their heads together, but Robbie says he has not head-butted Maguire which is what the referee says. I will have to have a look at it again. "There were several worse tackles that went unpunished, which was unjust. I am not here to criticise officials, but he made it difficult to manage afterwards." Burton remain unbeaten this season in all competitions, and Rowett added: "I have got to be immensely proud of the start we have made, but it is just a start. That is all it is and we won't get carried away." Mansfield boss Paul Cox felt defeat was harsh on his team. He said: "I was disappointed not to come away with anything. We deserved at least a draw and, dare I say it, had we been a bit cuter, maybe all three points. "That's the most frustrated I've been all season. The boys have come in puzzled how they've lost. "I can't remember Dimitar [Evtimov] having a shot to save, yet they've scored twice. "You can say they were lucky but I want myself and the players to start being lucky too. I want my players to shoot and try to affect the game in the last third. You would be amazed at what happens if you hit the target. "I thought we were the better side without actually giving too much of a threat in the last third. Their first goal came massively against the run of play and we were up against a strong wind too. "We have got to be a bit better in both boxes and we are perhaps missing one or two ingredients to polish off all the hard work we are putting in. "Burton will be in the top three at the end of the year, so if we take them a benchmark we are not far away in certain areas. "Burton are resolute and do what they do well. They keep clean sheets and nick goals when they need them." On the controversial clashes near the end, Cox added: "It was a hot-blooded game and the closest we have to a local derby now. I didn't see the Jamie McGuire incident and, at the end, I though it was a full blown fist in Martin Riley's face. It's not like him to react. He is not that way inclined." --------------------- Frustrated Evtimov rues bad luck mansfieldtown.net, 30th August 2014 On-loan goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov believes our team were unlucky not to get a positive result against Burton Albion. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/frustrated-evtimov-rues-bad-luck-1885839.aspx#D7oh8lfXujpcaYg6.99 The Bulgarian, who was making his debut, was frustrated not to emerge victorious on his debut after a quiet afternoon between the sticks. “To be honest, I didn’t have a shot to save," said Evtimov. "They had two shots and scored two goals. The first goal was quite unlucky, it was a double deflection. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, I think we were quite unlucky. “We are all frustrated, because we didn’t deserve to lose the game. Hopefully, the next game, the luck will come back to us. We’re going to work hard after this defeat and hopefully the results will get better.” The 20-year-old shot-stopper admitted he was surprised to be included in the starting xi for today's match after the solid start that team-mate Sascha Studer has made to his Stags career. Evtimov is now hoping to hold on to his place for the trip to Notts County in the Johnstones Paint Trophy on Tuesday. He added: “Sascha has been doing very well and I was surprised that I got my chance. I came here to help the team and I'm pleased the gaffer gave me the chance to play today.” “I would love to play [against Notts County], but it’s up to the gaffer to decide who is going to play. But whether he chooses me or Sascha I'm sure that we will both do really well." Evtimov concluded: “I came here at the start of the summer and played one game against Notts County then I went back to Nottingham Forest. "I was then supposed to go on loan to Wrexham, but things didn’t go through there so I came back here and I'm glad I'm here and everything is settled.” Dimitar Evtimov's full interview will be available on Stags Player later tonight. To subscribe, click here. ------------------ Disappointment for Dimitar on Stags’ debut chad.co.uk It was a losing debut for Mansfield Town’s on-loan Bulgarian keeper Dimitar Evtimov on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/disappointment-for-dimitar-on-stags-debut-1-6814369 But the 20-year-old, starting a six-month loan from Nottingham Forest, was unlucky with both goals and had little else to do as Burton Albion stole a 2-1 win to go top of the table First he was beaten by a double deflection from Alex MacDonald’s 42nd minute shot from outside the box, then he found himself caught out by Martin Riley’s perfect tackle in the box on MacDonald which inadvertently only set up Callum McFadzean for a tap-in. “To be honest I didn’t really have a shot to save and I was quite unlucky with the double deflection for their first goal,” said Evtimov. “It is frustrating as I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. I felt we were the better team.” Swiss keeper Sascha Studer has made some good stops in the first five games so it was a surprise to see Evtimov among the five home changes. Indeed, no one was more surprised than Evtimov. “Sascha Studer has been doing really well so I was surprised to get my chance,” he said. “But I was glad the gaffer gave me the chance and I am just upset we didn’t win. “I am very pleased to be at Mansfield and to make my debut. Hopefully we can get the win next game. “I came here at the beginning of the season and played a game against Notts County then went back to Forest. I was supposed to go to Wrexham but it didn’t go through. I am glad to be back here and now I can settle down. “It’s up to the gaffer now, but I would love to play against Notts on Tuesday.” Manager Paul Cox said after the game he would love to find a striker who could finish the chances they are creating. He does have that man at the club already, but Liam Hearn is out injured until Christmas. Tomorrow night sees the transfer window close with Cox conceding it was unlikely he would be able to, or be allowed to, bring in another striker under the current budget restraints. --------------------- Burton Albion appeal Robbie Weir's sending off at Mansfield By Burton Mail,September 02, 2014 Read more: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Burton-Albion-appeal-Robbie-Weir-s-sending/story-22862543-detail/story.html?#ixzz3C93uxHwh BURTON Albion are appealing Robbie Weir's sending off at Mansfield Town on Saturday. The 25-year-old midfielder saw red late on for an alleged headbutt on Stags midfielder Jamie Maguire. Albion have looked at the video evidence and yesterday morning lodged their appeal with Lancaster Gate. "We've put in an appeal straight away," said Brewers boss Gary Rowett, whose side beat Mansfield 2-1 in a fractious match. "I have to say I've watched it three or four times on the match DVD and on the Football League Show. I can't see anywhere in that melee that he headbutted Maguire in any shape or form." A verdict should be delivered by Thursday. If the appeal is unsuccessful, Weir will miss three games - Sunday's home clash with Portsmouth, the home game with former club York City and the trip to Wimbledon. ------------------ |
Latest | September 2014