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Archived News from November 2014

MURRAY, BEEVERS, RILEY, JOHN SHERIDAN REACTION
27th November 2014 10:32



video interviews: Murray, Beevers, Riley
http://www.player.mansfieldtown.net/latest-news/article/4319763/date/20141122185200/page/0/name/video--trio-react-to-plymouth-victory

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Murray delighted with players’ performance
mansfieldtown.net

Caretaker boss praises players’ display after sinking high-flying Plymouth.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-delighted-with-players-performance-2098729.aspx#ePI4mbiahTrtM6Gz.99

Caretaker boss Adam Murray has heaped praise on our players after today’s fabulous 1-0 victory over promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle.

Following the departure of manager Paul Cox yesterday, it’s been an eventful 24 hours for our team, but they showed excellent courage, commitment and character to record a deserved win

Our side played some exciting, high-tempo football at times and on loan striker Vadaine Oliver’s breached the Football League’s tightest defence on the stroke of half-time to give us three points which ends Plymouth’s seven-match unbeaten streak in Sky Bet League Two.

“It was a good victory for us and it was needed,” said our caretaker boss, who was speaking in his post-match interview.

“Obviously, with the whirlwind few hours that we’ve had, it was important that we got the message across to the lads how we wanted to go about things, so you have to give credit to the lads today for carrying on that plan.

“We had the lads in early this morning for a pre-match meal at the ground, just to try and clear a few heads and get people focussed and to insert our game-plan and how we wanted to go about things.

“The big thing which we wanted to put across was the belief in our own ability to be brave.

“In the meeting we had a good chat about them and about ourselves, but the main focus was on belief. We wanted to put something in place where we tried to dictate and control the game more than we probably have done in recent weeks and that was putting ownership onto the boys to take control and have bravery.”

He continued: “Yesterday morning we planned, obviously in a different way, how to attack this game and it wasn’t altered until late last night.

“We always wanted to get something out of the game, no matter of the situation, and the plan changed overnight and we went into it in a different frame of mind and with a different viewpoint.

“It’s a massive three points and the lads have to take credit for that.”

Our rejuvenated team will now be looking to carry today’s impressive performance into Tuesday night’s challenging FA Cup first round replay away to non-league Concord Rangers.

Murray is well aware that a different approach will be required against the Vanarama South outfit: “We’ll recover [from today’s game] first and then set the game-plan up for Tuesday.

“Taking into account the environment we’ll be going into - the surface, the surroundings, etcetera, it will have to be a different game-plan, but we’ll prepare to win that game individually. If we have to mix things up a bit, then we will do.

“We’re going there expecting a war and we’ll be ready for a war. We’ll build on today, put a little bit of structure and organisation in on Monday, and we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

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Mansfield caretaker manager Adam Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30065405

"It was a good victory for us. It was important to get the message across to the lads and they stuck to our game plan.
"I got them in early this morning to clear a few heads and I wanted to make sure we got the belief into them.
"I have an affinity with this club and I will have to think about it, if I get offered the job, but at the minute I am just concentrating on the next game."

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Caretaker boss Murray thanks Stags players for win
chad.co.uk

Adam Murray tonight thanked the Mansfield Town players for how quickly they adapted to him taking over as caretaker boss and beating Plymouth Argyle 1-0.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/caretaker-boss-murray-thanks-stags-players-for-win-1-6967547

Murray took over the reins at very short notice last night when Paul Cox decided to bring down the curtain on his three and half year tenure after mounting criticism from supporters.

That left Murray very little time to implement his plans, but he made six changes and went 4-3-3 and it all paid off perfectly as a Vadaine Oliver goal shot down high-flying Plymouth.

“I said before the game I wanted to get my ideas across to the boys in a very short time. But I was scared of overloading them with information and complicating things,” said Murray.

“All credit to them, the boys carried that out today and now it’s a case of building on that. I need to work with them on structure and organisation and hopefully things will improve.

“I want to say a massive thank you to the lads. Obviously it’s been a whirlwind few hours and to go out there and show that spirit, desire and ability to be brave on the ball was fantastic.

“It is about installing belief in them how good those players are in there. We have a hell of a lot of ability and passion.

“We can’t change things overnight and turn us into Barcelona. That won’t happen in six to eight hours.”

He added: “I think Plymouth are superb at what they do and they have a very experienced manager. They didn’t come here with that record for no reason.

“To play the way I want us to play takes a different kind of fitness. To keep the ball and have three or four options is hard work. Even after half-an-hour you could see we were not as energetic and dynamic. But it will come in time.

“That is not a slant on everything we have done over the past three or four years. I have been a part of that and it has been brilliant.

“But maybe the time has come for a fresh look at things and a chance to re-organise and re-energise the whole thing. It happens in all walks of life.”

On the fans’ noisy backing, he said: “I know what they can bring to the table and when they behind us they are a force to be reckoned with. They always have been.”

Now Murray must concentrate on Tuesday’s FA Cup tie at Concord with one eye on throwing his hat in the ring for the manager’s job if results continue to flow.

“My head has been all over the place and my first focus was to make sure the players were right and prepared for today and make sure the staff were okay,” he said.

“Now I have to focus on another massive game on Tuesday.

“I will now take it one day at a time as I have been in this game too long to get carried away with things and we haven’t even started yet.

“It is a crazy game and you never know. What will happen lies in the coming weeks and the powers that be.

“Everyone knows the connection I have with the club and the fans.

“It is a tough one for me as I have really enjoyed playing this season and have been happy with my own performances.

“But I am passionate about coaching and my badges and we will have to see what happens.”

Argyle boss John Sheridan watched his side’s seven game unbeaten League run halted and said: “It was a poor, soft goal on our part for us to concede just before half-time. We got caught out by a simple, hopeful long ball and should have dealt with it.

“It gave them a lifeline to hang on to. I can’t fault our players. They tried to get back into the game in the second-half and get something out of it. I don’t think we deserved to lose.

“We had one or two really good opportunities, particularly in the first half when we hit the bar, but the ball just didn’t break our way today.

“We have got to try and lift ourselves. I don’t think the performance was too bad, there was a belief to try to get back into the game which I can’t fault.

“The fans were great again as normal, it’s just a shame we couldn’t get a result for them.”

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Beevers: We’re all behind Murray
mansfieldtown.net

Right-back reflects on win over Plymouth and reveals support for caretaker-boss.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/beevers-were-all-behind-murray-2098879.aspx#tM4UmIjRZ70gctay.99

Defender Lee Beevers has pledged his support for caretaker-boss Adam Murray following today’s stunning 1-0 success over Plymouth Argyle.

Our team ended a nine-match winless run courtesy of a nonchalant chip by Vadaine Oliver on the stroke of half-time, which was followed up by some strong, sturdy and resolute defending in the second half.

It was the perfect tonic for our players, who met at One Call Stadium with caretaker-boss Adam Murray this morning to discuss yesterday’s news that Paul Cox had left the club after three-and-a-half years as manager.

“Any win is enjoyable, but especially this one with the run that we’ve been on, having not won in nine,” said the right-back.

“[The last 24 hours] have been strange really. On Friday evening until half past five, you’re preparing for the game the next day, doing what the manager told you to do in training that day, then suddenly it’s all changed and there’s somebody else coming in.

“We came in a little bit earlier this morning [so caretaker manager Adam Murray] could try and get things across and how he wanted us to play, and I think it came across well.”

He continued: “I think he [Murray] has what it takes [to be manager permanently]. He’s doing all the right things, his enthusiasm on the training ground, day in, day out, is fantastic.

“He’s been taking his badges and things and become an FA mentor, so he’s doing everything in the right and if he gets the job permanently, the boys will be right behind him.”

Asked about the change in our style of play for today’s game, he said: “It’s something as footballers that we work on in training, passing the ball and everything, and it’s just a case of getting the confidence to bring that forward to a game situation.

“That’ll hopefully get better with the more that we practice it in training and it’ll come to the front in games.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s game at Concord Rangers in the FA Cup, Beevers is expecting a difficult challenge and one which will undoubtedly be a big night in the history of the non-league outfit, who are in the competition proper for the first time.

He added: “It’ll be a great occasion for them - taking us to a replay, their home ground and everything.

“We’re well aware of what’s going to happen. We came up against them last week and we know how they play, so we’ve just got to try and come out on top against it.”

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Beevers backing caretaker Murray as possible new Stags boss
chad.co.uk

Lee Beevers said he and the players would be very happy to see Adam Murray take the Mansfield Town manager’s job full-time after yesterday’s superb 1-0 win over in-form Plymouth Argyle.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/beevers-backing-caretaker-murray-as-possible-new-stags-boss-1-6967563?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Murray was thrown into the limelight as caretaker boss the night before following the departure of Paul Cox and the players, given more licence to play football in a new formation, responded well with their first win in 10 games.

Beevers said: “It’s early days yet and it we are still coming to terms with it and the different ideas.

“But if Adam Murray managed to get the job with the way things are going, then brilliant.

“He is enthusiastic and this job could be a great stepping stone for him.

“We were just preparing for the game at half past five last night and then found out the manager had gone. That happens in football and you have to get your head around it.

“It was definitely a surprise and there is never really a good time for it to happen.

“We just had to get on with it and he (Adam Murray) just said go out there and express yourselves and we will see where it goes.

“Plymouth are a good side but we made them look ordinary. If we carry on doing that we’ll be all right.

“It is a good feeling to have the crowd behind you and cheer you.”

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Defeat by Mansfield was harsh on Argyle, says manager John Sheridan
By HeraldSport, By Chris Errington

MANAGER John Sheridan thought defeat was harsh on Plymouth Argyle as they lost 1-0 away to Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/POLL-Defeat-Mansfield-harsh-Argyle-says-manager/story-24620270-detail/story.html?#ixzz3Jt2djuPK

Striker Vadaine Oliver scored on the stroke of half-time as the managerless Stags won for the first time in 10 games.

Argyle had plenty of possession throughout the contest at Field Mill but could not take their chances.

The best of those came in the 18th minute when right wing-back Kelvin Mellor hit the ball against the underside of the crossbar from only a couple of yards out.

Sheridan told Herald Sport: “I thought we played okay and should have got something out of the game.

“We have just got to take it on the chin. It’s a bad result but I don’t think it was a bad performance.

“Now we have got to make sure we get the three points with the home fixture (against York City) next week.”

Argyle had been unbeaten in seven games in League Two before their surprise defeat by struggling Mansfield.

Sheridan made a trio of substitutions after the break, but it was all to no avail.

He continued: “I thought we had a go in the second half. We didn’t hide. We were brave and we were trying to get something out of the game.

“We left ourselves open once or twice, but I don’t mind that. We were trying to get a goal.”

Mellor’s close range shot against the bar came as Argyle had a good period of pressure after a lively start from Mansfield.

Sheridan said: “I thought it was in, to be fair. It just didn’t go our way today.

“There were one or two balls which went across the box in the second half and we couldn’t finish off.

“Sometimes you need that rub of the green. Obviously, if we score first it’s a different game.

“I was quite pleased with the performance, even though these are the games you have got to try to get something from if you want to get out of the division.”

Sheridan thought Mansfield had been ‘galvanised’ by the change of manager.

Paul Cox parted company with the Stags late on Friday afternoon and long-serving 33-year-old captain Adam Murray was appointed as caretaker boss.

That lifted the mood around Field Mill, with Murray a firm favourite among the fans.

Mansfield took the lead when left-back Lee Beevers played the ball over the top of the Argyle defence.

Oliver outpaced centre-back Carl McHugh and lobbed the ball past Luke McCormick.

The Argyle ‘keeper had hesitated about whether to come charging out for the ball or not and was stranded when Oliver got to it first.

Sheridan said: “It’s a soft, soft goal to concede, just before half-time. It gives them (Mansfield) something to hold onto, and that’s what has happened.

“I can’t fault the effort from the players. They tried to get back in the game.

“I would have been happy to go in at 0-0 at half-time and then, possibly, there would have been a different outcome to the game.

“We would have probably gone for the throat a little bit more, but I’m not going to grumble.

“Obviously, we all want to win, but again there have been some funny results in our league today.

“I have just said to the players they have got to bounce back and try to get the three points next week.”

Sheridan added: “Mansfield are a strong team at home. They have had one or two decent results and I was expecting a tough game.

“It was a tough game but I thought we should have got something out of it.

“For some reason, when a manager loses his job the players lift their game. He (Murray) has made one or two changes today and it has worked for him.”

It was a feisty encounter in the second half and there was a particular flashpoint involving McCormick and Oliver.

The pair had already tangled a couple of times previously when Oliver charged into McCormick as the Argyle ‘keeper caught the ball.

Players from both teams raced to the scene, with Argyle centre-back Peter Hartley among those most agitated.

Once calm was restored, Oliver and Hartley were both booked by referee Mark Brown, although there remained an edge to the game until full-time.

Asked about the incident, Sheridan said: “I think the lad was a bit late but it was nothing really.”

It was Hartley’s fourth yellow card of the season and leaves him one away from an automatic one-match ban.

Sheridan added: “People who aren’t involved in it shouldn’t be getting involved.”

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twitter

Vadaine Oliver19 @VadaineOliver
Great result and great performance today frm all the boys really showed wht the team is capable of happy to get the goal and MOM aswel

Jamie Sendles White @j_sendles_white
What a great result. Lejjjj performance from the boys. Onwards and upwards now. Fans were incredible...BUZZING #stags #MTFC

Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6
Very proud to wear the armband today. What a performance from the lads and great to see the crowd back to their best! #stags u

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Latest | November 2014