Archived News from February 2015
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MURRAY, LAMBE, PIDGELEY, WESTLEY REACTION
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Boss delighted after home victory
mansfieldtown.net Murray hails players character after Stevenage are beaten at One Call Stadium. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/boss-delighted-after-home-victory-2253902.aspx#33hcRFtoAhAbcFRB.99 Manager Adam Murray hailed our players’ performance and character as our team brought an end to a six-match winless run in Sky Bet League Two with a priceless 1-0 victory over Stevenage at One Call Stadium. After a goalless first half, substitute Reggie Lambe scored what proved to be the only goal of the game, seven minutes after he was brought on at half-time. The victory lifts our team up three places to 20th position in Sky Bet League Two - above Tranmere Rovers, Cheltenham Town, York City and Hartlepool United, who were all beaten this afternoon. “I can’t ask any more from the boys - the performance, the effort, the application and the commitment to the cause and this football club, from all of them, is amazing and they’ve done themselves proud today,” said Murray. “The game was really scrappy as we knew it would be. We set up to make it like that in the first half and we always had Plan B in mind, and it paid off. “Stevenage do everything they can to win and even though sometimes I feel that it comes across as a little bit disrespectful, this game is about winning. He [Graham Westley] is a top manager and he does what he does for certain reasons, so that’s a big win for us.” Murray continued: “The league table doesn’t look any better to me - we’re still in a relegation battle. “Everybody hit the panic button because we dropped below that dotted line [after last week’s game at Carlisle United]. There are 18 games to go and, for me, it’s going to be a battle all the way. “So it’s a massive result for us. To that dressing room, it feels like they’ve won the World Cup at the minute, but within the next 24 hours we’ll come back down to earth with a bump and start again on Monday and continue this fight to stay in the league. “Three points is the most important thing. First and foremost I want people to be proud of the team that is out there and know that they’re giving 200% to the cause - that’s a big thing for me. “With the process that we’re on, then we’ll be successful eventually. Whether success is staying in the league, or next season getting promoted, we will be successful and I’m fully confident in that. “I feel confident in these players, myself and my staff. It’s about focus - we’re in a relegation battle and we’ll regain focus again for Tuesday’s game at Morecambe.” Our boss was forced to make a late change to his starting line-up as Ricky Ravenhill pulled his hamstring during the warm up, which meant that Jamie McGuire was drafted into the XI at short notice. Murray praised the Livepudlian midfielder’s performance. He said: “He [Jamie McGuire] is a monster of a man and he’s a born leader. Even when he’s not in the team, he’s a huge part to the group. “Sometimes he’s not pleasing on the eye [in his style of play], but he’s like a gel to a team and a squad. He brings everybody together, pulls people through and demands standards and I thought he was excellent today.” Another player who impressed in this afternoon’s victory was burly frontman Matt Rhead, who grabbed an assist when he showed excellent aerial strength to get on the end of a cross by Lee Beevers and set up Reggie Lambe for a close-range finish. Murray added: “’Rheady’ does what he does and the whole point in playing him was to get the best out of him in this situation. “The front two took a little bit of time to get into the game in the first half, and we had a little word at half-time, but in the second half they showed what they were all about.” One player who had a quiet afternoon was debutant Lenny Pidgeley. The custodian, who joined us on deadline day, claimed a number of balls into his area, but didn’t have any saves to make of any real note, as he kept a deserved clean-sheet on his 31st birthday. Our boss added: “[Lenny not having to make any saves] is a credit to the back three. I thought the wing-backs worked their socks off and Lenny did what we brought him in to do. “He didn’t shut up all game and a good ‘keeper shouldn’t have saves to make, because they organise and make sure that shots don’t come in. He did what we expected him to do and showed why we brought him into the club.” ------------------------ Stags boss Murray delighted after ‘big win’ for Mansfield Town over Stevenage chad.co.uk When losing skipper Ricky Ravenhill in the pre-match warm-up, Stags manager Adam Murray could be forgiven for thinking it wasn’t to be his day again after six games without a win had seen them drop into the bottom two. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-murray-delighted-after-big-win-for-mansfield-town-over-stevenage-1-7095097 But a gutsy 1-0 home win over Stevenage on a poor One Call Stadium surface this afternoon had Murray purring: “That was a great result for us and we needed that. “It was one of those again when Ricky Ravenhill pulled up in the warm-up with his hamstring and you thought that’s another black cat we’ve run over. “But I couldn’t ask for any more from the boys today. I thought their performance, effort, application and commitment for this football club was amazing and they have done themselves proud. “We set up for the game to be scrappy today and it paid off. ----------------- Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31070959 "It was more of a relief for the hard work that everyone's putting in. This group can't do any more at the moment and I've just said to them they deserve it. "One of the big things we spoke about in the week was that everyone's putting in 100% and it's not enough. When you're at the bottom of the league it needs to be 110%. "Teams that make a difference in football have players that can do that. I looked at the boys today and they did just that." ---------------- Adam Murray: Mansfield Town players felt like they had won the World Cup after beating Stevenage By Sarah Clapson, Nottingham Post It was a 'massive' result, but boss Adam Murray insists Mansfield Town's first win in seven gameschanges little in their fight to avoid relegation. Reggie Lambe's goal was enough to see off Stevenage and lift the Stags out of the bottom two, up to 20th place. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Adam-Murray-Mansfield-Town-players-felt-like-won/story-25996141-detail/story.html?#ixzz3RGLn1srp Murray however, expects the battle for survival to go right to the wire. "It doesn't look better to me," he said, when asked about the League Two table on Saturday evening. "We're still in a relegation battle. "Last weekend everybody hit the panic button because we dropped below that dotted line. "There's 18 games to go, and for me, it's going to be a relegation battle all the way. "It's a massive result for us. To that dressing room it feels like they've won the World Cup at the minute. "But we'll come back down to earth with a bump and we'll start again today to continue this fight to stay in the league. "I want people, first and foremost, to be proud of the team that's out there and know that they're giving 200 per cent for the cause. "I feel with this process we're on, we'll be successful eventually. Whether success is staying in the league or, next season, success is getting promoted, we will be successful. I'm fully confident in that. "It's about focus. We're in a relegation battle and we'll regain focus again for tomorrow (a trip to Morecambe)." Against a physical Boro side on a bobbly One Call Stadium pitch, Mansfield were forced to revert to a more direct style - something Murray wouldn't be averse to doing again. "It's a period in the season now where the league and the environment doesn't allow for the free-flowing football you'd be able to do when the pitches are nice and carpet-like," he said. "We've got to reinvent for certain games. Then when we do the hard work and win the battles, we've got players we can introduce to put into areas that can hurt people." -------------- Birthday boy upbeat after winning debut mansfieldtown.net Goalkeeper Pidgeley hails display in important victory over Stevenage. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/birthday-boy-upbeat-after-winning-debut-2254830.aspx#VIfHDei8WbRIVW61.99 Goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley couldn’t possibly have had a better birthday present as he kept an important clean-sheet on his debut in our victory over Stevenage this afternoon. The 31-year-old, who joined us on loan from Newport County on deadline day, was barely tested all afternoon in terms of shots, but still commanded his area with great authority. Pidgeley re-iterated his belief that our team’s hard work in training, when it came to overall defensive structure and defending of set-pieces, paid off in today’s positive result against a Stevenage team fighting for a play-off spot. “I can’t ask for more on my debut and birthday, it has been a good day”, said Pidgeley. “The way I played a high line allowed us to keep them away from the goal. “Our defence was solid today and it was quite easy to come in and play behind our defenders. I pride myself on communication, setting up properly and keeping ourselves organised and I feel we achieved this today.” The goalkeeper praised a preparation done by manager Adam Murray prior to the match, saying that the side were meticulously prepared for the way that their opposition would play. He paid further praise to the management staff for the team’s success in limiting the chances Stevenage could create throughout the match. “It doesn’t really matter how you win in this position, as long as we are getting points on the board,” added the ‘keeper. Delving into his personal situation after signing for the club this week, Pidgeley stated that he was looking forward to getting some game-time after being told that he wasn’t in the immediate plans of parent club, Newport County. When asked about his choice to join us, he added: “It was a no brainer for me to come and get game-time in the Football League and at a big club like Mansfield Town. “No one here is switched off, everyone is focussed and putting their bodies on the line to stop the ball going in the back of the net.” -------------------------- A very happy birthday for Stags loanee keeper Pidgley with winning debut chad.co.uk Lenny Pidgeley enjoyed the perfect 31st birthday yesterday as he helped Mansfield Town to a clean sheet and their first win in seven games in yesterday’s crucial 1-0 home win over Stevenage. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/a-very-happy-birthday-for-stags-loanee-keeper-pidgley-with-winning-debut-1-7095110 The Newport County keeper, who also includes Chelsea among his former clubs, arrived on loan this week until the end of the season and made an immediate impact. “I half-sarcastically tweeted this morning that all I wanted for my birthday was three points for the team today and it came true really,” he smiled. “I got a clean sheet as well so I couldn’t ask for more on my debut and my birthday. It’s been a good day. “They had a good opportunity in the first half, but their lad came inside and shanked it a bit at the near post. “They did have a half-chance in the second half, too, but we have worked hard this week and we really nailed their set plays.” He added: “The manager brought in the youth team to be Stevenage in training and showed us what they would do. He had done his homework on them well. We were well prepared and knew exactly what was going to happen. “We played a high line and when balls came into the box I came and dealt with them. “It was quite easy to play behind these boys. I thought the back three were really solid. “It doesn’t matter how you win where this club is - an ugly 1-0 is perfect for us as long as we take points on board.” Pidgeley continued: “I was told I wasn’t in Justin Edinburgh’s plans so I was looking to get out and get some games to the end of the season. “I had a couple of offers. But it was a no-brainer once I knew Mansfield were interested. It was a chance to play League football for a big club. “I got a call on Sunday and by Monday night I was up here and it was signed and sealed. And I was ready to go. “All week I have been looking forward to this and I am glad it went well. “The boys were all fired up for this and there has been a real intensity in training with everyone focused and putting their bodies on the line to stop the ball going into the net. “I understand Mansfield have been playing quite well but conceding sloppy goals due to a lack of communication. “At my age that is something I pride myself on. I know what I want. It can go unnoticed but I like to keep defences organised and come for crosses. “We have started with a clean sheet so I know I am doing something right.” Newport lost boss Justin Edinburgh to Gillingham this weekend and Pidgeley admitted he didn’t want to suddenly find himself recalled by the Exiles once they get a new boss installed. “I don’t really want to go back and play second fiddle at Newport like I have the last couple of months,” he said. “I am happy here and if I am called back it won’t be from my end.” Reggie Lambe’s 52nd minute volley was enough to win Stags the game yesterday and haul them out the drop zone to 20th in League Two. --------------------- Match-winner Lambe hails Stags’ defensive efforts mansfieldtown.net Winger reflects on win which lifts Stags out of bottom two. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/match-winner-lambe-hails-stags-defensive-efforts-2254707.aspx#wPVFqCX5EuD6WeHM.99 Bermudan winger Reggie Lambe is hoping that our team can now ‘kick on’ in the coming weeks and climb the Sky Bet League Two table following today’s 1-0 win over Stevenage at One Call Stadium. Lambe came off the bench at half-time this afternoon, as a replacement for Billy Kee, and then scored what proved to be the match-winner seven minutes later, when he turned home a header across goal by Matt Rhead. The precious three points achieved means that our team climb three places to 20th position ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Morecambe. “Hopefully we can push on from here, get a few more wins and we will be flying,” said Lambe. Refusing to reminisce about last weekend’s result against Carlisle United, Lambe praised the defensive performance of the team. “We defended our set-pieces very well and everyone worked 110% to achieve the clean sheet," he continued. “This performance was uplifting and it’s important to remember how it feels to get a win. It’s easy for us as players to get into a certain mode of performance. “I look forward to Tuesday and hopefully we can carry this form into our next match.” Commenting on his own scoring feats after netting his second goal of the season this afternoon, the winger added: “Hopefully, I can get some more goals on Tuesday (against Morecambe) and Saturday (against Northampton Town).” Lambe also gave praise to team-mates, Matt Rhead and Vadaine Oliver, after their positive performances in the final third: “They have been brilliant. I got my goal through working off them.” --------------------- Callum Elder ?@CallumElder_ Delighted to have won my first game with @mansfieldtownfc Great result, go again Tuesday! ------------------ Mansfield game was like ‘a pre-season’ performance, says Stevenage boss by Damion Roberts, thecomet.net Graham Westley gave first starts this season to three players as squad is decimated by injuries Graham Westley said Stevenage’s performance in their defeat to Mansfield Town on Saturday was akin to a ‘pre-season side’. http://www.thecomet.net/home/e-edition With injuries stacking up for the Boro boss ahead of the game, Westley brought in Danny Johnson (Cardiff City) and Bruno Andrade (QPR) for their first appearances for the club since signing on loan last week, while also handing a full first-team debut to Academy player Ben Kennedy in midfield. Boro lacked fluidity according to Westley, who also said it was ‘difficult’ at the moment with 10 players sidelined through injury. Westley said: “It was a fairly even game. They didn’t offer a lot going forward, neither did we. “I’m not sure either side did enough to win it. It was a bit nip and tuck in the first half. We probably had the better of the chances. Daisy made a good save just before half time, but Bruno could have put us ahead, and Danny could have put us ahead. “The second half was in the same vain. They got the early goal and it was a bit backs to the wall for them and us trying to throw everything at it, trying to find the answer. “We looked like a side that had the number of debutants that we had, that was trying to find a way of playing that wasn’t sure of its patterns, that looked a bit disorganised. “It looked a little like a pre-season side. When you saw us at set plays, players were not quite sure what they were doing. “They’ve had a couple of days together but the fluidity we were showing when we were fully fit a couple of weeks ago disintegrated as the changes were forced upon us. “It’s difficult at the moment; we haven’t got the biggest squad and we know we’re highly dependent on our top players. “And when you bring lads in to make debuts and step up a level you’re always likely to see the type of performance we saw.” ------------------- |
Latest | February 2015