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Archived News from March 2015

DAGENHAM PREVIEWS/MURRAY EXPLAINS FATIGUE COMMENTS
3rd March 2015 0:29


Murray: Positive mood in the camp
mansfieldtown.net, 26th February 2015

Oxford defeat firmly in the past as boss looks ahead to visit of Dagenham & Redbridge.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-positive-mood-in-the-camp-2299068.aspx#RsAg7CXibgG1oEXg.99

Manager Adam Murray insists there is a positive feeling in the camp as our team aim to make it five games unbeaten at One Call Stadium when they entertain Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

Our team know that a victory will see them leapfrog the Daggers in the Sky Bet League Two table and the Stags’ boss is relishing the opportunity to get back on home soil following our defeat to Oxford United last time out.

“I think the bottom line has been [about] moving forward,” said Murray.

“The game last weekend was out of our system straight away. It was one of those that I wanted to draw a line under really quickly and we’ve done so. We’ve had a really productive week and I can’t wait for Saturday.”

He continued: “[This week] we’ve managed to get treatment for the boys who’ve had a few knocks, bangs and bruises from the previous game and we’ve managed to get them ‘over the hill’."

Murray also believes a sense of perspective is needed in certain quarters following recent results throughout the division.

“Some people will look at things and go ‘Dagenham & Redbridge have pulled themselves out of trouble’ yet they’re only two points ahead of us,” said our boss. “Cambridge United - what a great team and what a great season they’ve had, but we can go above them on Saturday if we win.

“So there has to be a sense of perspective in everything that we do. We’ve come a million miles in two-and-a-half months, we’ve changed everything but we’re still nowhere near where I want us to be - from a playing point of view, a position point of view, as a club, we’ve not even scratched the surface.

“But we’ve got to be realistic as to where we are. If we’re saying that Dagenham & Redbridge are out of trouble, then ‘Wow. We’re doing a great job at the minute.’”

Murray added: “There’s no covering it up that our away form is poor, but the positives of the whole situation is that our home form has been superb.

“We know that the away form is something that we’ve got to look at, and, as we are as staff and as a group of people, we’re analysing everything on it because it has to be put right. If we get it right, it’ll make the next nine weeks a lot easier.”

Adam Murray is on Mansfield 103.2's Friday Night Forum tonight from 6pm. Book your call on the show by e-mailing sport@mansfieldtown.net.

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Mansfield Town player-manager Adam Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31562722

"We have had a lot of change over the last few months and for the next few weeks it is about getting consistency and that will be the key to pulling us away from the drop zone.
"The boys that have been in there have done really well, so I am not looking to make major changes.
"There are nine weeks left and it will be up and down. We have got 42 points (to play for) and I have a target. It's not a must-win but it's massively important to win on Saturday. It's a team who are in and around us.
"The away form is something we need to correct but our home form has been superb and it's important we keep that up."

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Stags boss Murray defends ‘fatigue’ comments
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, 26 February 2015

Mansfield boss Adam Murray today defended his comments about his players being fatigued last weekend as he prepared his side to face relegation rivals Dagenham & Redbridge in a crucial game at One Call Stadium on Saturday.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-murray-defends-fatigue-comments-1-7128461

Some fans were unhappy over Murray’s comments, suggesting it was an excuse as professional footballers should never be tired, despite half the side that played in the 3-0 defeat at Oxford carrying injuries and having given their all four days earlier in a superb 1-0 win over Luton.

“To use the word fatigue about footballers is a cardinal sin and I understand that,” said Murray.

“But people who understand the game will understand where I am coming from.

“We pushed ourselves to the limit in the previous two games, and to go again at that tempo was always going to be tough.

“People’s opinions about footballers being tired have been there for 100 years. They don’t want to hear it.

“They think footballers get paid lots of money and shouldn’t be tired, but I can assure them the footballer here do not get paid lots of money.

“I know from my own experiences when we won the Championship that, after the games at Braintree and Hereford, by the time we played Wrexham at home in the last game, mentally I was shattered. I had nothing left to give physically.

“Hanging on for that last 20 minutes of a game takes a lot out of you. Whether people like it or not that’s a fact. I won’t lie to people or talk rubbish.

“I work with the group every day so I have a good idea how they feel.

“I had players who couldn’t train at the back end of last week as they had tight hamstrings, tight calves, kicks on the ankle. We have such a small squad I couldn’t risk them or I might have had to put the U16s out on Saturday.

“So we were not physically and tactically as prepared to the smallest detail as we would have wanted at Oxford. That leaves you open to what happened down there. So we take that one on the chin and move on.”

He added “It was always going to be difficult down there in those surroundings with the occasion and the players they’ve got. They are on a different level to us, a different playing field having paid X amount for players who earn wages we couldn’t dream of giving.

“Sometimes it’s all about being negative and we never get a well done for the points that we have picked up. We have come a million miles in two and a half months, though we are nowhere near where I want to be, we’ve not even scratched the surface.

“Away form is a major issue. It is really poor. Home form has been superb so if we can get the away form right it will make the next nine weeks a lot easier.”

Murray said a first week in three without a midweek game had been perfectly timed as he tried to lift and heal his squad for Saturday.

“The bottom line is we need to move forward,” he said. “We got the weekend game out of our system straight away. I wanted to draw a line under it quickly. We have had a really productive week and we can’t wait for Saturday.

“We have managed to get a bit of treatment in the boys who were carrying knocks. We had a few bumps and bruises from previous games and we have managed to get them over the hill.”

Midfielder Chris Clements (gashed ankle) and defender Michael Raynes (hamstring) are both back in training, but Saturday may come too soon for them to be involved.

He said: “They have worked extra hard and both have come on a lot. But they have not really trained a lot and are physically behind the rest of the lads.

“They are two very good players and we will work them hard again today and see where we are at. But, to be fair, the boys who have been playing have been superb.”

He also warned: “I have watched Dagenham a couple of times and they are a good outfit with a lot of pace in the team and very good attacking-wise.”

The Daggers are one place and two points ahead of Mansfield in League Two, but have only lost two of their last 10 since Christmas.

Before last weekend’s 3-1 home defeat by Burton, they had won three and drawn two, including away wins at York and Morecambe.

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Stags striker Hearn hot on the comeback trail
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, 26 February 2015

Goal ace Liam Hearn is back in training after recovering from a serious knee injury in August - but Mansfield Town are not putting any date on a first team return for him.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-striker-hearn-hot-on-the-comeback-trail-1-7128469#comments-area

After already coming back from a cruciate knee ligament injury the year before, the cartilage in Hearn’s other knee tore in a Capital One Cup tie at Sheffield United after he had looked superb in pre-season.

Hearn had also had to come back from a ruptured Achille’s tendon two years previous, so the 29-year-old must be hoping for better luck.

Quietly the club must hope he can make an appearance before the campaign ends and it is his expert finishing they have been lacking.

“Touch wood, I am not putting any pressure on him, but he is flying,” said boss Adam Murray.

“The bloke may be a human being, but he is some kind of creature I’ve never seen before. He is super-human.

“He is non-stop. He is almost getting in before me in the mornings and then leaves late, giving everything he’s got to get fit. We are happy with the progress he is making.

“This game can be cruel and sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. We’ve seen that with some of our performances, but for the individual, he needs a slice of luck now in his career and his life. Whatever we can do to help him out, we will.”

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Stags manager Murray deems World Cup 2022 decision ‘strange’
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray questioned the wisdom of FIFA giving Qatar the 2022 World Cup and then this week suggesting it be held just before Christmas, wrecking domestic seasons.

A FIFA commission has recommended the switch to a winter tournament as there are worries over the health of players being asked to compete in temperatures that can reach 50 degrees in the desert summer.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-manager-murray-deems-world-cup-2022-decision-strange-1-7128475

“It was a strange decision to give it to Qatar,” said Murray. “You’d like to think people know the facts about the situation before they go into it, but obviously not.

“It will be a bit strange. When you think about the World Cup, you think about summer and sitting watching it with your mates in the sun in a party atmosphere.

“So to be watching it while building a snowman in a woolly hat will be a bit strange.”

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Pidgeley wants to keep home a fortress
mansfieldtown.net, 26th February 2015

Goalkeeper believes our team are in a good position to build on their solid home form.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/pidgeley-wants-to-keep-home-a-fortress-2297960.aspx#5UGpS2AlKmj5vdhE.99

Goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley is adamant that Mansfield Town can put their last result behind them as focus switches to another important fixture, this time against Dagenham & Redbridge at One Call Stadium this weekend.

Not wanting to dwell on the team’s defeat at Oxford United last time out, Pidgeley said: “It’s disappointing to lose any game 3-0. After the little run we have put together recently we were going into the game in decent form so it was disappointing not to come away with something at the end.

“It wasn’t a good game, but you just have to move on. We are all focussed on Saturday’s match against Dagenham & Redbridge and our home form. We need to get back on track.

“It is tight at the bottom of the table and if you can put a run of results together it can give you some breathing space and confidence. Looking at the table at Christmas time, it looked like Dagenham would be down there and scrapping, but they have put some good results together. If we win on Saturday we can go above them."

When asked about the Stags’ current away form, the custodian said: “I think we can start winning away from home. I think we were pretty unlucky at Morecambe. Your bread and butter is your home form and every team I have played for have prided themselves on making their home ground a fortress.

"We're doing that at the minute, so as long as it continue it gives us a platform to go to away games and get results."

After signing on loan from Newport County in January, Pidgeley is content with his current position: “I turned 31 this month and it’s a great age for a goalkeeper. At this stage of my career, I just want to be playing games consistently. At the moment I’m happy here and I’m concentrating on keeping Mansfield in the league."

Looking further ahead to Tuesday’s away trip to parent club Newport County, Pidgeley said he was happy to provide advice to fellow goalkeeper Sascha Studer, who is expected to step into the team due to the conditions of Pidgeley’s loan move: “Sascha has been really good in training since I got here. He is keeping himself sharp so I have confidence that he will come in and do a good job.”

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Stags keeper Pidgeley still furious over Oxford defeat
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Mansfield Town keeper Lenny Pidgeley is convinced Oxford’s game-changing opening goal last week was down to a foul on him that went unpunished.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-keeper-pidgeley-still-furious-over-oxford-defeat-1-7128485

Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial visit of fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge, Pidgeley said: “I am adamant I was fouled.

“He clearly put his hand in my face which completely threw me off the flight of the ball. It’s quite clear he jumped early but never made any contact with the ball. I don’t know how you can jump into the keeper, not get the ball and it’s not a foul.

“The referee said I had got to be stronger. But I don’t know how I can be stronger if I am being pushed in the face.

“Then later the guy catches the ball as blatantly as you want and everyone in the ground can see he should have had a second yellow and been sent off.?“Obviously it’s disappointing to lose any game 3-0. On the little run we were on we were going into the game in decent form and we were disappointed not to come away with anything.”

He added: “It was not a great game and we have got to move on. We are now all focused on Dagenham and our decent home form for Saturday.

“Looking at the table about Christmas, Dagenham & Redbridge looked like they were right down there. But they have put a few results together and gone above us. But win and we go above them, so it is almost a six-pointer.”

Mansfield’s biggest problem this season has been their away form and Pidgeley said: “At home, teams sit back against us a bit and we take the game to them a bit more. I think we are best attacking as we have some flair players up there. If we can get balls up to them it works well for us.

“We can start winning away from home. We have only had the two games since I have been here and I think we were pretty unlucky at Morecambe not to get something from the second half.

“But home games are our bread and butter. Every team I have been at prides itself on making its home ground a fortress. As long as you do that it gives you a platform for going to away games. If you can do that you’ve cracked it.”

Former Chelsea keeper Pidgeley is on loan from Newport County and enjoying playing regularly again, though he will not be allowed to play when the sides clash in South Wales on Tuesday night.

He said: “It’s especially good at my age. I have just turned 31 this month and that’s a great age for a goalkeeper. You just want to be playing games. I have played quite a few in my career but I still think I could have played more.

“At Millwall I didn’t play a game for 18 months, just fighting it out as a number two. Here, like at Newport, I have come out for the opportunity to play games.”

Pidgeley’s goalkeeping upbringing could hardly have been better.

“I was at Chelsea from the age of 10 after being scouted playing for a Sunday league team,” he said. “I joined them as a schoolboy and came through their centre of excellence, got my apprenticeship and turned pro there. That was a massive club but it was my local club, the team I supported and watched, so it was pretty amazing for me.

“Claudio Ranieri sent me out on loan to Watford for a season. When I came back Jose Mourinho was in charge. That was when the club started really investing money and had some big players coming in. That was start of it all.

“It has stood me in good stead. At the time it didn’t really seem that strange to me, being 20 years old and training with those guys every day.

“But 10 years down the line and playing in League One and League Two I still see those players on the TV every week and I think, wow, that was some achievement at that age to be working and playing with those guys. It was a great experience and I learned a lot.

On Mourinho, he added: “He was great. He had the respect from all the players. When you can see players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba listening, really paying attention and earning respect from those sort of guys, you know you must be doing something right. His management skills are the best in the world.

“I moved to Millwall on a permanent deal which I thought was a great opportunity for me. In my first season I played pretty much every game - 50 odd games. But after that I got injured and didn’t really get back into the team.

“Looking back I should have got out and I would have played a lot more games.

“Since then I have spent a few years just moving around trying to settle, but it didn’t really happen.

“I have been in and out of teams and moving round the country which has been tough.

“I settled quite well at Newport for a couple of years. But all good things come to an end. At the minute I am happy here, playing games and concentrating on keeping Mansfield in the League.”

Pidgeley wears the number 40 shirt for Stags, a number he has been associated with for some years.

“It was the first squad number I had at Chelsea and has been my user name on my twitter and facebook ever since,” he said. “It’s stuck with me and is a lucky thing for me. I have always had the number 40 if number one wasn’t available.”

Although Pidgeley won’t be allowed to play at Newport on Tuesday, he promised he would be there supporting Stags and helping likely keeper Sascha Studer as much as possible.

“It will be tough down there,” he said. “I will be there supporting Mansfield so I had probably better hide somewhere.

“I know a few of the boys there so I will give Sasha some advice. He has looked good in training and kept himself sharp. If he comes in he will do a good job. He is still at a tender age for a keeper.

“It is quite tight down there in the table, so if we can put a little run together it would give us breathing space and breed confidence.”

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Sutton: We must be at our best
mansfieldtown.net, 26th February 2015

Defender believes our team will have to be on top of their game against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/sutton-set-on-returning-to-winning-ways-2298659.aspx#LmEtYEicFFCpm1sY.99

Defender Ritchie Sutton believes his team have put in the necessary preparation and are ready to pick themselves up for this weekend’s match against Dagenham & Redbridge at One Call Stadium.

Commenting on our team's positive feats at home going into Saturday’s match, Sutton said: “[Our home form] is going to be something we will have to concentrate mainly on and make sure we pick up the points, especially at home, and against teams that are down there with us.

“There are loads of aspects we need to improve on. We are trying to improve on getting that second goal. We just have to take points where they come now and make sure we do the right things and push on.
We just have to knuckle down now until the end of the season."

Sutton admitted that fatigue has played a role within our team in recent weeks. He continued: "Anyone who has played the game knows [fatigue] does play a part. We’ve had five games in two weeks so it is going to take its toll. It’s not an excuse. We have to pick ourselves up.”

Looking ahead to the important match against Wayne Burnett's Dagenham & Redbridge side on Saturday, Sutton said: “You never know which way it is going to go. We have to be at the top of our game on Saturday. We know we are capable, especially at home. We have to do what we did in the Stevenage and Luton Town games - get on the front foot and make sure they get nothing out of it.

“Coming out of both of those games we really felt they were turning points. We felt good, we were creating chances and it's just disappointing that the game after we take that step back each time.”

Sutton has featured regularly in Adam Murray’s starting XI this season and has been enjoying the opportunity to get himself into more attacking positions: “On a personal note it is good. I like playing every week. I just hope we can pick up the results because the last thing I want to be is down there at the end of the season and have myself to blame.

“I thought I got forward well in certain games. Every game is different and you have to judge each game as it comes. It is something that I’m trying to add to my game and I think I’m getting better at it,” he added.

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Stags must build on good results, says Sutton
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Ritchie Sutton is hoping relegation-haunted Mansfield Town can finally put a string of results together, starting at home to Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow, after a couple of recent false dawns.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-must-build-on-good-results-says-sutton-1-7128487

Home wins against Stevenage and Luton were followed up by a defeat at Morecambe and a hammering at Oxford.

“The last two wins we really thought were turning points as we were creating chances and felt good,” said the Stags defender.

“So it is disappointing that after each we took a step back and we have got to kick on now.

“We have to pick up points at home, especially against teams down there.

“All our wins in the last 15 have been 1-0s and we are trying to improve on that and get that second goal.”

Sutton was happy to quickly draw a line under last week’s defeat at Oxford, though was adamant the turning point was a foul on Mansfield keeper Lenny Pidgeley that led to the opening goal.

“It was horrible from the start,” he said. “In the first 15 minutes we had them on the back foot. The first goal changed everything and we thought it was a foul on Lenny. It just went downhill from then on.”

Sutton was also quick to back up manager Adam Murray, whose view that fatigue had played a part in the club’s downfall at Oxford had been met with scorn from some fans.

“Anyone who has played the game knows it is true,” he said. “Playing five games in two weeks it is going to take its toll.

“We have been trying to recover and do the right things this week. We have not been lazy, though. We have done pool sessions and cooling down sessions.”

Sutton was hopeful Stags can get clear of the dogfight sooner than later.

“We know we have a relegation battle on our hands. Tomorrow we have to get on the front foot and make sure we get something out of it,” he said.

“In midweek Tranmere were 2-1 up with five minutes left against Portsmouth, but then they bottled it and lost 3-2. But we can’t be relying on other teams slipping up.

“We need to push up the table and make sure we get clear of this before the last few games of the season.

“On a personal note it is good to be playing every week, be it centre half or full back. But the last thing I want is for us to be down there at the end of the season and only having myself to blame.”

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Forward joins the Daggers
Fri 27 Feb 2015
daggers.co.uk

Dagenham and Redbridge are pleased to announce the signing of Shamir Fenelon on a one month loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 20-year-old forward has already been on loan at a League Two team this season in the shape of Tranmere Rovers. Fenelon scored two goals in ten appearances for Rovers which also included a penalty win and a man of the match performance.

Fenelon has played three times for the senior Brighton squad and has also played for the Brighton U21 squad as recent as Wednesday when he scored in a 2-1 defeat away at Derby.

Shamir will be available for selection when the Daggers visit Mansfield tomorrow.

Read more at http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/dagenham-and-redbridge-loan-forward-2301069.aspx#LgL6yPgcxLDZBCMa.99

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Match Preview: Wayne Burnett Ahead Of Mansfield Town
Fri 27 Feb 2015
daggers.co.uk

The Daggers Manager said his team can expect a tough game against Mansfield on Saturday as they look to bounce back from Saturday's defeat.
“The goals we conceded against Burton Albion were really disappointing, we haven’t conceded like that in last nine or ten games. We should’ve been harder to break down and the manner that we conceded was disappointing.

“We’ve got a tough game against Mansfield, I went to watch them last Tuesday and their pitch isn’t in great condition. I don’t think there will be much football played, but we need to bounce back after Saturday’s defeat.

“They’ve got a different manager from when we last met, so I think it will be a different game. It might be hard to play how we want to, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens on the day.

“We’ve played against some big teams this season and Mansfield are a physical side. Hopefully we can match them on the day.

“We’ve got competition for places and players chomping at the bit to play. I’m pretty much set on what my team is going to be. The pitch has possibly had an impact on my team and the boys who’ve been in the starting team the last few weeks have done very well."

It was also good news for Jodi Jones as he was awarded with 'The 11' an award from the LFE for his achievements in football and Wayne believes there's a lot more to come from the youngster.

“I’m delighted for Jodi he’s done very well, it shows how far he’s come. It’s come from a recognised body and it shows he’s doing something right and I’m hopeful there’s a lot more to come from him.”

Read more at http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/article/interview-wayne-burnett-mansfield-town-dagenham-and-redbridge-preview-2299836.aspx#Ec4AJ05rctme10Ar.99

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Alex: We will fight back at Mansfield
by George Sessions

Alex Jakubiak believes Dagenham & Redbridge will get back on track against Mansfield Town and Hartlepool United after their unbeaten run was ended on Saturday following a 3-1 defeat to Burton Albion.

http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/dagenham-redbridge/alex_we_will_fight_back_at_mansfield_1_3973581

The forward, on loan from Watford, scored the opener for Wayne Burnett’s team, but they conceded three times in the final 19 minutes to lose for the first time since January 17.

But 18-year-old Jakubiak is confident they will get back on track when they visit the Stags.

“The last four games and more we have played teams around us and we have done well to dig ourselves away from the position we were in,” said Jakubiak.

“We came up against a team that isn’t involved in the scrap we are involved in (Burton), and I thought we held our own for a bit, but their quality came out on top in the end.

“But at Mansfield we have got to dig deep again and start climbing back up the table.”

Burnett hasn’t changed his starting line-up since winning at York City at the start of the month and that has given Jakubiak several chances.

He is enjoying his starting stint, but is well aware he needs to continue working hard because various players are challenging for his position.

Jakubiak added: “The team hasn’t changed for the last four games so it shows we are doing something right and the manager is pleased with how we have been playing.

“In training even the lads that aren’t involved are working hard to try and get their place back in the team.

“We know, the ones playing, we can’t afford to slip up or get complacent because there is someone right behind us who wants our place in the team.”

Daggers currently have 21 outfield players and it seems the competition for places Burnett has created in the squad is resulting in them knowing they cannot let performances slip.

Ade Yusuff and Joss Labadie have taken turns out of the match-day squad lately - two players who were starting regularly earlier in the campaign - to show the strength Burnett now has at his disposal. Matt Partridge and Damian Batt haven’t been included recently.

The depth appears to have contributed towards Daggers’ recent impressive run and Jakubiak is sure they will put things right on Saturday.

“We’ve done brilliantly over the last five games not to lose and we had a bit of luck along the way and that has run out against Burton, but they are a great side,” he added.

“But hopefully we can put things right at Mansfield.”

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Latest | March 2015