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Archived News from March 2015

MURRAY, JIMMY DACK, ADAM CHAPMAN REACTION
6th March 2015 18:38


Murray hails team togetherness
mansfieldtown.net, 3rd March 2015

Boss delighted by ‘superb’ performance and precious away victory.

Manager Adam Murray believes our team spirit and togetherness had a big influence on tonight’s excellent win over Newport County at Rodney Parade.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-hails-team-togetherness-2311800.aspx#bE6CA3zm0QjSzwe3.99

Our side completed a fantastic ‘double’ over the Exiles - our first over a team since we returned to the Football League - thanks to a side-foot strike by Reggie Lambe, three minutes from time.

The victory moves us on to 41 points in Sky Bet League Two - seven ahead of Cheltenham Town, who we lock horns with in our next match.

Speaking after the game, Murray said: “As I said before the game, we made a big issue about our focus. It was a big point for us that we came here and we got our minds straight on the job in hand.

“Like I said in my press [meeting] earlier this week, this away form was winding me up. Normally when I’m put in a corner, I come out fighting and I had to make sure that the lads were prepared and they knew what was coming.

“They were superb. They were absolutely brilliant and I’m over the moon with all of them.”

He continued: “When you come to a place like this [against] a team who are in the play-offs, then Newport are always going to come close.

“What we did is we came here with a game-plan. We came here to be solid, efficient - a word I’ve used a lot over the last couple of days. We made good decisions, we managed the game superbly and we got the rewards.

“It’s three points in one of these games where people probably didn’t expect us to get anything. We’ve broken that voodoo that was winding us up and it’s another small step in where we want to go.”

Murray made six changes to his starting XI with Sascha Studer, Lee Beevers and Billy Kee amongst those named in the line-up.

“We made the changes to the starting XI for a purpose and for reasons that we thought would benefit us to get three points. We knew that the substitutes coming on would be fresh and are players that can impact a game,” added our boss.

“I said before the game that this is a squad that’s together. If you could see the atmosphere in the dressing room after the end of the game, then it’s one of the best dressing rooms that I’ve been in and we’re starting to see the rewards for that.”

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Newport manager Jimmy Dack told BBC Radio Wales:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31598022

"I can't put into words how I'm feeling at the moment.
"I'm really, really, really frustrated. I have to choose my words carefully here.
"The players - they give their all and anyone watching that game couldn't fault their effort. We just lack a little bit of guile in the final third… it's so frustrating."

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray told BBC Radio Nottingham:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31598022

"It's a suburb night. One of the days I've enjoyed in the job so far. I'll enjoy this for a few hours, it means a lot.
"A shout goes out for our fans, to get behind our boys like they did and have done in recent weeks - it's a huge three points.
"We always want to get better, but I'm so proud of the players that haven't been playing, to come in and give that kind of performance is superb.
"We'll enjoy the couple of hours home, but my mind is already on Cheltenham."

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Stags boss Murray proud of his players after win at Newport ends poor away run
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Adam Murray said he was proud of his side and delighted that the club’s poor run of away form was over after a sensational 1-0 win at play-off chasing Newport County at Rodney Parade tonight.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-murray-proud-of-his-players-after-win-at-newport-ends-poor-away-run-1-7136981

Stags snatched it with an 87th minute Reggie Lambe goal after a some solid defending to end a run of five away defeats for a club with the second worst away record in the division.

Murray said: “Our away form was winding me up, but like I said on Monday, when I am put in a corner I come out fighting.

“I made sure the players knew what they were coming to and how good were they? Absolutely superb, brilliant, I am over the moon with them.”

Murray made six changes tonight and said: “I made the changes for a purpose that I thought would benefit us. I knew the players we would be bringing on could impact on a game. All three came on and were influential on the game in different ways.

“This is a squad that’s together and they understand that if they are not in the team. This is one of the best dressing rooms I’ve been in and we are starting to see the rewards for that.”

Striker Billy Kee was not far short of man of the match for Mansfield and Murray said: “I gave him praise after Saturday as I thought he was influential after coming on and tonight he deserves double praise.

For someone who hasn’t played for a while to put in a shift like that as a loan striker was absolutely superb.”

Murray added: “A lot of people didn’t think we’d get anything from here tonight. To come to a place like this against a team in the play-off spots, the home side were always going to come close.

“But we came here with a game plan to be solid and efficient. We made good decisions and managed the game superbly and got the result.

“It was a different performance tonight I asked for tonight and we showed focus, organisation and discipline. Our shape was superb and we broke when we could.

“We have gone toe to toe with this football club through the Conference years. We’ve always had battles so it does give it a bit of an extra kick.

“It is three points and we have broken that voodoo. It is another small step to where we want to go.

“These boys have put in shifts over the past month that I am very proud of.

“Now it’s back down to ground zero and we work again.”

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Mansfield Town must not let focus slip away, says boss Adam Murray
Nottingham Post, by Sarah Clapson

Boss Adam Murray is determined to ensure Mansfield Town do not let their focus slip now, after finally breaking a run of poor form on their travels.

Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Mansfield-Town-let-focus-slip-away-says-boss-Adam/story-26121172-detail/story.html?#ixzz3TRtlQHlZ

After five successive defeats on the road, Reggie Lambe ensured a third away win of the season for the Stags with the only goal of the game at Newport County on Tuesday.

It lifted them up to 17th in the table, seven points clear of the drop zone. But Murray is refusing to get too carried away as his side look to do it all again when they go to Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

"We're building," he said. "I know sometimes when I speak I probably bore people with the word 'process'; but it's a minor step in the process of where I will take this club.

"The spirit is high, the confidence is high, but it's back down to ground zero now because we have to go again.

"It's one of those games people probably didn't expect us to get anything from.

"It's three points. We've broken that voodoo that was winding us up and it's another small step to where we want to go."

Murray was impressed with the way his players stuck to the game plan at Rodney Parade.

Sascha Studer was barely troubled in goal thanks to a sterling defensive performance from Ryan Tafazolli in particular, while Billy Kee worked tirelessly up front on his own.

"We made a big issue about the focus. It was a big point for us. We went there and got our mind straight on the job in hand," said Murray.

"It was winding me up, this away form. Normally when I'm put in a corner, I come out fighting.

"We made sure the lads were prepared and they knew what was coming. And how good were they! They were superb, weren't they? They were absolutely brilliant."

After toppling County by the same 1-0 scoreline at the One Call Stadium back in August, the result also made it Mansfield's first double over a club since their return to the Football League.

"That doesn't mean a great deal, to be honest with you," commented Murray.

"I'm just happy with three points, and, more importantly, I'm happy with the performance of the lads."

"We keep raising the bar.

"It was a different performance on Tuesday. I asked for focus, organisation and discipline, and we got that.

"The shape was superb. We broke when we could - we had chances in the first half where we could have done a little bit better with our final pass. But, hey, let's give these boys the praise they deserve because they've put in some shifts over the last month that I'm proud of."

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Dack demands more in attack
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-two/news/article/422/9743604/-?

Newport manager Jimmy Dack urged his strikeforce to start hitting the net again after Mansfield stole a 1-0 victory at Rodney Parade.

The Exiles boss saw Adam Chapman smash an effort against the crossbar in the dying moments before Mansfield stormed upfield to score through substitute Reggie Lambe.

The Stags survived a host of heart-stopping moments in a match dominated by the home side, but the 87th-minute strike completed the smash-and-grab raid.

Newport remained in the play-offs despite the defeat by virtue of Stevenage's late win against Plymouth.

Mansfield moved up to 17th and put seven points between them and the bottom two with their first away win since December.

Dack bemoaned a lack of cutting-edge in defeat.

He said: "I can't put how I'm feeling into words right now, I'm really frustrated.

"I have to choose my words carefully, the platers give their all, but we lack a bit of guile in the final third.

"Everyone's having shots from 25 yards out when a pass is there to play. I keep chopping and changing the forwards, but we know we've got what we've got and we can't get anymore in.

"We have to persevere and hopefully they start finding form and we can get going again.

"We are creating, but lacking cutting edge, they gave us full respect and frustrated us.

"They got the chance late on after we hit the bar and they've put it away.

"We're still seventh in the league, we're still in there, but we need to get our home form right.

"Home form is a massive concern. Your home form takes you to where you want to be and our's isn't good at the moment."

Mansfield player-manager Adam Murray was delighted with his side's efforts.

He said: "We had our normal battle with Newport but the boys put a good shift in.

"Recently we've produced high levels of performance but not had the rub of the green, everything that could have gone against us had and we deserved our bit of luck.

"We made a few changes with energy levels in mind.

"We went through a similar process a few weeks ago when we were playing twice a week and we couldn't keep the tempo in the performance up - the changes we made paid off.

"When you come to a team in the play-offs you can't come and play with four strikers, you have to be respectful and cautious.

"Days like these have been rare since I took over as manager.

"It was a big step in my life for me, we've put in a lot of hard work and we're seeing the results now."

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Beevers satisfied after away victory
mansfieldtown.net, 4th March 2015

Right-back celebrates 100th appearance for the Stags with memorable win

Right-back Lee Beevers was pleased with how events played out for us as our team picked up three important points on the road with a 1-0 win over Newport County.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/beevers-satisfied-after-away-victory-2312291.aspx#LhjMb4pZeRBhWhml.99

The game in South Wales looked set to end in a draw until Reggie Lambe popped up three minutes from time and fired home from close-range following a cross by Callum Elder.

Speaking afterwards, Beevers said: “It was a great performance from the boys. We set out with a game plan to frustrate them and going it at half-time with a clean-sheet, we did that and it was half the job done.

“We said if we came in at the end of the game with a clean sheet we would win it, which is exactly what we did. Reggie (Lambe) has come on and scored a fantastic goal at the end,” he added.

The 31-year-old believes this is one of the most satisfying wins of the season: “After the couple of results that we’ve had where it has happened against us, it was nice to go away from home and do it to them,” he said.

Beevers was pleased that the Stags were able to get a positive result away from home and believes our team are on the right track moving forward.

He continued: “It has been a problem for us all year and we have been trying to work out what it was. It is just something that happens in football.

“I think we have managed to turn a corner in the last couple of away games.

“It’s a massive confidence boost going to a place like Newport who are challenging for the playoffs. To come here and frustrate them, keep a clean-sheet and get a goal at the end is going to send shockwaves around the league and shows we can actually do it.

“Getting back-to-back wins is a massive thing especially at this stage of the season. There have been building blocks over the last two or three months and now it is coming to fruition.

“We are starting to climb the table,” he added.

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Chapman admits County have crisis of confidence at Rodney Parade
by Michael Pearlman

ADAM Chapman admits Newport’s players are suffering with a crisis of confidence at their Rodney Parade home.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/11833237.Chapman_admits_County_have_crisis_of_confidence_at_Rodney_Parade/

County are clinging to the League Two play-off berths after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Mansfield on Tuesday, the fourth successive game at Rodney Parade where the Exiles have failed to register a victory.

And while their away form is keeping them competitive in the race for League Two promotion, Chapman admits the Exiles have to find more quality in the final third, especially in their home clashes.

“That is about as frustrating as it gets, it’s just, I don’t know what to say, we conceded a bad goal at the end, but it is one of them when if you don’t score, you invite that sort of pressure,” he explained.

“We know how football works, it doesn’t just happen to us, we see it all the time, if you don’t punish teams and take advantage when you are on top, you end up conceding a goal like that.

“We don’t blame the defenders for conceding, the goalkeeper and the centre half, we are more to blame for losing the game, the strikers, midfielders, full-backs, the ones doing the attacking.

“We are more to blame for not putting the ball into the net.

“When you are dominating you have to turn chances into goals and as a team and a unit, when you get in the final third, you have to create and score or you’ll leave yourselves at the mercy of a silly mistake.

“There is a fine line, we are getting in the right positions in the final third and we are getting the ball forward quicker, but we need to express ourselves better and make better decisions.”

Chapman admits there is now a fear factor.

“We’ve had a dip at home and it is hard to get out of, we want to win our home games for the fans and to build momentum,” he said.

“We are maybe playing with a little bit of fear and are waiting for that game when a couple of goals go in off someone’s backside and we win three or four nil and that will come.

“We just need to keep going and keep working and know we need to get on a run to get in the play-offs, effort and commitment won’t get us there, we need quality as well.

“I think we can find it, we had it in the first half of the season and the proof is in the pudding. We’ve still got it in the group, we just need to get our confidence back and play some more clinical and clever football.”

Chapman came as close as anyone to scoring for County on Tuesday, rattling the crossbar and forcing a superb save with two half volleys.

“I thought I had scored, I don’t think I’ve hit two shots that good all season,” he said.

“The first one the goalkeeper has pulled off a world class save and the second one I half expected to hit the crossbar three times, the way the game was going.

“When two volleys like that aren’t going in you think it is not going to be your night, but even then you have to hang in and make sure you hold on to get the point, but we didn’t expect to lose the game.

“The first one was better, the goalkeeper made an unbelievable save, adjusting his body to turn around the post. The second one looked like it was going in, but it is what it is.”

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twitter

Martin Riley @LifeofRiley6
Nothing like a 87th minute winner #bish #bash #bosh

JAMIE MCGUIRE @JAMIEMCGUIRE23
Great result tonite against Newport! Boys were different class @ReggieNaldo on (fire) shout to the fans aswell great following @mansfieldtownfc

Jeffrey Monakana @JeffreyMonakana
Back to back wins

Callum Elder @CallumElder_
3pts, clean sheet and an assist. Buzzing @mansfieldtownfc

Sascha Studer @BVBStuder
Back in the net tonight!We won 1:0 away in Newport..Great Result Boys!!!
Dortmund in the quarterfinal as well..Get in there...!Loove that

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Latest | March 2015