{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from April 2015

TRANMERE PREVIEWS
17th April 2015 18:41


Murray: Focus will be crucial
mansfieldtown.net, 13th April 2015

Gaffer on 'big' game versus Tranmere.

Manager Adam Murray insists that there is a positive energy around One Call Stadium, but wants 110% commitment, pride and passion from everyone in tomorrow’s crunch clash with Tranmere Rovers.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-focus-will-be-crucial-2398434.aspx

Three points from the game would all but secure our status in Sky Bet League Two, and our boss insists that focus and togetherness will be key in achieving our collective goal.

“It’s a great time for [everyone to be unified],” said Murray. “We’ve asked for it over recent weeks and tomorrow will be a game where we need everyone pulling in the same direction.

“It’s a big game. It’s a game that Tranmere have got to win and we want to get the three points [to get things] done and dusted, so it’s a big game for everybody.”

He continued: “I think we’re looking forward to getting back on home turf and making things right after a few of our last results at home. We had a great run of form at home and then we’ve dipped a little bit over recent weeks, so it’s something that the players are determined to put right.

“Like I said in my press [conference] on Thursday last week, there is an incredible focus about the group at the minute. If we weren’t performing well, then I’d be worried, but we’re going into the last four games and performance-wise we’ve been outstanding.

“We’ve probably not had the rub of the green [and the results] that we’ve deserved, and we’ve probably not been as ruthless as we should have been in both boxes, which unfortunately has been the story of the season.

“But the focus and the positive energy around the group at the minute is superb and we couldn’t really ask for more going into the run in.”

When asked what he would like from supporters tomorrow night, Murray said: “I think I want from them exactly what they want from us [which is] 110% commitment, 110% pride, passion and battle mentality to the end whistle.

“We know that it’s going to be a hostile game with a lot of tension and anxiety for both sets of players, but we’re going into it on the back of performances which have been top drawer. It’s important that we carry that on, play on the front foot, and we’re looking forward to it.”

In team news, our boss is hoping that an extension to Callum Elder’s loan deal from Leicester City will be wrapped up before tomorrow’s game.

Both Terry Hawkridge and Simon Heslop have recovered from viruses, whilst Ritchie Sutton and Lenny Pidgeley may also be back in contention.

Winger Junior Brown is also available for selection again, having completed a four-game ban for receiving a red card in last month’s defeat at Hartlepool United.

-------------

Stags boss Murray sends out a rally call for crucial Tranmere game
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Monday 13 April 2015

Adam Murray sent out a rally call to his players and Mansfield Town’s supporters today as the club prepare for one of their biggest games of recent years at home to Tranmere Rovers tomorrow (7.45pm).

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/stags-boss-murray-sends-out-a-rally-call-for-crucial-tranmere-game-1-7207327

Despite some good performances, the Stags have just lost five on the bounce and sit nervously six points off the bottom two drop zone with four games to play.

I expect from the fans what they expect from us as a group tomorrow
Struggling Tranmere, who have never been relegated from the League since they were founder members in 1921, are currently in that bottom two and simply have to win tomorrow while a win for Mansfield should be enough to ensure survival for Murray’s men.

“It is a great time to unite,” said manager Murray. “I have asked for it in recent weeks and tomorrow we need everyone pulling in the same direction.

“I expect from the fans what they expect from us as a group tomorrow - 110 per cent commitment, passion and pride and a battle mentality.

“We have to stick together and, if everything goes to plan, we will come out of the victors. It will be a hostile game with a lot of tension and anxiety between both sets of players. We are looking forward to it.”

He added: “These are always sterner tests because of what is at stake. It won’t be about football. It will be a war, a battle.

“It is all about focus. It’s a game that you can get mentally drawn into. We are going to have to stay focused and relaxed at the same time.

“We need to go and play our game. We have shown that when we perform at home we put teams on the back foot. We have some good players in this group and we have shown recently that we can dictate games against top of the table teams.

“Micky Adams is a superb manager with a lot of experience. He will know what he has to do tomorrow like we know what we have to do.”

Stags should have Leicester full back Callum Elder’s loan extension sorted to enable him to complete the season with Mansfield after his current deal expired today.

“The paperwork is with the FA and we are just waiting on clearance, which should be done today,” said Murray.

Although there are a couple of injury worries, Murray had better news on Terry Hawkridge and Simon Heslop, who missed the weekend defeat at Plymouth with illness, and keeper Lenny Pidgeley, who was out injured.

Ritchie Sutton, injured in the warm-up on Saturday, is still having treatment as are a couple of other unnamed players.

“Terry and Simon were back in training yesterday (Sunday) and should be back with the group for the game tomorrow,” he said.

“Ritchie had a check-up and is having treatment, but it feels a lot better and we are hopeful on that one.

“Lenny is also back. He had a slight tear to his hamstring and needed a scan. It is a grade one or two tear and, although he is feeling it, it’s not a muscle he put too much effort on so it won’t keep him out.

“We do have a couple of knocks from the weekend and they are having treatment. They will need the extra 24 hours and they will be assessed in the morning.”

Another big boost for Murray tomorrow is the return, after a four game ban, of exciting winger Junior Brown.

“He is a good option to have,” said Murray. “In games and certain parts of games we have missed his ability to create something out of nothing.

“Junior gives us an attacking threat and we have missed him. With Terry back as well we have good attacking options.

“It’s all really positive here at the moment. We have a really positive feeling in the camp.

“It’s a big game for everyone. Tranmere have got to come here and win. But we want the three points so we are done and dusted.

“There is an incredible focus in the group at the minute, even though we haven’t picked up the results we’ve deserved.

“I would be more worried going into the last four games if we’d not been performing well. Our performances have been outstanding, but we’ve not had the rub of the green we’ve deserved or been ruthless enough in both boxes.

“But the focus and positive energy in the group is superb and I couldn’t ask for more.”

--------------------

twitter
Ryan Tafazolli @RyanTafazolli
The biggest game of our lives tomorrow #mtfc

Rakish Bingham @RakishBingham
Huge game tonight, get behind us! #yellows

-------------------

Rogers: We've Got To Be More Clinical
tranmererovers.co.uk, Mon 13 Apr 2015

The coach's thoughts ahead of Mansfield game
Tranmere travel to Mansfield Town tomorrow and coach Alan Rogers says that Rovers need to find the net more frequently to turn performances into results.

Looking back on Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Southend, Rogers says it was a game that should have been rewarded with at least a point.

http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/article/rogers-weve-got-to-be-more-clinical-2398344.aspx?

He told Tranmere Player, "I thought it was an encouraging performance. I don't think it was a game we should have lost.

"They had two shots on target the whole game. One was the goal and the other a shot Fonners had to save at the start of the second half.

"Performance-wise, we looked like the only side looking like going on to win the game, we were pushing forward but we've got to be more clinical in front of goal.

"We've got to take our chances, we have to start putting the ball in the back of the net."

Rogers says that everyone is fully aware of the importance of Tuesday night's encounter at the One Call Stadium.

He added, "We've got to win. We'll be going there to win the game.

"We're fully aware that we're running out of games. The lads are working their socks off but we just need a bit of a break.

"It's an equally big game for them. If we go and get a win there, we drag them back into the relegation battle so that's the aim.

"It's going to be a tense game. We've got to take the same attitude and application to Mansfield and go and win the game."

-------------------

 

Latest | April 2015