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Archived News from July 2015

MURRAY AND KRYSTIAN PEARCE REACTION
24th July 2015 21:22


Murray positive after MK test
mansfieldtown, 22nd July 2015

Boss encouraged by players' display against MK Dons.

Manager Adam Murray was pleased with how his players’ shape and discipline was tested in tonight’s 1-1 draw with SkyBet Championship new boys Milton Keynes Dons.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-positive-after-mk-test-2562215.aspx#Edf2HPJ355tcSeCP.99

Nathan Thomas’ curling strike on the stroke of half-time put us ahead, but the visitors levelled shortly after half-time through Daniel Powell’s follow-up attempt after his initial effort was blocked by Stags’ ‘keeper Scott Shearer.

For the neutral it was an entertaining affair, but one which Murray was very pleased with.

Giving his verdict on the game to the local press in his post-match interview, our boss said: “We knew exactly what we needed, wanted and expected [from this game].

“I said in the press before that we’re starting to work on the defensive side of our game and our organisational side. With the two tests coming up, MK Dons and Leicester City, we knew that we’d get that so it was exactly what we wanted.

“In the first half especially, they tested our shape, tested our discipline. We set-up not to go and try and win the ball back all over the pitch. We wanted to defend deep and make sure that we had that organisation when we do come up against the better teams in this league this season.

“Obviously it’s not going to be for as periods as long as that, but we all know what we can do if we can keep the discipline to see it through. I thought we did that really well and when we did nick [the ball] it was a case of how quickly we could break and score and it worked perfectly.”

Murray added: “We thank MK Dons for giving us a game tonight because they’re a top quality outfit. To be able to test ourselves and the things we’re working on against a team which moves the ball as cleverly as they do, is brilliant for us. We couldn’t have had a better test and I’m really chuffed with things tonight.”

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MK Dons work-out was ‘perfection’ said Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Tuesday 21 July 2015

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray said tonight’s 1-1 friendly draw worked out to perfection for him as he tested his side’s defensive capabilities against Championship newcomers Milton Keynes Dons at One Call Stadium.

Although, the game, and this coming Saturday’s visit of Premier league Leicester City, were planned to see how his side coped under pressure, Stags even took the lead through Nathan Thomas before being pegged back after the break.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mk-dons-work-out-was-perfection-said-mansfield-town-boss-adam-murray-1-7370930

But it was an impressive showing and Murray said: “That was exactly what we needed, wanted and expected.

“I said before the game that we were now starting to work on the defensive side and organisational side of our game.

“I knew we would get that from Milton Keynes and, especially first half, we set up to defend deeply so that when we come up against the better sides in our league this season we showed we can keep our discipline and see it through.

“Also when we did nick it, I wanted to see how quick we could break and score. So tonight was perfection.

“If you’d seen our training session yesterday it was a mirror image of that tonight. Milton Keynes are a top quality outfit with clever movement, so I am chuffed with the boys.”

Nathan Thomas came up with another spectacular finish and Murray said: “Nathan is a kid who was built up as the next big thing then probably made a couple of bad decisions in moves.

“But he has a real passion to prove people wrong. He is an aggressive so-and-so and, if we can harness that, we have got ourselves a player.”

Striker Matt Green was another to catch the eye on the night and Murray added: “You have seen today he’s beat two centre halves up for an hour then we’ve sent Chris Beardsley on to do the same in a different way.

“Matt’s movement was superb and his hold-up play is getting back to where he needs to be.”

There was no Ryan Tafazolli in the squad and Murray did use an unnamed centre half trialist after the break, creating the inevitable whispers.

“Krystian Pearce has not trained since Tamworth so he needed a full game and Lee Collins has played a lot of football,” he said. “Ryan didn’t need the minutes tonight and there are plenty more games coming up.

“We looked at a trialist tonight as I feel we are still a bit short in that department.”

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Pearce pleased by game-time in Dons clash
mansfieldtown, 22nd July 2015

Defender glad to get 90 minutes under his belt after short spell on sidelines.

Mansfield Town defender Krystian Pearce spoke of his delight on returning to the starting line-up after last night’s 1-1 draw with Milton Keynes Dons.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/pearce-pleased-by-game-time-in-dons-clash-2563852.aspx#kYRwRbDVCcVxaLhc.99

Pearce played the full 90 minutes as Adam Murray’s men secured a well-deserved draw with their Sky Bet Championship counterparts through a peach of a strike by Nathan Thomas.

The former Torquay United defender spoke about the importance of getting some essential game-time under his belt.

“I definitely needed the minutes after I injured my ankle in the Tamworth game” said Pearce. “It was my first game back and I felt really good. It’s been tough, but I’m back fit now and I feel I can kick on from here.

“Obviously you never want to get injured so when it happened it was really frustrating. Now that I’m back, I’m just trying to get to full fitness and get to the best I can be.”

Having won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship last season, the Stags faced the task of going toe-to-toe with a team now two divisions above them in the Football League, but Pearce believes his side showed how to cope with the array of talent which the visitors had on show.

Pearce continued: “I think we definitely got a good workout from the game. We tried to focus on our defensive shape this week, and I thought we did well against a very good team.

“They are a very good side; they kept the ball well, they have good players and they have good movement up front. I think we coped well and dealt with all of their threats.”

Pearce had a number of centre-half partners on Tuesday, with Lee Collins, Corbin Shires and a trialist all playing alongside the former England youth international.

Adapting to circumstances is something Pearce says he is used to: “There were definitely a few changes but you have to deal with that. If you’re in a game and someone gets sent-off, you have to change your defence to deal with it.

“It’s definitely a positive that we are reflecting our play from the training ground because that is what we are training to do, setting ourselves up well and tonight was a good example.”

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Latest | July 2015