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Archived News from September 2015

MURRAY, N.THOMAS, ROSE, MARK YATES REACTION
16th September 2015 16:29




Murray prophecy fulfilled
mansfieldtown.net, 12th September 2015

Stags’ manager Adam Murray says he wasn't surprised by his side's confident display during today’s resounding 4-0 win over Crawley Town and says there's more to come from his players.

The Stags' boss had predicted earlier this week that an opposing team 'would be on the end of a banging' once things 'click into place'.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-not-surprised-by-magnificent-mansfield-performance-2683965.aspx#QOmL5IFXhi6oRm44.99

And today, goals from Nathan Thomas, Mitchell Rose, Matt Green and Craig Westcarr propelled Stags to their first home win of the season in fantastic fashion.

The gaffer said that the performance of his side came as little surprise, because he knows how good they can be. “There were spells today that we were really, really good.

“It’s a good performance and three points but nothing I didn’t expect from the group. I’ve said all along that when we get it right we’ll be a good team. It’s another step on our journey and another building block.

“The main thing about this season was making us hard to beat, making us solid and stern in what we do, because that’s the platform for everything then. Our flair players and our attacking players have had to take that on board and if they aren’t happy with that job on the other side of the game then they won’t be in the team.

“I’m not shocked or surprised because as staff, we work very hard during the week and the recruitment we did in the summer was hard work; Micky (Moore), Coops (Richard Cooper) and myself worked hard to get these players in. We’ve got 14 new players and we’re seven games in but we’re going on the right path.”

After three consecutive 1-1 draws at home, Murray says his side’s slight alteration in their gameplan helped towards the win over their Sussex rivals.

“We’ve had spells in games [this season] where we’ve had long spells with the ball without really hurting the opposition and today we went a little bit more ‘League Two-ish’ and got it forward more quickly."

Our boss said that his side ‘showed what they’re capable of’ against a Crawley team who he believes will be at the right end of the table come May.

“We showed in glimpses what we can be capable of but we’re seven games in, that’s the bottom line.

“Don’t get this wrong; they’re a very good team. They’ll be ‘in and around it’ this season, they’re very efficient in what they do and for the first 15/20 minutes they caused us problems. We had to get to terms with that and then put our game onto them.

“There’s still a long way to go to where we want to get to but overall, it was a good performance today. It’s three points and we’re focussed now on Luton [next Saturday].”

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Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray gets the ‘banging’ result he predicted against Crawley
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Saturday 12 September 2015

Mansfield Town delivered the ‘banging’ that boss Adam Murray had threatened they were on the verge of with today’s 4-0 demolition of 10-men Crawley Town at One Call Stadium.

After three successive home draws, Murray felt someone was going to feel the full might of his new-look side soon and it came in style this afternoon as Nathan Thomas, Mitch Rose, Matt Green and Craig Westcarr all found the net.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/mansfield-town-boss-adam-murray-gets-the-banging-result-he-predicted-against-crawley-1-7458317

Crawley had Gwion Edwards sent off for his challenge on Nicky Hunt on 50 minutes, but Mansfield were already in full control at 2-0 by then.

Murray said: “Yes, that was the banging, though don’t get me wrong - they are a very good team who will be in and around it this season. They are very efficient at what they do.

“I am not shocked or surprised at the score. It’s nothing I didn’t expect from them as I know them well as a group.

“I work with them every day and I have said all along that when we get it right we’ll be a good team.

“It’s no shock. As staff we work hard and the recruitment process in the summer was hard work to get these players in.

“It’s another step on our journey and another building block for us.”

Murray admitted in midweek he had been quote defensive-minded so far and knew he needed to let his players off the lease a little more today.

He said: “We probably took a step quicker than I expected today in our process and some of the performances today were superb.

“I understand what football’s like and everyone cries out for eight strikers on a pitch. But I am the one who works with these players every day and I knew where they are at.

“We want to do things at the right time and the important thing this season with so many new faces was to make us hard to beat. We need to be solid and stern in what we do as that’s the platform for everything.

“Our flair players and our attacking players have had to take that on board, knowing their job on the other side of the game. We have an ethos here that it’s about us - there is no me.

“Now when we get our attacking players doing the other side we will be a good side, and we saw flashes of that today. There is still a long way to go to where we want to get to, but overall that was a good performance today.

“We played on the front foot a bit more and got Westy closer to Greeny as well as playing with more of an out and out winger.”

He added: “We came out and played on the front foot today, and that was epitomised by Matt Green. Getting his goal today was superb as he fully deserved it. And some of the performances were excellent - Matt Green, Nathan Thomas, Chris Clements - who was again off this planet - Adam Chapman, all round the pitch we were superb.

“It was probably up there in spells as one of the best performances since I took over.

“I have said to the players enjoy your weekend. When you get home fully appreciate how good you have been today as individuals and as a team. Shout it from the rooftops because this game changes quickly.”

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Timely turning point for goalscorer Thomas
mansfieldtown.net, 12th September 2015

Stags’ winger Nathan Thomas believes his performance in the 4-0 victory over Crawley Town topped off a fantastic week for him personally after returning to the starting XI with a bang.

The 20-year-old scored the opening goal of the match after shrugging off a number of challenges before lacing the ball past Red Devils’ ‘keeper Freddie Woodman and the fleet-footed wide-man was convinced his impressive week in training sparked his up-turn in form.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/timely-turning-point-for-goalscorer-thomas-2684261.aspx#JMw5iwGMA1qqtGou.99

Thomas said: “Being left out[the line-up] the past couple of weeks has been a bit frustrating for me, however the manager put his faith back in me today and I knew I had to repay it.

“I always believe I can affect the game but to be fair, I’ve had a great week in training. It’s been one of the best weeks I’ve had and the only reason I was in the team this week was because of what I did in training.

“I changed my frame of mind from being a bit down in the dumps and not playing like myself and I just came in with a new mind-set this week and it’s made the difference.

“I thought whatever I’d done so far is out the window; I was living off the goals I was scoring in pre-season so I needed a fresh start and acted like it was day one again.”

The former Plymouth Argyle man replaced Reggie Lambe on the left side of midfield in Adam Murray’s only change to the line-up and Thomas talked us through his goal that proved the catalyst for the club’s biggest home victory since their return to the Football League.

“I should have picked up the second ball first time around but I was caught a little bit on my heels,” he said.

“Chappy [Adam Chapman] picked up the second ball and it just fell to me in the middle of the pitch and I thought I’d take a touch then I saw the centre-half was coming.

“I just got there before him and then I really wanted to roll it to the side of him (the goalkeeper), but when I saw the defender coming I just hammered it and luckily it went in to the roof of the net.

After picking up such a significant victory that fired the Stags into the play-off spots, Thomas was in no doubt this result was brewing for a while after weeks of hard work and felt that with a bit of added luck it could have been so much more.

Thomas continued: “When the second goal went in as early as it did, we really felt we could have had seven or eight today, it could have been a whitewash.

“The boys were absolutely outstanding today and you can see how hard we’ve been working this week in training and today everything finally came right. You could see this coming for a few weeks that we’d turn somebody over four or five-nil, we could see that as a team and luckily it was today.”

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Rose revels in brilliant team display
mansfieldtown.net, 12th September 2015, by Nick Lough

Stags’ midfielder Mitch Rose believes the hard work and dedication he and his team-mates have shown over the past week was paramount to their 4-0 hammering of Crawley Town on Saturday.

Rose scored the Stags’ second goal of the afternoon two minutes into the second half after shooting low through a crowd of players from a half-cleared corner and the combative midfielder admitted that he’d prefer to take the plaudits as a team rather than as an individual.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/rose-revels-in-brilliant-team-display-2684161.aspx#PF7VJl4736t6QMyO.99

“Today’s not about my individual goal, the team performance epitomises the hard work we have put in from the first day of pre-season,” he said.

“It was only a matter of time before we got our first home win and it was good for me to help the team with a goal as well.

“We’ve been a little bit unfortunate over the recent weeks, but I’m just delighted for the team today getting into the play-off positions and I’m even more delighted to get off the mark myself.”

After drawing all of their three opening home games, Rose was adamant that today’s result was no fluke, putting the victory down to their ability to enhance on their previous displays.

Rose stated: “We spoke last week and said that preparation doesn’t start on a Saturday; it begins on a Monday and continues right through to today.

“Our focus has been immense, the discipline, the character and just how hard we’ve been working in training shows that today didn’t just happen by chance, it epitomises the work from day one when we first came in until the final whistle.”

“We had a different type of focus coming into the game today. We had the feeling today was going to be the day we were going to get our first home win.”

After becoming an integral part of the Mansfield midfield having started all seven of their league games this term, Rose has been learning from a few of his more experienced team-mates when it comes to improving his own game and now he’s ready to reap the rewards of his hard work.

Rose continued: “We have so many new additions to the squad and we’ve gelled so much together and I’m so grateful that each day these players are pushing me to my absolute maximum.

“The manager highlighted some things when I came off the pitch last week, and today I had to listen and put those things right.

“I’m still only 21, I can learn off the older players like Chris Clements, Jamie McGuire, Adam Chapman and even Jack Thomas as a young pro is pushing me every day. I’m relishing the opportunity to play games and being around a great bunch of lads.”

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Mitch Rose off the mark with first goal for Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Mitch Rose was delighted to helped Mansfield Town on their way to their first home win with his maiden goal for the club in yesterday’s 4-0 hammering of 10-men Crawley Town.

Midfielder Rose grabbed the crucial second goal just after the break, though it took a deflection and he had team mates jokingly trying to claim it too.

“It was my goal - they are just trying to give me a little bit of stick,” smiled the summer signing. “But today is not about an individual goal but the team performance.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/mitch-rose-off-the-mark-with-first-goal-for-mansfield-town-1-7458388

“It epitomised the work we have put in since the first day of pre-season. It was only a matter of time before we got our first home win. I am grateful to be able to help with a goal today - and it definitely was my goal.

“The aim today was to get the first home win. We have been a bit unfortunate in recent weeks. So I am delighted for the team today and delighted to get off the mark myself.

“A performance like that doesn’t start on a Saturday. It starts on a Monday. From Monday to today, our preparation and our focus has been immense.

“We had a feeling that today was going to be our first home win.

“I felt a bit tired towards the end, but I am happy to play in whatever position the manager plays me and I will give 100 per cent to the team. I am grateful to get the minutes and the goal today.”

He added: “I am grateful to the players here who every day are pushing me to my absolute maximum, and the manager.

“You can come off the pitch thinking you may have done well, but the manager is nit-picking and he’s highlighted certain things he wanted. I listened to what he he said and wanted to put those right. I will keep learning, I am still only 21 and I can learn from the other players.

“I am learning every day and just relishing the opportunity to play games and just being round a great bunch of lads.”

Rose admitted he has had help and advice from Premier League Spurs star brother Danny.

“We have spoken quite a lot and he has just told me I have got to keep playing my football, putting in the extra work and make sure I keep bettering myself,” he said.

“I am just relishing the opportunity to play.

“It’s unbelievable. They are a great set of lads with some huge characters in there who have achieved a lot over their career, so they know what it’s about.

“They knew today was the chance to get our first home win so they pushed us, the younger pros, who are less experienced in it.

“The character, the manager - they are all winners in that changing room, which creates and unbelievable energy going into the game.”

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twitter
Nathan Thomas @Naththomas19
What a result! Boys where different class and amazing feeling to get my first league goal for the stags roll on next Saturday!!! #stags
Special mention for @Matt10Green helped me along so much the past few weeks and first one to celebrate with me

Brian Jensen @jensen_com
@mansfieldtownfc Great win today its been coming for a while Hopefully we showed the fans what we're capable of Keep it up! #stags

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Crawley Town boss Mark Yates told BBC Sussex:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34160502

"That was as poor as I can remember and as poor as I want to see from my team.
We gave the ball away continuously and and they bombarded us with relentless pressure that eventually paid off for them.
"We knew they would start off fast and we knew it just didn't happen."

(during the interview, Yates admitted it was a clear sending off, the incident being right in front of him)

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Yates fumes at 'powderpuff' Crawley Town display at Mansfield
Crawley News

MARK YATES slammed Crawley Town’s performance at Mansfield Town as “powderpuff” after the team lost 4-0, having played much of the second half with ten men.

The Reds conceded either side of half-time but once Gwion Edwards was dismissed after 51 minutes for a very late challenge on Nicky Hunt, there was no coming back.

Crawley went on to concede another two goals in what was easily the worst performance of Yates’ reign so far.

And the manager admitted it was “indefensible”.

Read more: http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Yates-fumes-powderpuff-Crawley-Town-display/story-27788663-detail/story.html#ixzz3lc2SruXo

“It was a tough day of our own doing but credit to Mansfield for doing a good job on us,” Yates said.

“But listen, I can’t defend the indefensible. We were poor from the first minute to the 95th and we got what we deserved.

“We didn’t work hard as a team and gifted them goals at the wrong times; a minute before half-time, a minute after half-time and then there was the sending off.

“We have been powderpuff. I’ll excuse them one bad day at the office, but I don’t want to see performances like that.”

And as well as conceding goals at bad times, Yates believes his team failed to show the desire needed to get back into the game.

“On the bench we were talking about the fact that we hadn’t made a good start,” he explained.

“We knew they would come out the traps and have a go at us and put us under pressure. We withstood it and I don’t think Freddie had too many saves to make. There were a lot of ball into the box, but we knew that would happen.

“But 43rd minute and we gave the ball away needlessly on the edge of our box [Mansfield score] and then we are fighting an uphill battle. We talked at half-time about the pressure their two centre forwards had put on us and we wanted to go out and do the same. From the kick off, they get a long throw, a corner and then we are 2-0 down.

“At 2-0 down you think you can still get back in the game but we didn’t have it in us. All the good work and credit the have had with me went out the window second half in terms of our organisation and our desire to get back in the game.”

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