Archived News from November 2015
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MURRAY AND CHRIS WILDER REACTION
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Result tough on Stags says Murray
mansfieldtown.net, 14th November 2015, by Nick Lough Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray believes his side were well deserving of at least a point after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Northampton this afternoon. Despite dominating the possession stats, the Stags couldn’t make it count in the final third with striker Matt Green coming closest with a header which flicked off the crossbar. “A draw would have been a fair reflection on the game,” Murray said after the match. Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-post-northampton-2800945.aspx#OS0gXdBpSvdLbUYj.99 “I think we created enough opportunities without being ruthless. We got into great areas and the minute we do that we end up defending within a few seconds which has to change; when we get these chances we have to take them and score. “What shows you that we’re in the game is the amount of defensive changes they made to their team and structure because, for large parts, we were getting the better of the game.” Pin-pointing where his side lost the game, Murray feels that a razor sharp edge in the final third of the pitch may have done the trick - saying that his side need to show more of a killer-instinct in front of goal. He said: “Decision making let us down, I think we don’t know how to be ruthless in both boxes. We spoke about Northampton’s strengths all week and a big part of their game is crosses and Richards in the box, and after however minutes it was, a cross came in and Richards was in the box. “We had large parts of the game but we didn’t know what to do with it. We had chances and opportunities and we didn’t take them. You can’t come away to a team that’s in the form Northampton are and not take your chances. “It was frustrating, but it was our first real test this team has had after 17 games which is good. It’s a new challenge so we ‘get back on the horse’ as quickly as we can.” Despite having more of the ball, Murray believes his side faced a solid outfit in Chris Wilder’s men this afternoon, with the Cobblers grit and ability to take their chances a reason why they are near the summit of the SkyBet League Two table. “Sometimes the game doesn’t allow you to carry out your game-plan to the tee, but you have to try and get back on track and try to implement that,” Murray said. “I think we did get our game going and caused them problems, but you have to give credit to Northampton because they’re a very, very good team. They showed why they are in the top three of the league as they had one chance and they scored. “Between the two boxes we were brilliant, but in them is really where you make things count.” With some difficult fixtures coming up for the Stags, Murray has thrown the gauntlet down to his players with many teams in the division creeping towards the play-off spots. He continued: “I said to the boys if we take away the FA Cup game, in the next three games we have to put points on the board if we’re going to be serious about staying in the top seven this season.” ------------------ Opposition view: Mansfield boss Murray feels Stags deserved better northamptonchron.co.uk, by James Heneghan Stags boss Adam Murray believed his Mansfield Town side “deserved something from the game” after their 1-0 defeat to Northampton at Sixfields on Saturday. In an evenly-matched contest that saw fifth entertain sixth in Sky Bet League Two, it was the Cobblers who prevailed thanks to Marc Richards’ fourth-minute header. Read more: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/opposition-view-mansfield-boss-murray-feels-stags-deserved-better-1-7066734#ixzz3raa4vPWt Both sides had their chances throughout but Mansfield’s lack of quality in the final third was their downfall with Cobblers keeper Adam Smith largely untroubled. The result moves Northampton up to third while Mansfield remain sixth. Murray, who played under Cobblers boss Chris Wilder at Oxford United, said afterwards: “We need to be more ruthless in both boxes because we deserved something from the game. “We had chances and opportunities but didn’t take them and you cannot come to a team that’s in the form Northampton are in and do that. “This is the first real test this team has had after 17 games which is good but it’s another challenge for us. “We spoke all week about Northampton’s threat but we didn’t stick to our game plan from the start and got punished for that. If you don’t take your work on the training on to the pitch on Saturdays then you might as well play five-a-side. “We’ve got a horrible habit at the moment of knowing what’s coming but not being about to deal with it - and it happened with the cross for their goal. “Northampton are a very good side but we spent most of the second half in their half but we didn’t seem to know what to do with all that possession in the final third. Northampton made a lot of defensive changes which shows you how much of the game we were having.” ----------------- CHRIS WILDER DEDICATES WIN TO STAFF ntfc.co.uk, 14th November 2015 by Elliot Stonhill The Cobblers boss on Northampton Town 1 Mansfield Town 0 Boss Chris Wilder reflecting on Saturday’s 1-0 win against Mansfield, a result that lifts the Cobblers into the top three. “It was a competitive game but I thought we created the clearer chances,” he said. Read more at http://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/article/northampton-town-v-mansfield-town-chris-wilder-2447436.aspx#fWMgmqOZxkCY7zdZ.99 “It’s a big result for us, Mansfield are up there on merit but we managed to get ourselves over the line. “We had to dig it out but I don’t remember Adam Smith having too much to do. In any game the result is always the most important thing and we’ve got that. “We know that we can do better with the ball but we need to keep clean sheets if we are going to do well this season. “It was great to see the ground nearly full and you can’t underestimate how much that means to the players and the club to have this place rocking. “We’ve definitely got something going on the pitch and I just hope that this feelgood factor continues. "This win was for the staff. For them to keep giving the players and the coaching staff the help and support and platform that they do given they haven't been paid for six or seven weeks is truly remarkable and they deserve every credit and praise." ------------------ We deserved the win - Wilder delighted after Cobblers see off Mansfield northamptonchron.co.uk, by James Heneghan Cobblers boss Chris Wilder felt his side fully warranted the three points after “creating the better chances” in their hard-fought 1-0 win over Mansfield Town. Marc Richards’ fourth-minute header ultimately proved the difference in a game of two halves with a scrappy opening period followed by a more open and entertaining second 45 minutes in which both sides had chances. Read more: http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/football/we-deserved-the-win-wilder-delighted-after-cobblers-see-off-mansfield-1-7066373#ixzz3raZyAenU But the clearer opportunities fell to Northampton, in particular Joel Byrom who three times came close to adding to Richards’ opener, while Adam Smith didn’t have a save to make in the home goal. The win extends Northampton’s excellent form and now makes it just one defeat in the last 10 league games - a run which has seen them march up to third in Sky Bet League Two. Wilder was in high spirits post-match, saying: “I don’t think it was a backs to the wall win, if I’m honest. “I thought it was a competitive game and they’re a decent side who play an expansive game and have a lot of good players but the better chances fell to us. “My goalkeeper hasn’t had a save to make and they haven’t had any shots on target. They had a bit of the ball in certain areas but we’ve created the clearer chances and scored the goal which won the game. “Conditions first half were difficult and they pinned us back because they have a lot of pace at the top of the pitch and I think people have to realise that we’re a genuine team here so they have to bring their best game to Sixfields if they want to get something. “We’ve got the big results and it is a big result for us on an a wet and windy afternoon.” The game also saw Northampton keep a clean sheet for the first time since their 1-0 win over Oxford United in September, something which particularly pleased Wilder. “It’s about time we kept a clean sheet which is a massive bonus for us especially as Adam (Smith) didn’t have much to do,” added the Town boss. “With the defenders we have here we should be keeping more clean sheets. We had three in the first three games but that was in August and we should be doing it more. “I’m pleased for the likes of (David) Buchanan and Brendan (Moloney). We could have played Darnell (Furlong) today but we wanted to give Brendan some momentum in the team because I thought he was unbelievable last week.” The victory was played out in front of Northampton’s biggest crowd of the season with over 5,400 fans inside Sixfields, just 300 short of the current capacity. “It was a great crowd,” noted Wilder. “I think we were 300 shot of it being a sell-out which is an incredible achievement by the supporters and you can’t underestimate what a buzz that gives everybody when they see this place rocking. “Yes, we were a little bit disappointing at times when we had the ball but we’re there to be shot at and we got the win and over the finish line. “We had a couple of chances. Joel (Byrom) should have scored and Dom (Calvert-Lewin) should have scored but we’re a team that’s going well and sometimes you have to dig out a result and we had to do that today. “It’s a tough competition and there’s a lot of really good teams in this league. Mansfield are up their on merit so we have to turn up week in, week out. “They were up for it but the result in any game is the most important thing and we’ve managed to get that.” ----------------- |
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