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Archived News from January 2016

MURRAY AND NATHAN JONES REACTION
28th January 2016 22:24


Murray wants players to show spirit
mansfieldtown.net, 23rd January 2016

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has called on his players to revive their spirits ahead of Tuesday’s away trip to Morecambe.

Stags were defeated 2-0 by Luton Town thanks to goals from Paddy McCourt and Pelly Ruddock at One Call Stadium this afternoon.

And manager Murray wants his players to rekindle their spirits in the quick turnaround before Tuesday’s trip to the Globe Arena.

“We looked like we lacked 'balls'. I think at times we looked like a team that doesn’t look like they know what to do with the ball.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/murray-wants-players-to-show-spirit-at-morecambe-2917409.aspx#PZaqK86Osgi6yWti.99

“We’re lacking a bit of fire in there at the minute. Things aren’t going our way but we’ve got to keep grafting and keep working hard.”

After seeing his players become frustrated whilst trying to break down Luton’s resolute defence, Murray says he wants his players to take a leaf out of his book from his playing days and do the basics right.

“We need to see that they care. The thing that I don’t get is that little bit of fire that we lack. You’re fighting for their lives. They’re fighting for their careers, they’re fighting for jobs, I don’t get it.”

Murray continued: “I said to them in there [the changing room]: I never put myself in a situation where I was going to be fighting for a job, because I did the basics right. If you’re not having a good game, then you have to run through brick walls.

“Even when we haven’t particularly performed well, [we’ve seen] a spirit and a pair of knackers and today we didn’t see that.”

The gaffer said his side are still searching for the cutting edge which will see them carve the opposition open after enjoying the lion’s share of possession against the Hatters.

“We lacked a little bit of idea in the final third. In possession, we dictated play without causing them problems. I felt we needed a little bit more link up in the final third.

“We weren’t good enough in both boxes today. We had some good play and good possession but didn’t do enough with it. Then in the defensive third, we kill ourselves."

You can view Murray’s post-match interview, in full, on Stags Player.

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Manager Adam Murray slams Mansfield Town for lack of spark and spirit in Luton Town home defeat
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas, Saturday 23 January 2016

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray said his players had lacked spark and spirit in today’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat by Luton Town.

Although Stags dominated possession, they rarely threatened keeper Elliot Justham and conceded early goals in both halves.

It was the fifth time in six home games that Mansfield had conceded early and Murray said: “It’s the same old story again. You can’t coach it and people have got to take responsibility. It’s becoming a farce now the times we concede goals and the type of goal we’re conceding. It’s just a regular occurance - same mistakes, same errors.

“We are not blessed with 30 players where we can try someone else out. We have got to keep going.

Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/manager-adam-murray-slams-mansfield-town-for-lack-of-spark-and-spirit-in-luton-town-home-defeat-1-7692878#ixzz3y6p25Xvb

“The bottom line is they were better than us in vital areas.

“They were two really sloppy goals and there was not enough spark about us to win a football match.

“Overall they were better than us.

“We were not good enough in both boxes today. At times first half we had some good play and some good possession but didn’t do enough with it.

“Then in the defensive third we kill ourselves.”

He added: “With the ball first half we were very good without creating enough opportunities as we couldn’t get behind them. We lacked a bit of idea in the final third. But in possession we dictated play without causing them problems. They only looked like they were going to score on the break.

“Second half we went more direct but gave away a poor goal.”

Murray had a long angry discussion with the players in the dressing room after the match and said: “The thing that got me today was we looked like we lacked balls.

“At times we looked like a team that doesn’t know what to do with the possession and that’s where you look to your X-Factor players, your spark players, to do something.

“We are lacking a bit of fire in there at the minute. Things are not going our way. But we have to keep grafting.

“Today showed the gulf in quality in players.

“Now we need to see that the players care. We had a brilliant first quarter to the season but what I don’t get is that bit of fire we lack - they are fighting for their lives.

“They are fighting for their careers, they are fighting for jobs - I don’t get it.

“I said to them afterwards I never put myself in a situation where it was questionable if I was going to fight for my job, as I did the basics rights.

“If you are not having a good game, you do the basics and run through brick walls. There are questions being answered here. This first season was always going to be a case of finding people out and finding what does or doesn’t work.”

Murray concluded: “Luton’s league position at the minute is probably a bit false and they are a million miles away from who we are. We need to understand that and take that one on the chin.

“What we are trying to achieve is not an overnight thing. It’s going to take bumps. It’s going to take punches on the chin. We are not very good with that as a football club - being patient.

“One of the basics we’ve seen from the team all season, even when we haven’t particularly performed well, is a spirit and a pair of knackers - today we didn’t see that.”

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Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray backs loanee Sean Kavanagh after tough debut in Luton Town defeat
chad.co.uk, by John Lomas

Adam Murray had words of comfort for Mansfield Town’s loanee debutant Sean Kavanagh after a tough debut in the 2-0 home defeat by Luton Town.

Kavanagh was out of position for the first goal and easily turned for the second as League Two proved an eye-opener for Fulham’s Northern Ireland U21 left back.

Murray had to bring in a left back at short notice late in the week after Notts County decided loanee Blair Adams could not return, and it was felt Kavanagh, who celebrated his 22nd birthday this week, fitted the bill.

Murray said: “Technically we knew Sean was excellent and at times today he got forward really well, and his deliveries were good.

Read more: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/local-sport/mansfield-town-manager-adam-murray-backs-loanee-sean-kavanagh-after-tough-debut-in-luton-town-defeat-1-7692941#ixzz3y9YURVJY

“But we know taking someone out the Championship, particularly a young lad, they are always going to find the physical side a test.

“I think he got caught out a couple of times within that, but that’s a gamble you take.

“We can go out and sign 6ft 5ins players all over the pitch and whack it. But I’m not going to do that. I’ll stick to the way I want to play.

“We got punished today for Sean probably not being the most physical.”

Stags now prepare for a long haul to Morecambe on Tuesday night.

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Luton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35330950

"I'm a very proud manager today. I thought we were excellent today from start to finish. I thought we defended well, at times we were a little bit deep but we tried to play.
"We have to have a squad here that wants to work hard, that wants to graft, that has a structure, that wants to do things right. If we get that then we can climb the league and start to do things.
"We have to get a bit more know-how, a bit more fluency in our play and once we do that we will be heading in the right direction."

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Luton Town manager Nathan Jones delighted with first ever League win at Mansfield Town for the Hatters
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk

Nathan Jones was delighted to see his Luton Town side chalk up his first win as new manager and their first ever League win at One Call Stadium.

“I am a very proud manager tonight,” he said. “It’s two games, four points and two solid performances.

Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/luton-town-manager-nathan-jones-delighted-with-first-ever-league-win-at-mansfield-town-for-the-hatters-1-7692936#ixzz3y9bH197C

“But I think we can get better than that and this is only a start. So let’s not get carried away.

“I’ve got a group here who want to work. Their application has been terrific since I came in and I think we saw little bits of that today.

“Our endeavour and everything we did was top notch. We could have passed it better and could have been slightly more fluent in some of our play. But it was a fantastic away performance.

“The goals were superb - the first was an outstanding move and great finish, and the second was another great finish from the young lad.”

He added: “I’ve got a group here who want to work. Their application has been terrific since I came in and I think we saw little bits of that today.

“The changes were pretty much enforced, the injury list has been unbelievable. Fortunately the two tactical changes we made came to fruition. We’re happy.”

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