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Archived News from August 2016

YEOVIL PREVIEWS
18th August 2016 0:17


Manager looking to build on opening performances
mansfieldtown.net

Stags’ boss Adam Murray says he wants his side to build on their opening two Sky Bet League Two performances and keep ‘pushing up the league’ ahead of the visit of Yeovil Town this evening (7.45pm).

The Stags followed up their 3-2 opening day victory over Newport County with a 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, which has cemented them among the early-season pacesetters.

Murray’s men currently lie fifth in Sky Bet League Two after two fixtures and although the season is still in its early stages, the manager says he wants to continue to climb the league table.

“We’ll focus on what we’re about, we want to build on the performances we’ve had so far and we want to keep pushing up the league,” Murray said.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/manager-looking-to-build-on-opening-performances-3251869.aspx#t1kQzemgxRJFgmYU.99

“Even though it’s early on, we like being ‘up there’ so we want to stay ‘up there’. We know that we’re going to have to play at a high tempo, the work rate’s going to have to be very high but we’re in a good place.

“They (Yeovil) got a good result on Saturday, they’ve had two results now, three good results with the cup game, so it’s going to be another tough one for us but we’ll focus on us.”

Our 34-year-old manager says that the Glovers are ‘a different animal’ under boss Darren Way after he took over from Paul Sturrock midway through last season.

“I think Daz (Darren Way) has done a great job down there. He’s a football guy, I know he works very hard and he’s got a very good team down there; he’s put a good unit together. [They’re] very organised, he’s got some good attacking threats and a great team spirit.

“They didn’t have the best of starts last year, but when Daz took over they were a different team.

“I think they had half a season not up to their standards but don’t forget this team was a League One side not so long ago. They’ve done very well so I think they’re going to be a strong team this year, they’ve got a lot of attributes and they’ve had a good start.”

Meanwhile, Stags defender Krystian Pearce and striker Pat Hoban returned to training yesterday and Murray says the duo give him different options in regard to team selection.

“Pearcey’s in a good place, he gives us another option which is good. We looked at a couple of things - the three at the back for certain games - and Pearcey allows us to do that.

“Jack’s (Thomas) probably going to be another week, maybe a little bit longer, and Pat’s in a good place as well, so that’s another good bonus for us.

“We’ve got a couple that we’re really happy with. Obviously we had Hendo (Darius Henderson) get minutes on Saturday; I thought he looked really strong, he gives us another option, so he’s ready to go.”

Supporters can view Adam Murray’s news conference on Stags PlayerHD.

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Stags pair fit to face in-form Glovers
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, Monday 15 August 2016

Mansfield Town look set to welcome centre half Krystian Pearce and summer signing, striker Pat Hoban, into their squad for the first time this season when in-form Yeovil Town visit tomorrow night (7.45).

Both players suffered slight knocks in pre-season games but trained today and are expected to be fit if selected.

“We have looked at a couple f things like three at the back for certain games and Pearcey allows us to do that,” said manager Adam Murray.

“He is training today which is good, so we will see how he goes.

“Jack (Thomas) is probably going to be another week, maybe a little bit longer, but Pat is in a good place. So that’s another bonus for us.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/stags-pair-fit-to-face-in-form-glovers-1-8070466

Yeovil were steered clear of a second successive drop after Darren Way took over last season and have made a flying start to the new season, beating Notts County 2-0 at home and drawing 1-1 at Luton Town as well as a 2-0 EFL Cup win at Walsall earning them a tie away to Everton. “They didn’t have the best of starts last year, but I think when Darren (Way) took over they were a different team,” said Murray. “They nicked it here in the 92nd minute which we were frustrated with, but he turned them into a different animal. “So I think they had half a season not up to their standards. “Don’t forget this team was a League One side not so long ago and they’ve done very well. “I think they will be a strong team this year. They’ve got a lot of attributes and they’ve had a good start.”

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Henderson could be key signing believes Stags boss Murray
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk

Stags boss Adam Murray believes vastly experienced striker Darius Henderson could become a key player for Mansfield Town this season after he made a late debut on Saturday.

The former Watford, Forest, Reading and Sheffield United target man, 34, has been around the block and his arrival could end up proving key over the season.

“We had Hendo get minutes on Saturday and I thought he looked really strong,” said Murray ahead of tonight’s visit of Yeovil Town.

“He gives us another option and he is ready to go.

“He didn’t have a pre-season with us and our boys have worked very, very hard. To just throw him into the League programme would have been very foolish.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/henderson-could-be-key-signing-believes-stags-boss-murray-1-8070470?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

“So he has had two and a bit weeks’ personal work now and bits with the lads.

“He trained with the lads on a few occasions last week as well as his personal work and we thought, with the work he had done, he was ready to influence the game.

“After the game he was full of enthusiasm. The character he is, he wants to get going now. He wants to get his teeth into it and start beating people up. We are chuffed to bits with that one.”

When Adi Yussuf went out on loan for six months, Stags might have plugged the gap with an inexperienced player. So to capture a name like Henderson has been a huge bonus.

“That was the idea,” said Murray. “We have Zayn (Hakeem) here who fits the young target man bill.

“We could have gone out and got a young one from non-League who was raw and had this and that potential.

“But it would have been pointless as we would have been blocking the route for one of our kids here.

“What we’ve done with Darius is brought someone in who could affect us now and allow Zayn the time and the environment to grow.

“Zayn is in a great position at the minute. He has a great mentor in Karl (Hawley), who has been there and done it, and he has three senior strikers and can learn from them whatever he wants.

“He has the right ingredients and we are allowing him the time to grow. We will keep giving him his little bit and taking him back out.

“So the signing of Hendo is positive in more ways than one.” He continued: “We have a lot of influential players in our group at the minute.

“You look at the likes of Pat Hoban, who we’ve not seen yet. For me he is going to be huge for us. So it will be good to get him back in the swing of things.

“Greeny has come back an animal. I am staying out of his way at the minute as he’s got that look in his eye that he’s ready to eat people.

“I thought Adam Chapman on Tuesday night was outstanding. I think he was back to the Chapman we all know. He was getting around the pitch and his distribution was very good. He made us play.

“So we have got a lot of people I think are going to influence the team and the league this year.

“I have already said I think this is going to be the toughest season I’ve known personally as a player or manager as there are so many good teams.

“You look at the teams and the managers and coaches are more tactically aware. The standard of play has gone up and there is a lot more energy. So consistency is key and it’s those games when you are not at full throttle and understand and recognise that - but you don’t get beat. It’s all about putting points on the board and ticking over.

“Ultimately what will be will be.”

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Yeovil Town welcome Francois Zoko back for Mansfield Town trip as ex-Luton Town man is also fit
By TomSeymour, August 15, 2016, somersetlive.co.uk

There is some good news in terms of injuries for Yeovil Town as Francois Zoko is expected to return for Tuesday's (August 16) trip to Mansfield Town.

The striker is yet to play in 2016-17 and missed the Glovers' entire pre-season after picking up a problem with hip flexors.

Yet just as fitness issues looked to be getting on top of the club, Zoko is set to make a timely return as they travel to the One Call Stadium in Sky Bet League Two.

Not only that but Nathan Smith, who was forced off during the opening day victory over Notts County with a foot injury, is also expected to be fit after missing the last two matches.

Smith was on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Luton Town on Saturday, but was adjudged not to be ready to come on when centre-back Alex Lacey was himself forced off with an arm injury.

There is good news concerning Lacey as well, who will be able to face Mansfield after damaging his arm when he was pushed over the advertising hoardings by Luton forward Danny Hylton.

Ryan Dickson and Tom Eaves have also recovered after picking up knocks against the Hatters to leave Darren Way's squad looking a lot healthier ahead of the Stags trip.

However, there are still concerns with Josh Ezewele (knee), Liam Shephard (Achilles) and Darren Ward (knee).

"We are having to wait a little longer on them," said Way.

"We will wait to assess them and see if they are ready to travel [to Mansfield]."

Read more at http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/yeovil-town-welcome-francois-zoko-back-for-mansfield-town-trip-as-ex-luton-town-man-is-also-fit/story-29621473-detail/story.html?#6tlmpgZGrLiXeI2y.99

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