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Archived News from August 2016

MURRAY, GREEN, CHAPMAN, DARREN WAY REACTION
25th August 2016 19:08



Murray revels in delight of Yeovil win
mansfieldtown.net

Stags’ boss Adam Murray dubbed tonight’s 1-0 win over Yeovil Town as ‘one of the best nights’ he’s had as a manager.

Striker Matt Green’s second half penalty was enough to secure three points against the Glovers, even though frontman Danny Rose received a straight red card after only eight minutes had elapsed, meaning the
Stags were forced to play over 85 minutes with ten men.

And the manager said the quality of the performance with just ten men showed the 'character, spirit and fight' of his players.

“It was probably one of the best nights I’ve had as a manager, just through the sheer events of the game. I felt we were on top and - I’ll have to see it again properly - I’ve seen the decision quickly but them decisions change games don’t they, and I thought to a man, the boys were unbelievable,” Murray said.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/murray-revels-in-delight-of-yeovil-win-3253882.aspx#Pem1bPfoei4o6F7D.99

“Even when we went in at half-time, we felt we should’ve had something out [of] the game, I thought we were tremendous. And then we came out [for the] second half and defended like lions and caused them all kinds of problems going forward.”

Last season’s top scorer Matt Green added to his goal against Newport County on the opening day with an emphatic penalty at One Call Stadium against Yeovil and the gaffer says the striker is getting back to the kind of player he was during his first spell at the club, after spending almost two years on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.

“He’s on fire and I said in pre-season that he’s the Matt Green that we saw a couple of years ago when he was here.

“He’s come back and he’s hungry, he’s as fit as a fiddle, he’s only 29 and he’s got a lot of football left in him. [He’s] driving us forward. He’s turned into a leader over the last few months, few weeks and he’s driving the group forward at the minute.”

After seeing striker Danny Rose receive his marching orders inside the first ten minutes of the match, Murray says he was forced to alter the formation slightly and the players showed numerous attributes to ensure they emerged with the three points.

“We obviously had to change formation a little bit but the tactics book got re-opened at page three. You plan for these things, you plan for going down to ten men and we’ve got a couple of systems that we use when that happens and we did that but it was always going to be a tricky game and it just turned out to be a little more tricky than we expected.

“The lads work their ‘so-and-sos’ off every day and this has been, we keep saying it, a real tough month and I thought, not just the energy and the enthusiasm and the work-rate, but the intelligence we showed, at times, the shape was outstanding and that’s a credit to them for taking on the work that we’ve done over pre-season and the last few weeks.”

Finally, the 34-year-old praised the One Call Stadium crowd for their support against the Glovers and highlighted the influence they have over the players.

“I think we’ve got to give a special mention to the supporters tonight though - I haven’t seen this place like that for a long, long time.

“At one period in the game I actually had goosebumps, [I was] a little bit emotional and to be a player in that environment, that gives you that extra five percent to keep going and I saw players out there get lifted by it and get driven by it and we gave them the three points at the end of it so a massive, massive thank you to them.”

Supporters can view Adam Murray’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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Murray savours one of his best nights as Stags boss
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk, Tuesday 16 August 2016

Adam Murray admitted tonight’s 1-0 home win against Yeovil Town, despite playing 82 minutes with 10 men, was one of his best nights in football management.

The Mansfield Town boss also had high praise for the home fans, who cheered and lifted the players for the full 90 minutes and made a huge difference to their side.

Stags lost Danny Rose through a needless two-footed tackle after only eight minutes.

But the in-form Glovers were unable to capitalise as the Stags went on to serve up one of their best and most gutsy performances at One Call Stadium for a very long time.

“That was probably one of the best nights I’ve had as a manager through the sheer events of the game,” smiled Murray.

“I felt we were on top and I will have to see the sending-off again, but those decisions change games.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/murray-savours-one-of-his-best-nights-as-stags-boss-1-8072745?

“But, to a man, I thought the boys were unbelievable.

“It was a kick in the teeth but we showed our character and spirit and the fight we’ve got in the group.

“Even when we came in at half-time we felt we should have had something from the game as we were tremendous.

“We came back out second half, defended like lions and caused them all kinds of problems.”

He then added: “I have got to give a special mention to the supporters tonight. I haven’t seen this place like that for a long time and at one period of the game I actually had goosebumps.

“To be a player in that environment, that gives you that extra fight.”

Once Mitch Rose had won Stags an unlikely penalty kick on 64 minutes, there was little chance that a hungry Matt Green would miss the chance to find the net.

“Matt Green is on fire,” said Murray. “This is the Matt Green we saw here a couple of years ago.

“He is fit as anything, he’s only 29 and he’s got a lot of football left in him.

“He’s turned into a leader over the last few months and he’s driving everyone forward at the minute.

“I can’t single anyone out today though - they were all absolutely outstanding.”

Mitch Rose won the penalty to build on recent fine displays and two goals in the previous two games.

“He is a powerful animal and when people get his way I feel sorry for them,” said Murray.

“He won a couple of great tackles today and that sets the team off.

“I thought Clements and Chapman in there today were outstanding - to a man it was one of the best performances I’ve seen from us.”

Near the end Murray tweaked his side by sending on big target man striker Darius Henderson and centre half George Taft as Yeovil desperately looked for an equaliser.

Murray said: “We needed a bit of experience. They were putting everything they could into the box.

“Hendo is 6ft 2ins and Taft is 6ft 5ins, so it was common sense.”

Despite playing so long with 10 men, Stags were the better side over the 90 minutes with Brian Jensen not having to make any saves out of the routine.

“They are fit boys and they work their so-and-so’s off every day.

“This is a tough month and I thought it wasn’t just the energy, enthusiasm and work rate but it was the intelligence we showed and the shape was outstanding.

“We now have to come back to earth very quickly as we have two tough away games against teams that are expected to be up there.

“We are going to enjoy these next hours. I said to the players the three hours after the final whistle when you’ve won, there’s not a better feeling in the world.

“I told them to enjoy it as it’s back to reality tomorrow. “I don’t want to sleep tonight I want to watch the game again four times!”

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twitter BBC Nottingham Sport @BBCRNS
Adam Murray says it'd take "about £5m" to get Matt Green out of Mansfield Town after rumours of interest from Bradford. #stags

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Murray slaps £5m tag on Green’s head
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray slapped a £5 million price tag on talisman striker Matt Green’s head last night to try to deter other clubs trying to pick him up before the transfer window closes in two weeks.

Green’s penalty success saw 10-men Stags win 1-0 against Yeovil Town last night - Green’s second goal of the season - and the striker is looking back to the hot form he showed in helping Stags to win the Conference title before he suffered a bad injury playing for Birmingham.

Inevitably the rumour mill is suggesting clubs are considering a swoop for Green, but Murray said: “He has got two years left on his contract and we don’t need to sell our best players. I know the chairman won’t want to sell the best players.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/murray-slaps-5m-tag-on-green-s-head-1-8073643?

“So unless any club is going to come up with about £5 million, we want Matt Green here and Matt Green will be staying here.

“It’s going to take a hell of a shift in price tags to prise any of our players away.”

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Bradford City strikers worth a shout, says Clarke
thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, by Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter, Thu 18 Aug 2016

BILLY Clarke hopes to silence the "bellowing" while City maintain their pursuit of an extra forward.

Mansfield's Matt Green is understood to be one that the club are currently closely monitoring.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/14689953.Bradford_City_strikers_worth_a_shout__says_Clarke/?ref=rl&lp=1

The 29-year-old netted 16 times for the League Two side last term and is a former Conference leading scorer.

The powerful six-footer, who scored his second goal of the new season on Tuesday, is seen in the James Hanson mould.

But as the chase for one more striker goes on, Clarke insists the present group are making their point in City's strong start.

The Irishman scored a spectacular opener in the latest win at MK Dons and said: "People bellow on (about a new striker) as if he's going to pop up and score 20 goals a season and be better than what we are.

"That's not always the case. Teams can splash out £25million on strikers at the top level - look at (Christian) Benteke - thinking they are going to be the best but it hasn't panned out.

...
Green missed 18 months with damaged cruciate ligaments at Birmingham before returning to Mansfield last year.

Stags boss Adam Murray is adamant he will be going nowhere.

Murray said: "He has got two years left on his contract and we don’t need to sell our best players. I know the chairman won’t want to sell the best players.

"So unless any club is going to come up with about £5 million, we want Matt Green here and Matt Green will be staying here.

"It’s going to take a hell of a shift in price tags to prise any of our players away."

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Frontman hoping to build on Yeovil win at weekend
mansfieldtown.net

Stags’ striker Matt Green says the unbeaten start to the season can act as a ‘springboard’ to continue building in Sky Bet League Two.

Adam Murray’s men triumphed 1-0 over Yeovil Town last night, despite playing over 90 minutes with ten men after Danny Rose was dismissed in the eighth minute for serious foul play.

And Green, who scored the decisive penalty in the win over the Glovers, says the Stags can now build on their strong start to the season with the away double header against Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient coming up.

“It’s a great springboard and we’re not going to [become] complacent at all; we got a good result tonight and we’ll relish it for tonight but now our main focus is on the next game which will be Plymouth," Green said after last night's match.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/frontman-hoping-to-build-on-yeovil-win-at-weekend-3254242.aspx#xA4lcbsm30Pw2pJv.99

“Nine points would’ve been ideal but seven we would’ve taken before, I’m sure, and we’re not getting too carried away and we’ll relish this one tonight because we had ten men and we got the result we wanted.

“It didn’t feel like we had ten men. I know there was different positions being played over the field but we still felt fully in control of the game and again, we can take a lot out of tonight and carry on throughout the season, hopefully.”

The 29-year-old says recovery is key when there are so many games in quick succession and Stags will prepare correctly for the trip to Argyle.

“We’ll get our rest in, we’ll do it right; we’ll be in tomorrow and have our ice baths and have our massages and go in to Plymouth with a strong mentality after tonight.

“It’s away at Home Park as well and it’s a hard place to go at times but we’ll take a lot out of tonight and we’ll watch their clips and look where they’re dangerous and look where they’re weak and hopefully we can expose on their weaknesses and stop their danger-men.”

Green played as a lone frontman against the Glovers after Rose’s early red card and the striker says he doesn’t mind where he plays, as long as it’s for the good of the team.

“If that’s what I’ve got to do for the team [then I don't mind doing it] and I got my rewards at the end - I thought I could’ve had a couple more chances, I thought we had some good chances throughout the game and it just shows that we were working hard together. We’ve still got so much to improve on, but this will help us a lot.

“Every season I go into with the same mentality. There’s no incentives other than hitting the back of the net for me and if I continue to do that then I think everyone will be happy with it.”

Supporters can watch Matt Green’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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Chapman hails togetherness of squad after Yeovil win
mansfieldtown.net, 16th August 2016

Stags’ midfielder Adam Chapman praised how his team-mates stuck together during tonight’s fantastic 1-0 win over Yeovil Town at One Call Stadium.

Manager Adam Murray’s men recorded their second win in three league matches thanks to a second half penalty from Matt Green, despite frontman Danny Rose being sent off after just eight minutes for serious foul play.

And after the Stags played over 85 minutes with 10 men, Chapman praised how each player stuck to their tasks and helped each other on the pitch.

“It is all about just sitting in, don’t lose your head - you can’t go and chase the game then. I know you’re at home and the fans want you to go and chase the game but you’ve just got to talk each other constantly,” Chapman said.

“Help your mate, because you’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to lose runners, you’re going to lose concentration, you can’t start 'beating each other up' and getting on to each other because you’re going to have to help your mate and he’s going to have to help you and it is just constantly being together."

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/2016-17/chapman-hails-togetherness-of-squad-after-yeovil-win-3253432.aspx#1a4wQq27Y2WLTu3l.99

Further to praising his team-mates, the 26-year-old also commented on the positive influence of the supporters inside One Call Stadium.

“The crowd were brilliant tonight, they got right behind us. As soon as we came out for that second half, we started well and that was it, they were with us until the end so it is just about ‘grinding it down’ and hoping that with the quality we’ve got on the pitch, which we always have, we can nick a goal.

“As long as everyone’s on the same page and getting behind each other, that’s all that matters. I got behind them and I get behind my team-mates and when they get behind us it’s absolutely different class and it really does help, it really, really does.”

The 26-year-old believes that this season's squad has 'gone up a level or two' from the 2015/16 campaign.

"I thought we had a great squad and a great group of lads but I just think in certain areas, we’ve just upped that quality level that little bit more and that little brain level has gone up that little bit more.

"The tightness in the group was there last year; it’s not like we’re a tighter group because I’m not going to 'slag' the boys from last year because we were a really close group last year but as in quality and that little bit of football brain I think we have gone up a level or two."

Supporters can watch Adam Chapman’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.

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Boo boys’ target Chapman praises Stags supporters
by John Lomas, chad.co.uk

Despite being a regular target for the boo boys last season, Mansfield Town midfielder Adam Chapman had nothing but rich praise for the Stags fans and the noise they drummed up last night to help their 10-man side beat Yeovil 1-0 against the odds.

Chapman suffered badly at the hands of a section of the crowd last season but has been in fine form so far this season and said:

“It is just about constantly being together.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-news/video-boo-boys-target-chapman-praises-stags-supporters-1-8074634?

“The crowd were brilliant tonight. They got right behind us. As soon as we came out for that second half we started well and that was it. They were with us until the end.

“It was just about grinding it down and hoping that with the quality we’ve got on the pitch, which we always have, we could nick a goal.

“It doesn’t matter what my feelings are towards them (the fans) or what their feelings are towards me.

“For that 90 minutes it doesn’t matter what anybody thinks as long as everyone is on the same page and getting behind each other. That’s all that matters.

“When they get behind us it’s absolutely different class and it really, really does help.”

Stags had to play 82 minutes with 10 men after Danny Rose was shown an early red card for a lunge at Otis Khan and an exhausted Chapman smiled:

“I am going to punch his (Danny Rose) head in when I see him.

“Weirdly it was very a enjoyable game. It was disgusting as to the amount of mileage you had to put in, but it was still enjoyable for some reason.

“Even though we were down to 10 men for a long time, apart from the little spells they had, which they were always going to have, I still felt we were the better team and created the better clear-cut chances. And I still felt we were the more dangerous when we did get out and break.

“So in a bit of a sick way it was quite enjoyable. It is all just about sitting in, don’t lose your head, staying calm and don’t chase the game down.

“You know you’re at home and the fans want you to go and chase it. But you’ve just got to talk to each other constantly and help your mate as you’re going to make mistakes.

“You will lose runners, you will lose concentration, you can’t start beating each other up or getting onto each other as you’re going to have to help your mate and he’s going to have to help you.”

The win was a real tonic after being held 1-1 at home by Cheltenham on Saturday.

“We were disappointed on Saturday as we got suckered into playing their kind of game, but we are confident,” said Chapman.

“It is a very confident group and the ability we have in this group is so obvious. It’s just getting the mentality we’ve shown tonight game in, game out.

“No disrespect to the boys that were here last year as I thought we had a great squad and a great group of lads. But I think in certain areas we have just upped that quality a bit more this season. That little brain level has gone up a bit more.

“The tightness in the group was there last year - it’s not like we are a tighter group. But in quality and football brain I think we have gone up a level or two.”

He added: “We’ve got people like Jamie McGuire too. I think the fourth official had to tell him to sit down more than the gaffer as he was on the pitch more than him tonight. You have people like that rooting for you - it’s different class.”

Now Chapman and the rest of the squad must rest their weary limbs ahead of the long haul down to Plymouth on Saturday.

“The next game is always the most important,” he said soon after the final whistle. “We’ll enjoy tonight but once we wake up in the morning that’s it.

“In fact two hours from now you get your food in, you have a laugh and a joke but then you’ve got to get to bed and rest as the games are coming thick and fast now.

“It’s a big ask to travel down there (Plymouth). They are a good team with a big pitch and we want to go down there and start beating teams like that as we didn’t do that last year.

“We got a lot of good points away against the bigger teams but we didn’t beat many of them. That’s what we need to start doing.”

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Darren Way Feels Players Not Strong Enough In The Mansfield Battle
http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/news.asp?NewsItemId=25665

Yeovil Town manager Darren Way said that his players were not strong enough in the battle during last night's match against Mansfield at Field Mill. The Glovers lost 1-0 to a Matt Green second half penalty, but probably felt that they failed to seize on an opportunity when a red card for Danny Rose left the Stags operating with ten men for 81 minutes of the match, giving the Glovers a chance to wear down their opponents.

Instead it was ten-man Mansfield who managed to stamp their control on the game, frustrating Yeovil by their physical approach to the game, and by deliberately running down the clock and the tempo of the match. Despite five minutes worth of injury time being played in both halves, the Glovers couldn't capitalise on the man advantage and instead succumbed themselves when Green converted a spot kick after goalkeeper Artur Krysiak had brought down Mitchell Rose inside the box. Way told BBC Somerset after the game that his players had failed to live up to their previous standards:

"I knew it wasn't going to be an easy game. It was a frustrating game to watch, but I was more disappointed with the decision-making from our players today. Certainly with the younger ones, there's always that question mark, as it's new to them as to how they handle this situation. I just felt that from what they'd done previously they didn't live up to their standards today. It's always difficult when you are up against ten men, because they just slow the game down. It was a sending off, and someone else led with an elbow, but I explained to the lads that was what it was going to be like and we had to stand up to that battle. I didn't feel some of them were strong enough in that battle."

The Glovers were not helped by two injuries forcing them to reorganise their defence during the match. After the game, Way confirmed that Ryan Dickson's substitution was down to the ankle injury that he sustained at Luton Town on Saturday flaring up again. Meanwhile, Nathan Smith's half time substitution was due to him needing stitches above an eye, following an incident involving a Mansfield player just before the Fourth Official's board went up for first half injury time.

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Yeovil Town left battered and bruised as Mansfield Town inflict their first defeat of the season
By TomSeymour, somersetlive.co.uk

Yeovil Town suffered their first defeat of the season at Mansfield Town in what was a very physical battle for Darren Way's young side.

After going down to ten men after just nine minutes when Danny Rose was shown a straight red card, the Stags sought to frustrate the Glovers and served up a sucker punch when Matt Green scored the winner from the penalty spot.

It was a display that left Way unhappy with his players for the first time in 2016-17.

"I was disappointed with the performance," said the Yeovil boss.

"It's always difficult when you are up against ten men because they slow the game down. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy game.

Read more at http://www.somersetlive.co.uk/yeovil-town-left-battered-and-bruised-as-mansfield-town-inflict-first-defeat-of-the-season/story-29627603-detail/story.html?#Wbr8UVz1FYp4ZALk.99

"I explained to the lads that was what it was going to be like and they had to stand up to that battle and I didn't feel some of them were strong enough.

"They're a physical, direct team and my players didn't really deal with that. I thought we gave possession away in one or two areas of the pitch and the goal came from that.

"It is a fine line between winning and losing every week. I think we put 48 balls in the final third, so it wasn't like we didn't have possession, we just couldn't break them down.

"I was disappointed with the decision-making from some of our players, especially the younger ones. I think after what they have done previously they didn't live up to those standards. At least they know what the situation is now.

"I'm not going to accept that performance every week. There are a lot of players who's positions are up for grabs on Saturday. But we regroup and I am looking for a reaction."

It was not just the visitors' egos that were bruised after the loss at the One Call Stadium as both Ryan Dickson and Nathan Smith were forced off with injuries - with the latter having to go to hospital after receiving a cut to the head.

"He's got stitches. Hopefully we will be able to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible," said Way.

"Dicko came off with his ankle, he was feeling it. He took quite a bad knock on it on Saturday.

"I thought [Matt] Butcher did well at left-back, I was pleased with him."

The one positive for Way in terms of the fitness of his squad was that Francois Zoko came on for his first minutes of game time since the end of the last campaign and with things expected to be shaken up in the starting XI for Saturday's home clash with Morecambe, the striker's return could well be timely.

"It's good to have Francois back," the 36-year-old said

"I think he is an important player and he puts pressure on other players now."

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twitter
Rhys Bennett @RhysBeno91
What a result ! The boys were incredible , 10 unreal shifts out there ! Some togetherness that #stags

Ashley Hemmings @AshHemmo23
Now that's what you call hard work and great team spirit, absolutely love it. #COYS

Brian Jensen @jensen_com
Insomnia kicked in last night, sat thinking that this performance from all the lads could be in my top 3 @mansfieldtownfc #hardworkpaysoff

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Latest | August 2016