Archived News from September 2017
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EVANS, GARETH AINSWORTH REACTION
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Gaffer wants Stags to 'work smarter' after Wycombe draw mansfieldtown.net Stags' boss Steve Evans says his side need to 'work smarter' after seeing them draw 0-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers this evening. Neither side could break the deadlock during 90 minutes of torrential, swirling rain, with both goalkeepers being called into action to preserve their respective clean sheets. And after admitting his side weren't at their best against the Chairboys, he wants them to 'work smarter' in games. "We didn't play well tonight, we can't disguise that fact. We worked hard, we didn't work smart. We didn't get on the ball with any purpose at any stage. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/september/evans-12-sept/ "We'll take this point. We've [won] four out of six [points] from Grimsby and Wycombe, two sides who I think will do alright this season. "The boys can't work any harder but we can certainly work a lot smarter and when you work a lot smarter it means you've got more of the ball and you pass it around more." Stags missed an early chance when striker Lee Angol had a top corner-bound shot clawed away by Chairboys' 'keeper Scott Brown during some early Stags' pressure and the former Leeds United manager credited the visitors for the way they changed their shape to combat the Stags' pressure. "Credit to [Wycombe], they came and after five minutes they changed their system a little bit because we were on top. We should score, we should go in front. "They've had a few corners at the end because of the conditions and elements but other than that I think it's a scrappy 0-0 draw in the second half. "We go and get a positive result at the weekend [against Lincoln] and this will be a good point tonight." The manager also heaped praise on goalkeeper Conrad Logan for a number of excellent saves in the first half, including one from a Dan Scarr header, which the gaffer describes as 'world class'. "His [save] from the header is world class. He's going in the opposite direction and he twists. But you don't play the games at the levels that that boy has played without making saves like that. "I'm pleased for him, he's been questioned in some quarters, never by us, and he's the reason why we've got a point." The boss also commended his back four after the Stags secured their second clean sheet of the campaign in testing conditions at One Call Stadium. "I'm really pleased with Krystian Pearce and David Mirfin, I thought they were excellent. Johnny Hunt continues to impress and Rhys [Bennett] had an in and out evening; some good things, some not so good things but the back five delivered a clean sheet." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the gaffer's full post-match interview. ----------------- Evans satisfied with point and clean sheet from below-par Stags performance chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 12 September 2017 Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans declared himself happy with a point and a clean sheet on a night when his side didn’t play well after tonight’s 0-0 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers He was also full of praise for keeper Conrad Logan, who made some crucial saves in a game spoiled by high winds and driving rain. Evans said: “We played really well - for about three minutes! We didn’t play well tonight, we can’t disguise that fact. READ THE MATCH REPORT “We worked hard but we didn’t work smart or get on the ball with any purpose at any stage. It looked a long night. “Credit to Wycombe. After five minutes they changed their system a little bit as we were on top and should have been in front. “After that Conrad has made two or three great saves. His one from the header was world class. He was going in the opposite direction and he had to twist.” Logan has had his critics already this season, but Evans said: “You don’t play the game he has at the levels that boy has played at without being able to make saves like that. “I am pleased for him. He has been questioned in some quarters - never by us. But he is the reason why we’ve got a point. “They had a few corners towards the end of the second half because of the conditions, but other than that it was a scrappy 0-0 draw in the second half. “They will look back on the chances Conrad saved. “We’ve not played well and we’ve got a point - we’d certainly have lost it last season. “If we get a positive result at the weekend this will be a good point today.” Evans went with an unchanged side but, in hindsight, admits he may have got that wrong. He said: “I wonder if I should have freshened it up a bit? “When you win 4-1 on Saturday and were unlucky not to win by six or seven you want the integrity to say go again. “I think the game had only gone 10 or 15 minutes and I was wishing I had changed two or three. There were lads who gave us a lot on Saturday who just felt it. “The plus side is we have a clean sheet and a point against a team that I think will be in the top four or five for sure. “They fought really hard. While I am saying we didn’t play well, you have to give credit to Wycombe for their hard work to match us too.” On the terrible weather conditions, he added: “I think Conrad is one of the best kickers in Leagues One and Two and his goalkicks were barely reaching the halfway line, so it showed the elements. That’s what we were facing in the second half. “But the back five delivered a clean sheet and we have taken four out of six points against Wycombe and Grimsby - two teams I think will do all right this season.” Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-satisfied-with-point-and-clean-sheet-from-below-par-stags-performance-1-8750374 --------------- Gareth pleased with Chairboys' endeavour vs Mansfield Gareth Ainsworth gives his reaction to the 0-0 draw at Mansfield Town. wycombewanderers.co.uk Gareth Ainsworth was delighted with his side's application in the 0-0 draw at Mansfield Town on Tuesday night. Blues left One Call Stadium with a well deserved point against strong opposition, and had chances to snatch all three points on a wet and windy night in Mansfield. Ainsworth, reflecting on the stalemate with the pre-season league favourites, thought the result reflected the strength in depth his squad possess, with both Dan Scarr and Ebere Eze making their full EFL debuts. With Luton coming to town on Saturday, the manager is hoping the team can continue their impressive run of form, and build on their 3-1 triumph vs Forest Green in their last home fixture. "I'm so pleased with the endevour and the commitment of my players tonight," he said. https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2017/september/gareth-on-mansfield-draw/ "We've handed two EFL full debuts at a place like this, and to be able to do that shows the strength we have in this squad. "We could have won it, we maybe should have won it, but 0-0 away at Mansfield is a great result for a team of their size. "You could see it at the end that the Mansfield fans were not happy with the result, they are expecting a lot and it shows what a good point that is. "We're on a great run away from home, now let's start winning our home games and see what we can achieve this year. "I'm confident that we have got what it takes at home, we will get the players right and recovered. "I have got a squad that I believe in so much, not that I haven't had that before but there is something special about this group. "We've got more players than we have ever had before, with more competition and a great deal of quality and nights like this make it all worth it." --------------------- Scott Brown @Scotty_brown85 Good to get another clean sheet but could have been all three but for a couple of worldys from @conradlogan safe trip home to everyone Marcus Bean @MarcusBean Another good performance on the road. Probably deserved all 3 points! Some of the expletives coming from home dressing room confirmed that. --------------- |
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