{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from October 2017

SWINDON PREVIEWS/EVANS NOT GUILTY RE CHELTENHAM
19th October 2017 14:07


Gaffer targets place in top group
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 12 October 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans has earmarked an average of two points per game over the next 'seven or eight' matches for his side to claim a spot in the upper echelons of Sky Bet League Two.

Over the last seven matches, Stags have averaged 1.9 points per game, a fraction short of the two-point average which would yield an almost certain promotion-winning total of 92 points across the season.

And the manager says he will be 'buzzing' if his side achieve his target of two points per game over the next eight fixtures, believing that would lead to a spot amongst the top group in Sky Bet League Two.

"We've almost averaged two points a game in the last seven games and it's not enough. We take it back seven or eight games and I think we're a fraction away from two points' average.

"Two points' average takes you to promotion and we're a long way short of the consistency levels we need to achieve if we want to be in that top group at the end [of the season].

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/october/evans-12-oct/

"I've always said: let's deal with the home games. Let's get three points on the board, anything you get on the road is a bonus and if I'm sitting here in seven or eight games' time and we've averaged two points for the next seven or eight, I'll be buzzing because we'll be in the top group."

Stags welcome Swindon Town to One Call Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off) and the gaffer is expecting a side who are capable of deploying contrasting styles of play.

"It will be a passing style but they'll go direct when they have to. They like to get the ball down and play but when they need to go forward early - and they have done in certain games, we've seen that - then they'll do it.

"They're technically decent, they're relaxed in their approach but they'll be coming here to take our 'coal'.

"They've signed good players; that always gives you a chance of winning a game. They've got a good manager (David Flitcroft), they're a good football club with a really good chairman (Lee Power) and supporters who will travel here in good numbers and get behind their team.

"It presents us with another opportunity to play against, what has to be said, a top side. This is an ex-Premier League club coming here."

The Stags' boss hopes to have defender Hayden White available for selection after he took part in training on Tuesday, but defender Zander Diamond, midfielder Joel Byrom and winger Alfie Potter will all miss out.

"[Hayden White's] ready, providing the next two days' training goes to plan. Hayden took part with the boys on Tuesday and came through fine. He enjoyed his day off yesterday and he's back in today.

"I see managers saying 'we've got four out'. Well it's irrelevant because three of them never play anyway. Our four players are all players that would play. We'll keep the focus on the lads we have available.

"We won't have Joel [Byrom], obviously. Alfie [Potter] may train tomorrow but it may come a little bit early, but he'll be fit for Tuesday. Hayden is ready. Zander [Diamond] is a week or two away."

The Stags' chief also told the local media that he was found not guilty at a disciplinary hearing at Wembley Stadium yesterday after he was sent to the stands at Cheltenham Town a fortnight ago.

He said: "I went to Wembley yesterday with one or two people who were in the vicinity and I got a full and fair hearing. It wasn't a long hearing and I'm thankful to that commission that they saw why I was put to the stands was totally wrong.

"My decision to go and contest that was upheld and I got some heartfelt words from the Football Association yesterday, so I've been to Wembley again and won," he remarked.

Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags later today to listen to the manager's news conference in full.

-------------------------

Wembley win as Evans is found not guilty
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 12 October 2017

Steve Evans enjoyed a Wembley victory yesterday when he was found not guilty by an FA commission after being sent to the stands at Cheltenham two weeks ago.

Evans fell out with the officials but, facing another touchline ban, disagreed with the charges levelled at him last week and requested an official hearing.

“My decision to go and contest it was upheld and I got some heartfelt words from the FA,” he smiled. “So I’ve been to Wembley again and won.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/wembley-win-as-evans-is-found-not-guilty-1-8801676

“It was something that was meant to have been said - and it wasn’t said by me. People were quite clear of that.

“I said to our supporters I’d done nothing wrong. Some people don’t like Mansfield Town around certain aspects of the league and sometimes things will happen to us.

“I went to Wembley yesterday and got a full and fair hearing. It wasn’t a long hearing and I am thankful to the commission that they saw why I had been put to the stands was totally wrong.

“They were very honest guys, three very experienced football people who have played and managed at the top levels of the game and saw it for what it was.”

Evans was backed by the League Managers’ Association and said: “We presented our case and I am very thankful to the LMA, who represented me at the hearing.

“Once again they were fantastic, as they are to all the members. “They looked at the case and the evidence and told me it would lead to nothing.”

------------------

Matter now closed says Stags boss after fall-out with fans
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 12 October 2017

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans is hoping the fall-out with a small section of supporters after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Colchester has now been put to bed.

Some fans booed and chanted ‘what a load of rubbish’ after a game in which Stags created the better chances and Evans was then under fire himself for defending his players against the abuse. However, he said the matter was now closed and he and his players will continue to go over and thank supporters after games.

“I didn’t think they had played badly which is why I said it at the time,” he explained.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/matter-now-closed-says-stags-boss-after-fall-out-with-fans-1-8801656

“Our job is to go out and produce performances and results for, ultimately, the supporters. They are the lifeblood of the club.

“I just made the comments because I saw some lads hurting. They probably put more into that game than when we beat Notts County.

“My point to the supporters was - you are hurting guys, but we are hurting too. “The players were hurting. If you kick someone and they go down, do you kick them again?

“Supporters are always entitled to give an opinion. I just thought it was wrong on that particular day as I had watched my players give so much in that second half.

“It’s the end of the matter and we will applaud our supporters tomorrow and after every game we play as long as I am manager.”

Evans continued: “It is my job to represent this football club and stand up for it. I am always going to stand up in front of my players.

“What we say privately in the dressing room may be something different when it comes to performance individually and collectively.

“But the minutes your unit in the dressing room is broken and players don’t think their manager is in front of them, then that’s a problem and why some managers fail.

“I think the large majority of supporters clapped. But there were some individuals that made it known that they were unhappy. But I watched some young players almost in tears as they knew they’d had a right go second half.”

-----------------------

Stags defender back in contention for Robins visit
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Right back Hayden White could be back in the Mansfield Town side for Saturday’s visit of Swindon Town. White has missed three games with a groin strain, but manager Steve Evans said: “Hayden is fit and ready

 

Latest | October 2017