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Archived News from October 2017

EVANS AND FLITCROFT REACTION
19th October 2017 14:13


Gaffer hurting after Swindon defeat
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 14 October 2017

Stags’ boss Steve Evans was visibly hurting this evening after seeing his side lose 3-1 at home to Swindon Town.

First half goals from Swindon midfielder Amine Linganzi and winger John Goddard, in addition to striker Luke Norris' second half penalty, ensured the Robins returned to Wiltshire with all three points, despite frontman Danny Rose's late consolation.

And, speaking to mansfieldtown.net after the full-time whistle, the gaffer was clearly disappointed with his side's performance against the Robins.

"Football's a cruel game isn't it? In the space of two weeks we go from being as good as we were against the league-leaders, to equally as poor a performance as I can remember any of my teams serving up, ever.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/october/evans-post-swindon/

"There was a lack of fight, lack of spirit, lack of desire and when you have that, then you invariably lose a game.

"We were 2-0 down, we don't deserve anything else, but to go 3-0 down is particularly cruel. With the benefit of looking at it back, it's not a penalty kick.

"No-one will be more critical of that performance, individually, than myself and Paul [Raynor].

"Some people are claiming I wasn't [hurting]. They don't know me. They'll sleep tonight, I won't."

Reflecting on the goals conceded by his side, the manager was left frustrated by individual errors.

"Swindon played particularly well, scored two goals from mistakes by us and the third goal, as we learnt against the likes of Luton, the third goal kills the game. The third goal went in and it kills the game.

"It's a silly foul by Macca (Alex MacDonald) and Hayden [White] loses the runner, which is a basic set play really.

"It's a goal on four minutes from a simple, basic error by Alex to commit a foul and when you leave the boy [Matt] Taylor to put balls in the box, it's always going to be a problem for you.

"You can talk to players until they're 95 but you're never going to be able to say 'don't give silly fouls away and don't lose your runner'.

"When the second goes in seconds before half-time - again, another error - another runner that's not marked and then you try and have a rally call at half-time."

Stags made a double change at half-time, introducing frontman Lee Angol and winger Omari Sterling-James, and the gaffer believes his side started the second period well, without creating clear chances.

"You try and have reality and a bit of positivity. I thought we started the second half well; I don't think they've got out their half. I'm not saying we're making chances and playing good football, but they've not got out their half.

"We make the changes and we started the second half dominating the game without being overly creative. We were winning the battles and winning the midfield ball but I think when they go and get the penalty, it kills the game."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full post-match interview.

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BBC Nottingham Sport @BBCRNS

Steve Evans:
"If you give away silly fouls and don't track runners, you'll get punished, and we do it on both occasions after 4 minutes."
"We didn't have any fluency, we didn't have any penetration & we made it harder for ourselves with the goal just before HT."
"When you lack effort, fight, desire, hunger, passion, to go a win a football match, then you're never gonna win."
"That was a team picked to dominate the ball, to get on it & control it & have a physical edge to it & we had none of that."
"We've got a lot of evaluation as a staff, as players, this evening. Are we the right people to take the team forward?"
"That's not a statement, that happens most weeks. We'll look at the analysis and reflect."

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Evans unhappy with Stags display in Swindon loss
chad.co.uk, Saturday 14 October 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans says his players simply ‘didn’t turn up’ for their clash with Swindon Town on Saturday which saw the Robins run out 3-1 winners.

Goals from Amine Linganzi, John Goddard and Luke Norris earned Swindon three points, Danny Rose’s late consolation worth little.

And it left Evans a frustrated man. “It is as disappointing afternoon, if you give away fouls and not track runners you will get punished,” he said.

“We gave away a silly foul on four minutes and did not mark up and we conceded an early goal. “We were second best for most of the half and did not have the penetration.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-unhappy-with-stags-display-in-swindon-loss-1-8805153

“We made it harder for ourselves with the goal before the break, if you do not match runners you will get punished. “Swindon punished us, they got a penalty, for me it was not a penalty but I cannot say what I really think. “The players did not turn up today, when you lack effort and desire and passion to win a football match then you will never win. “That was a team picked to dominate the ball and we had none of that and we paid the price “Swindon are decent team and in good form. We congratulate Swindon, but we have lessons to learn. “You have to earn the right to win matches.”

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REACTION: Dave Flitcroft - A "Fantastic Win"
swindontownfc.co.uk

Swindon Town Boss Dave Flitcroft spoke to members of the local media after our 3-1 win against Mansfield Town earlier today.

Here are the key points from what he had to say...

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2017/october/reaction-dave-flitcroft---a-fantastic-win/

ON THE RESULT AND PERFORMANCE:

"It is a tough place to come.

"They were unbeaten this season here, they've assembled a fantastic squad and it is a big squad and they've won a lot of football matches here.

"There is an energy around the place and you've got to try and make sure that you thwart that energy.

"We had to come here and be battle-hardy, resilient and we knew if we stayed in the game then we would be able to open them up.

"We had two or three really good chances with Luke Norris and Paul Mullin to go even further up, and we got goals at important times today.

"The penalty was a penalty a million percent and that killed off Mansfield's energy and momentum to try and come back into the game.

"You would expect a Steve Evans team to get a good rollicking at half-time and they did come out and posed that threat, so the timing of the third goal was really important.

"It is a fantastic result."

ON JOHN GODDARD'S PERFORMANCE:

"We looked potent in attack today and we retained the ball really well - Johnny G being in the team really helps that because he's a fantastic footballer.

"I'm delighted that he could get the 90 minutes today and that just shows you the professionalism of Johnny whilst he's been out and the work he's done to come in and make 90-minutes look very easy for himself.

"He retains the ball fantastically well and Mulls (Paul Mullin) has had a bit of a rest and been out of the team and I felt that he was back to his energetic best today.

"He looked sharp and he looked really motivated to upset the defence. He gets chances out on the wing even though he's not an out-and-out winger."

ON NOT KEEPING A CLEAN SHEET:

"They've come in there and they are a little bit gutted so it is up to me as the manager to get them back on track.

"Reice Charles-Cook had a brilliant game and I thought he was outstanding with his kicking and his personality that he put on the game.

"It was just a lack of focus for the goal but they've got Danny Rose on the pitch and he sniffs out opportunities.

"It is a great ball from Alex MacDonald, a class ball and Danny Rose has come in and done what he does.

"Lancy (Olly Lancashire) has come in and he's gutted and I'll get him over that over the next hour or so."

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Swindon Town boss David Flitcroft felt goals at key times was key to their success at Mansfield Town
swindonadvertiser.co.uk, by Harry Abbott @harryabbott

SWINDON Town manager David Flitcroft believed his side’s ability to silence the Mansfield Town fans played a key part in their superb 3-1 win on the road in League Two today.

The promotion-tipped Stags had not previously lost a league game on home soil during 2017-18 but Swindon tested the nerves of the One Call Stadium faithful inside four minutes when Amine Linganzi broke the deadlock.

After the ideal start, Swindon hit their hosts with another body blow just before the break when John Goddard doubled the lead and the game was all but won within 10 minutes of the restart when Luke Norris made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Keshi Anderson was pulled down by Krystian Pearce.

Although Danny Rose bagged a stoppage time consolation for Mansfield, Flitcroft felt Swindon got their goals at the perfect time to sap the Stags’ spirits and allow them to make it five away wins from seven matches in the league this season.

“This is a tough place to come. They have assembled a fantastic squad and they have won a lot of football matches here, there is an energy around the place that you have got to thwart,” said Flitcroft.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15596966.Town_boss_Flitcroft_feels_goals_at_key_times_was_key_to_success_over_Stags/

“The fans were buoyant and were up for it before the game and were up for it during the first 20 minutes.

“We had to come here and be battle hardened and resilient and we knew if we stayed in the game, we’d be able to open them up, and we had a couple of other chances to go even further in front.

“We got goals at important times. The penalty is one million per cent a penalty. When a player gets in a bad defensive position, he has to do something about it, which he did, and he pulled him down.

“I think that killed their energy and momentum to get back in the game.

“You’d expect a Steve Evans team to get a good rollicking at half-time and they came out and posed a threat.

“The timing of that third goal was really important in how the outcome of the game ended. It is a fantastic result.”

With Mansfield having been able to boast such a strong home record, Flitcroft was pleased with his side’s defensive resolve as they limited the home side to a handful of chances.

And the Swindon boss was equally impressed by what he saw at the other end of the pitch, with Goddard and Paul Mullin coming in for particular praise after their recalls to the starting XI.

“You want to get the defensive structure of the team right and it has been over the last four or five weeks,” said Flitcroft.

“I thought we looked potent in attack and we retained the ball really well. Johnny G being in the team helps that, he is a fantastic footballer.

“Mulls has had a bit of a rest and been out of the team and I thought he was back to his energetic enthusiastic best. He looked sharp and really motivated to upset and spoil their defence and he did.”

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Latest | October 2017