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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from October 2017

BARNET PREVIEWS/EVANS STAYING/BACKING OF RADFORDS
19th October 2017 14:15


Sky Sports News 10am Mon 16 Oct 2017
Sky sources: Mansfield manager Steve Evans to stay with the club despite interest from Gillingham.

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Stags working hard for consistency ahead of three away trips
mansfieldtown.net, midday Mon 16 Oct 2017

With three away fixtures scheduled for the next seven days, Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans insists his side are working hard to increase their consistency levels.

Stags tasted defeat at One Call Stadium for the first time this season when they lost 3-1 against Swindon Town on Saturday, but they still sit 11th in Sky Bet League Two, just four points off the play-off places.

The gaffer will now prepare his side for the trio of away matches against Barnet tomorrow (8.00pm kick-off), Newport County on Saturday (21 October) and Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy next Tuesday (24 October).

And the boss reiterated his belief that the current campaign will be full of ups and downs, but insists Stags will continue to work hard to find the consistency required for a promotion push.

"I had a fantastic meeting with the chairman (John Radford) and the chief exec (Carolyn Radford) yesterday and once again, they wouldn't wish for anyone else to lead this campaign forward," the Stags' chief said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/october/Stags-working-hard-for-consistency-for-trio-of-away-trips/

"If someone goes back to the summer, they'll remember what I said; there will be inconsistencies, there needs to be time for the team to settle, there'll be ups and downs, it will be a rollercoaster.

"We just need to concentrate on working hard. Less talking by everyone, there's no more hype anymore.

"[Saturday's defeat] makes it tougher because I said before the game on Saturday that if someone gives me six points from the three games - an average of two points per game - then you would gladly take it.

"It doesn't need to be a mathematician to work out the calculation [we need] to get six. We have to focus on Barnet. I watched the full game, but anyone who watches the extended highlights of their loss at Notts County at the weekend realises that they should've won that game if not drawn it."

The manager revealed that winger Alfie Potter came through two training sessions unscathed over the weekend, and is therefore in contention for tomorrow's encounter, however defender Zander Diamond and midfielder Joel Byrom are still sidelined.

"We're hoping that Joel Byrom will train today. He's not going to be available for tomorrow but he'll certainly hopefully be on the grass today and stepping up his period of work.

"Alfie Potter has trained on Friday with no ill effects, trained on Saturday so when you've got one or two days under your belt, players always come into consideration.

"Alfie comes into consideration, Joel's not quite ready and Zander's not there yet."

Midfielder Jack Thomas' loan spell with National League North side Boston United came to an end on Saturday and the gaffer will decide whether the 21-year-old will return to the Pilgrims this afternoon.

"The only focus is what's best for Jack and what's best for Mansfield Town, there's no other consideration. He played very well in a 0-0 draw on Saturday away to Chorley. Our focus is not whether he's involved in the second part (the replay) of that.

"Our focus is whether he's ready and right to come back and play a part for the Stags. Jack will train with us today as he does most days so we have a first-hand look at him. There's no point in us bringing Jack Thomas back to sit for 85 minutes on the bench."

The draw for the first round of the Emirates FA Cup takes place at 7pm this evening (live on BBC2 and BT Sport) and the boss spoke of his adulation for the competition.

"Every round in the FA Cup is always special. It is the best cup competition in world football. I've been very fortunate, as a manager I've been to the fifth round twice. It's a magical competition.

"If you're asking me what I would like: first and foremost, [I'd like] a home draw, second of all, who would I like? The lowest ranked team in the competition. That doesn't mean we'll beat them, because that's the magic of the competition.

"I've been the lowest ranked team in the fourth round and the third round and gone through by a good performance."

Supporters will be able to view the manager's full news conference on iFollow Stags later this afternoon.

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Stags have faith in manager’s ability ahead of Barnet trip
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 16 October 2017

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans still has chairman John Radford fully behind him as his side head to Barnet tomorrow (8pm) after a run of three defeats in four games.

The Stags slumped 3-1 at home to Swindon Town on Saturday and Evans said: “You evaluate after every game and I had a long chat with Paul (Raynor). We both went home hurting after the game and into Sunday.

“But I had a fantastic meeting with the chairman and chief executive yesterday and once again they wouldn’t wish for anyone else to lead this campaign forward.

Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/stags-have-faith-in-manager-s-ability-ahead-of-barnet-trip-1-8807552

“I said in the summer there would be inconsistencies, ups and downs and time for the team to settle, and it would be a rollercoaster.

“You keep the belief and work hard on the training ground - that’s how you turn things. You don’t turn things by talking to the media or allowing yourself to get distracted with other things that may be around you. You have to keep the focus.

“I firmly believe in this group of players and the staff and I certainly believe in the football club and the chairman and chief executive.

“I pick the team so it’s my fault. We got the team wrong on Saturday and perhaps got the shape of the side wrong on Saturday. Some players were way off it.”

With the game at Barnet followed by a potentially even tougher trip to Newport County at the weekend, Evans said: “The Swindon defeat makes it tougher as I said before Saturday’s game if someone could give me six points from the three games this week, averaging two points per game, then you’d gladly take it.

“It doesn’t now take a mathematician to work out the calculation on what we now need to do to get the six.” He continued: “We have to focus on Barnet. Anyone who watches the extended highlights of their loss at Notts County at the weekend realises they should have won that game or at least drawn it.

“A couple of chances they missed in added time were probably chances those boys would normally have tucked in. They had a real go.

“Comparing Swindon and Barnet, tomorrow we go to a team that recently beat Swindon 4-1. That’s how tough our task is.”

Barnet are hoping to welcome back last season’s Stags loanee Shaq Coulthirst from a tight hamstring tomorrow and Evans admitted: “He is a great kid. I loved him when he was here and the players knew that.

“We would all have loved him to come back and be a part of this but it never happened. “Shaq is a London boy and the Barnet opportunity came up and he took it. I look forward to giving him a hug before the game.”

Barnet have gone eight games with a victory, sit 21st, and Mansfield have won there the last two seasons.

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Stags boss Evans hoping for a home draw against minnows in FA Cup draw
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 16 October 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans can’t wait to see who the Stags will face in the first round of this season’s FA Cup adventure when the first round draw is made tonight (BBC2 & BT Sport, 7pm). The 32 winners from last weekend’s fourth qualifying round are joined by 48 teams from the lower two divisions of the EFL in the hat tonight with Mansfield being ball number 26. “First and foremost I would like a home draw, secondly I want to play the lowest-ranked team in the competition,” he said. “And that doesn’t mean we’ll beat them as that is the magic of the FA Cup. I have been the lowest ranked team in the fourth round of the FA Cup before. “Every round of the FA Cup is always special - it is the best cup competition in the world of football. “It’s when you live the dream. I am very fortunate as a manager of getting to the fifth round twice with a non-League club and then a League club, beating a host of Championship clubs on the way as well as a glorious day at Manchester United when we should have beaten them. “But that aside, it’s just a magical competition - like Stags playing Liverpool. “Everyone in the Football League tonight will be watching the FA Cup draw at 7pm.” Evans added: “If we drew someone like Truro or Dover away it would probably be television for us and be so tough. “I have been that little non-League club with Crawley that wants a decent Football League club at home. “I can remember beating Derby County and then being told we’d got Torquay away in the next round and I was sick for two days! Then we beat Torquay and got Manchester United! “Every Stags fan will remember the game against Liverpool here and the magic that brought to this town.”

Read more at: http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/stags-boss-evans-hoping-for-a-home-draw-against-minnows-in-fa-cup-draw-1-8807449

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