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Archived News from November 2017

PORT VALE PREVIEWS
26th November 2017 20:43


Stags need to be fresh for tough Vale task - gaffer
mansfieldtown.net, Mon 20 Nov 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans believes our match away at Port Vale is 'as tough a fixture as any' in Sky Bet League Two tomorrow night.

The Valiants sit joint top of the Sky Bet League Two form table over the last six games with 13 points, losing just once.

And the gaffer says that tomorrow night's clash against Neil Aspin's side (7.45pm kick-off) will be a challenging encounter for his players.

"They've got an outstanding squad of players and I think everyone tipped Port Vale to be in the top 10 at the start of the season," the Stags' chief said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/november/evans-20-nov/

"I was one of them that's always respected how tight a game it is at the Potteries. When you see the likes of Popey (Tom Pope) going back there and you see David Worrall, who at Rotherham we paid six figures for, you see the quality they've got in the camp.

"The boy [Tyler] Denton out of Leeds is as good as anyone and he's not been featuring, so it shows the qualities they've got.

"They're now playing with a lot of confidence, because the results bring that and it'll be as tough a fixture as anyone in the league has tomorrow night."

Although the gaffer recognises the quality in the Valiants' side, he believes the most influential factor in Vale's upturn in form has been the appointment of Neil Aspin as the club's manager.

"The biggest factor is, for me, the manager. He's gone in there and he's got them playing a style of football that suits the individuals they've signed.

"I've always had a high regard for him, both as a player and the brief dealings I had with him when he was at Gateshead. We tried to take a player out of there and we talked about maybe loaning one or two [to them] in his time there.

"We'd have rather gone there before Neil was appointed, that's for sure. I think managers around the league, when I spoke to them, when they were going to Port Vale were looking forward to it - no-one is now."

The former Leeds United manager will freshen his team for Tuesday's match after seeing his side battle for three points in Saturday's 1-0 win over Stevenage.

"We'll go there, we'll make some changes to what we're going to do tomorrow night, we'll be as fresh as we can and we'll try and make sure that we're there to compete. It's a tough evening for us, for sure.

"We'll make changes tomorrow. We have to be fresh in our approach. There will be some players, in terms of energy, who will have worked so hard here on Saturday that even when we train today, they'll still be feeling the effects of that, and that's normal.

"Some can deal with it more than others and it'll be the ones who we don't think can deal with it, in consultation with the fitness team and the medical team, that we'll make changes. We'll be changing good players for good players."

Striker Lee Angol will be the only absentee for the Stags, however the gaffer revealed that the former Peterborough United man is 'almost there' in his recovery from a knee injury.

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

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Evans amused at Stevenage comments on Saturday’s win
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 20 November 2017

Steve Evans said he was amused to read opposite number Darren Sarll’s comments after Mansfield Town’s comfortable 1-0 home win over Stevenage on Saturday. The Stags were in total control, creating a succession of chances against a Stevenage side who failed to register a single shot on target.

However, after the game Sarll told the media: “We did not deserve to lose this match, absolutely not,” and “We had most of the shots on goal and we were comfortable in the second half against a double budget side.”

Mansfield manager Evans smiled: “I must admit there’s not very often a surprise in football, but the last two Saturdays have surprised me. “We went to Coventry last week where I thought we were excellent and we won, but the opposition manager said we were not very good and they were better. He said they’re the best team in the league - they may be in time.

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/evans-amused-at-stevenage-comments-on-saturday-s-win-1-8867239

“Then at the weekend I read quotes attributed to the gaffer down at Stevenage where they were by far the best team - but I think everyone who travelled up from Stevenage knows it was the complete opposite. “You have to hit the target to score a goal haven’t you?

“For the first 10 minutes Stevenage were by far the better side. Then we won a couple of tackles and had some little triangles of play and, let’s be honest, we should have won it five or six nil. “We didn’t take good chances that were made and I don’t think there is any doubt we had a perfectly good goal taken off us.”

He added: “Our performance was dominant - electric at times. Some of our attacking play was outstanding and we should have won more comfortably.

“It’s happened a few times, we just need that second and third goal to come at a period in the game when teams give you against you a little bit and confidence drains.”

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Tough night ahead for Stags as Aspin revitalises Vale
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 20 November 2017

Mansfield Town’s seven game unbeaten run will face a huge test at revitalised Port Vale tomorrow night (Tuesday, 7.45). The relegated Valiants began the season poorly which saw them part company with Michael Brown last month as they sat 22nd in League Two. But Neil Aspin’s return to the club he once played for has seen a change in fortunes and, after losing his first game in charge, has seen them rise to win six and draw one of their next eight. They have won three and drawn one of their last four and Stags boss Steve Evans admitted: “It’s all down to the new manager. “I have always had a high regard for him, both as a player and the brief dealings we had with him when he was manager at Gateshead. “We were trying to take a player up there and were talking about maybe loaning one or two up there as well in his time there. “Neil has an outstanding squad of players and I think everyone tipped Port Vale to be in the top 10 at the start of the season, maybe to be promoted, maybe not. “I have always respected how tight a game it is up at the Potteries and how difficult a game it can be.” He added: “When you see the likes of Tom Pope back up there and David Worrall, who we paid six figures for at Rotherham, you can see the quality they’ve got in the camp. “The boy (Tyler Denton, out of Leeds, is as good as anyone - and he’s not been featuring, which shows that quality.” Harnessing the talent of those players has been the difficult part and Evans reiterated: “The biggest factor for me is the manager. He’s gone in there and got them playing a style of football that suits the individuals they have signed. “They are now playing with a lot of confidence as results bring that more than anything. It will be as tough a fixture as anyone has in the league tomorrow night. “We’d have rather gone there before Neil was appointed, that’s for sure. I think managers around the league I spoke to were looking forward to playing them. No one is now - that’s testament to their results.” Despite six points and two clean sheets from their last two games, Evans intends to freshen up his side. “We will make some changes,” he said. “We will try to be as fresh as we can and make try to sure we are there to compete. “There are some players that, in terms of energy, worked so hard here on Saturday, that even in training today will still be feeling the effects of it, which is normal. Some can deal with it more than others. But we will be changing good players for good players.” Injured striker Lee Angol won’t be included, Evans saying: “He is almost there now but not for tomorrow night.” Vale are forced into one change. Antony Kay is suspended on five bookings and Michael Tonge is likely to replace him in central midfield. Their star man is Tom Pope, top scorer on nine, one behind Stags’ top scorer Danny Rose, who is available again tomorrow after a one-match suspension. Vale manager Aspin said: “It will be a big test. Mansfield are on a good run of form. “They have had a really good couple of weeks where they have picked up a couple of wins and clean sheets. “At the start of the season they were one of the teams that everybody expected to be challenging at the top. So they will be looking to do that and it will be a good test for us.”

Read more at: http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/tough-night-ahead-for-stags-as-aspin-revitalises-vale-1-8867455

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Aspin: "I don’t look at if we have won two in a row or something."
port-vale.co.uk

Neil Aspin has said he is encouraged by his battling Port Vale side as they hope to make it two wins from two home games against Mansfield Town tomorrow.

The Valiants will look to follow on from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Barnet with a victory against promotion-chasing Mansfield on Tuesday.

The gaffer believes that their victory was hard-earned on Saturday and has been impressed by his hard-working Vale side as they make it four unbeaten in all competitions now.

The gaffer said: “It was essential that we picked up points early, if we went on another run of games without winning then we would have a mountain to climb.

https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2017/november/aspin-i-dont-look-at-if-we-have-won-two-in-a-row-or-something/

“Now, we are in a fight with a lot of other teams. It’s encouraging to see that the players can fight, they can scrap and they can graft.

“That’s going to be needed if we want to get out of trouble because you won’t be able to play pretty football and get out of a relegation battle.”

In League Two, Vale have only won two games at home this season but tomorrow could be a good opportunity to make it two wins in a row if victory over the Stags can be confirmed.

Despite this opportunity, Aspin says he doesn’t look at the form table and only looks to pick up important points week by week.

“I don’t look at if we have won two in a row or something,” says the gaffer.

“It’s a game where we have a chance to take points against a team who’s up there and challenging.

“It’s a tough game, but when I came into these two home games everybody was saying how important they are. We knew Saturday was important but every game is.

“It’s an opportunity to pick up points and we will look at it like that.”

The Valiants will be without Antony Kay for tomorrow’s clash as the gaffer believes that it’s a blow due to the fact that he wants to select a settled team.

He said: “We’ve known for a while that he was one booking away.

“It’s unfortunate because we want to pick a settled team, so once someone is suspended there has to be a change. I’m disappointed because I thought he did well on Saturday, he’s done well since I’ve been here, he’s had a first-class attitude.

“When I’ve asked him to play in midfield he’s done a good job but it’s disappointing to see that he will be missing tomorrow."

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Latest | November 2017