Archived News from December 2017
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CHESTERFIELD PREVIEWS
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Raynor feeling the excitement ahead of derby day
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 23 November 2017 Stags' assistant manager Paul Raynor says he can feel 'the buzz' around One Call Stadium ahead of this Saturday's eagerly-anticipated local derby against Chesterfield (1.00pm kick-off). The fierce rivalry will be renewed for the first time since a 0-0 draw at One Call Stadium in 2014 and Saturday's match will be the 76th competitive meeting between the sides. Both teams are in good form heading into the encounter, with Stags enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run whilst the Spirietes are without defeat in four league games. And assistant boss Raynor admits that he is looking forward to the match after feeling the excitement around One Call Stadium in recent weeks. "You see the buzz. You see the people outside when we pull up in a morning queuing for tickets. You see that extra edge, you see how important it is," the former Leeds United assistant said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/november/raynor-23-nov/ "We're really looking forward to it and we can understand why the fans are as well. "There is an extra edge to them (local derbies). People who say 'it's just the same old game' - it's not. There is an extra edge to them and you get a little bit more out of players. The opposition will be up a little bit more for it and the atmosphere will be slightly different. "It will hopefully be a sell-out here on Saturday with a fantastic atmosphere and you've got to relish that. You've got to look forward to that and I know speaking to the boys this morning, they're all really looking forward to it." With Stags currently on a nine-match unbeaten run, spirit is high in the camp and Raynor believes the quality of the Mansfield side is beginning to show on a more consistent basis. "I think the quality of football that's been on show, particularly in recent weeks, there's been little sproutings of that throughout the season, but now it all seems to be coming together nicely. "There's a real spirit there; you can feel it growing, you can feel it growing in the supporters and you can certainly see it growing in the squad. "Chesterfield are playing very well at the moment. Jack [Lester, Chesterfield manager] seems to have gone in there and turned them around and got them some positive results. We know how tough it's going to be; forget what the neutral says, forget what the league table says, at one o'clock on Saturday, it's game on. "We're all under pressure to win football matches, it doesn't matter where you are in the table. Jack came in when they were in a difficult position. We're under pressure to deliver and hopefully deliver promotion." The former Nottingham Forest midfielder revealed that striker Lee Angol is set to return to training on Thursday after his knee injury, giving Stags a full squad to choose from ahead of Saturday's match. "It was a tough game at Port Vale. We've picked up a few knocks and bangs and bruises, so we'll have a look at it today in training and see who looks sharp and who looks a little bit jaded, so we'll pick the team accordingly tomorrow. "We've got Lee Angol training with us today. He'll have a couple of days' training before Saturday, so that's a positive. "Everybody is fit and well and it's not very often throughout the season, whenever it is, that you've got everybody available to play and we've got the prospect of that for Saturday, which is fantastic." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view Paul Raynor's full news conference. ----------------------- Luxury for Stags as Angol rejoins fully fit squad for derby day chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 23 November 2017 With striker Lee Angol back in the fold, Mansfield Town go into Saturday’s home derby clash with Chesterfield in the unusual position of having the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from. “Lee will have a couple of days training before Saturday so that’s a positive,” said assistant manager Paul Raynor. “Everybody is fit and well and it’s not very often throughout the season, whenever it is, that you’ve got everyone available to play. We’ve got the prospect of that for Saturday which is fantastic.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/luxury-for-stags-as-angol-rejoins-fully-fit-squad-for-derby-day-1-8874043 Now it is a case of Raynor and manager Steve Evans monitoring the players and seeing if anyone is looking jaded after the big 4-0 midweek win at Port Vale. “We have a fair idea of the side for Saturday already though we need to look at training,” said Raynor. “There were one or two with knocks as it was a tough game at Port Vale. “The scoreline suggests it was a breeze but it certainly wasn’t. They are a good side who put you under pressure, and they are an aggressive side. “We picked up a few knocks, bangs and bruises. We will see in training who looks sharp and who looks a bit jaded and pick the team accordingly.” --------------- Experienced wideman urges fans to be loud on derby day mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 23 November 2017 Midfielder Paul Anderson has commended the Stags' 'brilliant' fanbase and has urged them to create a high-octane atmosphere for this Saturday's local derby against fierce rivals Chesterfield. We host the Spireites at One Call Stadium on Saturday (25 November, 1.00pm kick-off) in the first meeting between the sides since the 2013/14 season. And ahead of his first taste of the rivalry between the two clubs, former Nottingham Forest winger Anderson hopes that the club's supporters will be as loud as they have been in recent weeks to help stretch our unbeaten run to 10 games. "From what I hear, it's an eagerly-anticipated game and we're looking forward to playing it. It's nice to be here [at One Call Stadium] and I'm sure we'll get a good following from the fans, they've been brilliant," Anderson said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/november/anderson-23-nov/ "We're all looking forward to it but we've got to take it from a professional point of view that it's just another game and we can't let emotions run high. "I love playing in the big games and I think as a player, as a fan, as a staff member, everyone wants to be in and around them. Especially when you're on the winning side of things, it's such a great feeling and that atmosphere is always better. "You just have to look at the Coventry game - the fans were incredible. I've not heard noise like that for quite a while. "The whole of the second half at Coventry, where the fans did not stop singing, it was amazing for us. If they can stick by us and do that this weekend, then I'm sure we would all take a 1-0 win with a last minute goal." The 4-0 win over Port Vale on Tuesday extended Stags' unbeaten streak to nine games and in doing so, we moved into the Sky Bet League Two play-offs. Saturday's clash with the Spireites will be Stags' 20th outing of the league campaign and Anderson believes the club is in a 'great position' to launch an assault on the top three. "Realistically, we're in a good position, I think we're in a very good position. Obviously we would have liked to have been nearer the top of the league, but we've crept into the top seven, we're in a good run and we have to take some confidence from that. "You can see that we're starting to gel. We've just got to keep going; we're doing really well, we're in a great position and I don't see why we can't push on up the league. "There's still plenty of games and lots of points to pick up and we'll definitely be aiming to be in that top three and we're not far off. "There's a buzz and we do have to keep that run going but we've got to look at it that every game coming up is important and we've just got to focus on winning as much as we can. "We've obviously crept into the play-offs and we want to stay there and push on into the top three." Supporters can view Paul Anderson's full news conference by logging into iFollow Stags. ------------------- Anderson hails team spirit ahead of derby day clash chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 23 November 2017 Paul Anderson says the spirit in the Mansfield Town squad is high as they go into Saturday’s local derby with Chesterfield on a fine run of form. Stags have won their last five games in all competitions and are unbeaten in nine since losing at home to Swindon on October 14. And Anderson says that’s led to morale being sky high. He said: “The confidence is high and there’s a great buzz around the changing room as well as amongst the fans, but we need to keep the run going and every game coming up is important and we have to concentrate on winning as many games as we can now we’ve crept into the play-off spots. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/anderson-hails-team-spirit-ahead-of-derby-day-clash-1-8873862 “We’ve been taking each game as it comes. We did the job on Tuesday night and as soon as that result is over you start focusing on Chesterfield.” Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Port Vale saw Mansfield kill their opponents off convincingly, something Stags have been unable to do in such a manner during their fine run and that Anderson feels was crucial. He said: “We’ve actually played better in some of our other games and would have expected to score more goals in those than we did on Tuesday. “To get the second goal was excellent because it eased the pressure a lot and we went from 2-0 to 4-0 up in no time. “It got the monkey off our back a bit in terms of finishing a game well and leads us nicely into the weekend.” Anderson is familiar with big local derbies having featured for Ipswich Town against Norwich in the East Anglian derby and for Nottingham Forest against Derby County in the East Midlands, and is well aware that Saturday’s game carries with it extra pressure. He said: “From what I hear it’s an eagerly-anticipated game and we’re looking forward to playing it, hopefully in front of a big following. We’re looking forward to playing in what is a big game but we have to try not to get too caught up in the emotion of it. “I love playing in the big games and I think every player, fan and member of staff loves to be part of it, especially when you win as it’s a great feeling and the atmosphere is fantastic. “A full stadium will help us a lot. The whole of the second-half at Coventry saw our fans not stop singing which was incredible as at 0-0 for so long it could have tailed off, but then we got the late goal and it carried us through. “For derbies, everyone has to be up for it. People have to try and play their own game and almost ignore the atmosphere so you can keep a cool head. The fact is that it’s just another game which we have to remember but there will be that edge to it as that’s how the game is.” ------------------- Stags star: “I’m just a poor man’s Phil Neville!” chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 23 November 2017 Paul Anderson says being used as something of a utility man at Mansfield Town suits him just fine if it means he’s starting games. Anderson is primarily a winger but has been utilised at right-back and in central midfield this season, earning himself a run of games in the team as a result. And although he’d prefer to be playing a more attacking role, he’s happy to serve wherever required. “I’m a poor man’s Phil Neville!” he said. “I want to play every game - when Hayden White got injured the gaffer asked me to play at right-back and I’ve even said, tongue-in-cheek, that I’d play in goal if required if it means I’d start every game. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-star-i-m-just-a-poor-man-s-phil-neville-1-8873918 “I’m still finding my feet and have perhaps not been as attacking as I’m used to given I’ve not been in my usual position, but we’re doing really well and I’m starting games so I’m keen to get a run of matches together and hopefully keep my name on the team-sheet.” As for his thoughts on the season as a whole, Anderson believes that having got into a strong position thanks to such a strong run of form recently, it’s now important to build on it. He said: “We’ve been inconsistent but realistically we’re in a very good position. We’d like to have been higher but are now on a good run and have crept into the top seven and have to take the confidence from that. “We’re really starting to gel and the win at Port Vale was important because it showed us we can go on and get the second goal rather then doubting ourselves. “We’ve got to keep going. We’re in a great position and I don’t see why we can’t keep pushing on as there are lots of games to go and plenty of points to pick up.” ------------------- Lester talks Stags: ‘Is it heck just another game’ derbyshiretimes.co.uk, by GRAHAM SMYTH, Thursday 23 November 2017 Jack Lester’s Chesterfield side know Saturday’s derby with bitter rivals Mansfield is not just another game. The manager educated himself on the significance of the rivalry during his playing days - during which he never lost to the Stags. Lester played three times against Mansfield, winning all three and scoring two goals. When asked if the derby was to be treated as any other fixture, he was unequivocal. “No, is it heck. No, no, no,” he said. “We know what it’s all about, the players know what it’s all about and we’re excited.” Lester has ensured that his players know how the fans feel about the game, just like others once informed him. “When I was a player here people around the club, fans told me,” he said. Read more at: https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-fc/lester-talks-stags-is-it-heck-just-another-game-1-8874419 “I read articles on it going back to the miners. “We know what it means, it’s a local derby against your rivals, you prepare properly for every game but this is one with a little bit of edge, a little bit of needle and that excites us. “It’s about the players understanding the importance of it. “They have the character to cope with that and we’ll be going into it to win it.” Lester won’t want to dull the aggressive nature of his side that has helped them to back-to-back wins ahead of the derby but acknowledges that there’s a balance to be struck between aggression and composure in a heated atmosphere. “Every 50:50 will be contested,” he said. “The crowd will react to fouls like it’s the worst thing in the world, as they would here. “But the players won’t step over the line just because the crowd are reacting. “We’ll be focused, there’s a sweet spot you have to hit and we’ll be working hard on the players’ mentality.” A sell-out is expected at Field Mill for the early kick-off and around 1,800 Town fans will make the short trip into Nottinghamshire. Lester is making demands of both the supporters and his squad. “I expect them to get behind us and I’m expecting us to give them something to get behind,” he said. “We’re going to continue what we’re doing, we’ll go and compete and try and win the game. “We’ll be turning up knowing what we’re going to face, being ready for it and they’ll have a gameplan to play against us. It’s whoever deals with that best on the day.” ---------------- Stags will expect to win having ‘spent a fortune’ derbyshiretimes.co.uk, by GRAHAM SMYTH Jack Lester says a weight of expectation will be on Mansfield today due to their expenditure. https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-fc/stags-will-expect-to-win-having-spent-a-fortune-1-8874366 The Chesterfield boss believes that the Stags’ wage budget brings demands of success. Speaking ahead of Town’s trip to face their fierce rivals he said: “I’ve had some fun in this fixture and hopefully we can get on the side of a good result. “They’ve spent a fortune in wages, they’ll be at home and expecting themselves to win but we’ll be expecting a good performance. “We’re going to go and compete and try and win the game. We know what we’re going to face and we’ll be ready for it. “It’s something we’re looking forward to and relishing.” -------------------------- |
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