Archived News from December 2017
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CLIPSTONE FRIENDLY PREVIEWS
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Gaffer wants big turn-out for Cobras friendly
mansfieldtown.net Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans has encouraged supporters to attend tonight's friendly with local NCEL side Clipstone after re-affirming that a strong Stags' team will play in the fixture. The gaffer agreed to the friendly with the Cobras after learning of the vandalism that took place in the clubhouse at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium last month. Walls were soiled with sauce and catering equipment ruined by the vandals and tonight's game will take place in an attempt to raise money towards the repairs. The gaffer named a number of players who will play in tonight's friendly, which kicks off at 7.00pm, and he hopes the local community will come out in support of the Cobras. "It will be a good side. There's lads up there that have played lots and lots of League football this season and last season," the Stags' chief said. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/november/evans-28-nov/ "[Krystian] Pearce will be there, [David] Mirfin will be there, [Mal] Benning will be there, [Paul] Digby will be there, [Will] Atkinson will be there,[Calum] Butcher, I could keep going if you want me to. Lee Angol, Omari Sterling-James, [CJ] Hamilton, [Alfie] Potter, they're all going to be there. "It's a local club that had an act given to them that's not the meaning of what we're all about, certainly in and around Mansfield, so we're going to go and try and help them. "If there's Stags' fans around tonight it's an opportunity to come up - it's a League Two team every day of the week, if not higher - so come up and see it and enjoy it. "I'm sure the lads at Clipstone, and I know one or two of them personally as well, I'm sure they'll treat it in the way you should, it should be a good evening up there. "It's a seven o'clock kick-off so don't be turning up at 7.45pm, because you'll miss the first half! Come and see us and come and enjoy it." Stags return to competitive action on Sunday (03 December) with an Emirates FA Cup tie at home to National League side Guiseley and the boss believes tonight's friendly will give players the opportunity to stake a claim for a place against the Lions. "If you look at the likes of David Mirfin, who comes back after injury and he's trained really well for a week, but nothing beats a game. Krystian Pearce, he was our best player for five or six games leading to his suspension and then he's lost his place in the team to [Zander] Diamond and to [Rhys] Bennett. "I'm looking at it for minutes. Mal Benning, what an opportunity to stake a claim in the team for Sunday. Mal's trained really, really well in the last few days, so there's lots of good alternatives. Lee Angol coming back, he'll probably get no more than 30 minutes, 45 maximum, but again he's trained for four or five days. "Paul Anderson, I've not mentioned him; his last appearance in the shirt was at Port Vale and was excellent in a 4-0 win. "We've got some good players up there. [It will be about] minutes on the pitch, competitive action, and giving themselves an opportunity to be selected on Sunday. "At Clipstone tonight, like the Checkatrade [Trophy], players are going to get a wonderful opportunity to play in the FA Cup on Sunday, the most magical cup competition in world football." Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags to watch the manager's news conference later today. ---------------- Stags’ boss wants ‘professionalism’ to make the difference in cup tie mansfieldtown.net Stags' boss Steve Evans is treating Sunday's Emirates FA Cup second round tie against non-league side Guiseley like 'any other game' as he looks to clinch a spot in the third round of the competition. We defeated Evo-Stik side Shaw Lane in the first round with a 3-1 win to set up Sunday's tie with National League side Guiseley at One Call Stadium (2.00pm kick-off). The Lions, who sit 40 places below the Stags in 23rd position in the National League, defeated League Two side Accrington Stanley on penalties to set-up the tie with the Stags, after nothing could split the two sides in their 1-1 draw after extra-time in their first round replay. And the gaffer insists there will be no change in approach to the match as they aim to progress in the competition. "It will be about mental application for us. It will be about [being] professional, as it was at Shaw Lane. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/november/stags-boss-wants-professionalism-to-make-the-difference-in-cup-tie/ "It's a big game and they've got some players that have played much higher. They've got players that have played in the Championship and a lot in League One. "What we know is they've got good players. What we know is one or two of them have played for me, one or two of them have played for the Stags. "It will be about what we do, but we've got total respect not only for Guiseley, but for every opponent we face in the season. "It's the FA Cup. We're at home. It's an opportunity to progress and get into the third round and that's our only focus. "We'll be treating this just the same as we'll treat it when we go to Crawley or when we host Yeovil or Morecambe in the weeks after that." The boss expects to make 'four or five' changes to the side which drew with Chesterfield last week after reflecting on a below-par second half performance against the Spireites. "We'll change the team around on Sunday anyway; we'll make changes because it will be reflective because I wasn't happy with the second half on Saturday against Chesterfield. "It's reflective of people working hard and proving a point to be in the team. I've said many times, don't come into the office and talk about a point, prove a point. "I would think, compared to the starting team for Chesterfield, we're probably talking four [changes], five maybe. "We've got a big week ahead; we have Sunday in the FA Cup, we have the Checkatrade up at Blackpool where there will be wholesale changes, I can assure you of that. It's (the Checkatrade Trophy) still not a priority." Frontman Lee Angol, who has been out for a month with a knee injury, was an unused substitute in Tuesday's friendly with Clipstone, whilst fellow striker Kane Hemmings is expected to return to training on Friday after missing last week's draw with a slight calf strain. The manager said: "Hopefully [Kane Hemmings will] be fit for Sunday. We're expecting him back into training on Friday - we missed him on Saturday. "He led the line with some real guile and expertise at Port Vale and he did against Stevenage and he's on a good little run of form in terms of finding the net. "A few fibres in his calf were stretched and tight and we just can't take a risk with him because if you run the risk, you could be away for six weeks and not six days." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full news conference. ----------------------- Angol back as Stags send strong side to vandalism-hit Clipstone chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 28 November 2017 Striker Lee Angol will be part of a very experienced Mansfield Town side for tonight’s friendly at NCEL Premier Division neighbours Clipstone (7pm). Stags boss Steve Evans agreed to send a side up to help raise money for the Cobras after they were hit with £2,000 of damage by vandals at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium last month. Angol is on his way back from injury and Evans hopes he and several others use tonight’s match to press their claims for a place in Sunday’s FA Cup home clash with Guiseley. “It will be a good side tonight with lots of lads who have played League football last season and this season,” said Evans. “Like in the Checkatrade Trophy, players tonight are going to get a wonderful opportunity to play in the FA Cup on Sunday - the most magical cup competition in world football. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/angol-back-as-stags-send-strong-side-to-vandalism-hit-clipstone-1-8881973 “There will be the likes of Pearce, Mirfin, Digby, Atkinson, Butcher, Angol, Sterling-James, Anderson, Hamilton, and Potter. “I will use it purely for minutes, competitive action, and giving players the opportunity to be selected on Sunday. “You look at the likes of David Mirfin, who has just come back from injury, he’s trained really well all week, but nothing beats a game. “Krystian Pearce was our best player for five or six games leading up to his suspension and he’s lost his position in the team to Diamond and Bennett. “Mal Benning - what an opportunity to stake a claim for Sunday. He has trained really, really well the last few days. “Lee Angol will probably play no more than 30 minutes, 45 maximum. But, again, he has trained for four or five days. “Paul Anderson’s last appearance was at Port Vale where he was excellent in a 4-0 win.” Evans was delighted to be able to help the Cobras in their plight. “It’s a local club that suffered an act that is not what we are all about in and around Mansfield so we’re going to try to help them,” he said. “Any Stags fans around tonight - it’s an opportunity to see what will be a League Two team every day of the week if not higher. “Come along and see it, enjoy it, and I am sure the lads at Clipstone will treat it the way we should. It should be a good evening. “It’s a 7pm kick-off so don’t be turning up at 7.45 as you’ll have missed the first half.” One player who won’t be risked tonight is striker Kane Hemmings, who missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Chesterfield. “We are hoping he will be fit for Sunday, but he won’t play tonight,” said Evans. “We are expecting him back into training on Friday. I don’t think there is any doubt we missed Kane on Saturday against Chesterfield. “He led the line with some real guile and expertise at Port Vale and Stevenage and he’s had a good little run of form in finding the net. “When you’re in that run of form you want to be playing. “But a few fibres in his calf were stretched and tight and we just can’t take a risk with him. You run the risk of being out for six weeks and not six days. But he has a really good chance for Sunday.” ---------------------- Stags boss Evans offered to post Lester his photograph! chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 28 November 2017 Steve Evans has offered to post Chesterfield manager Jack Lester a photograph in case he misses him before April’s return local derby. Evans made the tongue-in-cheek offer after reading Lester’s comments following the 2-2 local derby draw at the One Call Stadium on Saturday. The fourth official had to step between the pair as things became heated during the game. On the words exchanged with Evans on the touchline, Lester said afterwards: “I just said you’re a nice man and he said ‘you’re great.’ “There was a lot of stick flying in, it’s great isn’t it because they’ve got to come to our place.” Stoking the rivalry further, he added: “We spoke about them diving, they were throwing themselves to the floor and putting pressure on the referee but we had prepared for that. “We watched a few videos and saw how often they throw themselves to the floor so we were ready for it.” The sides clash again at the Proact Stadium on 14th April and Evans grinned: “I am sure Jack is looking forward to that day. It’s great that coming up against me proves to be a highlight as he looks forward to Christmas. “I am sure it’s on his 2018 wishlist that he’s got Steve Evans coming to Chesterfield as a manager. It will be a big day for Jack. “On and off the pitch there are battles every weekend - in every technical area whether it’s highlighted or not. “It’s a local derby so there’s great passion. Jack was great player and he has lots of passion. I have great passion too and I’m never going to lose it. “He stood up for his team and I stood up for mine. But I look forward to seeing him in 20-18 - and if he’s struggling before then I’ll send him a picture!” Evans added: “The atmosphere was terrific, Stags fans won’t like it but I have to say from both sets of supporters. It was fantastic. “It was great for me to salute the opposition when we scored late on to equalise after they’d given me a bit of banter. “I was just disappointed with our second half performance as we let our supporters down. We don’t need to be told that. We know that. “The nice thing is the supporters didn’t tell is and I think they appreciated we went to the end. They probably thought through the second half we were going to lose to your rivals. “But there is one thing about me as a manager - if you can’t win a game, don’t lose it.” Despite the gloom of not beating Chesterfield, Evans said there was much to be pleased about. He said: “We are 10 unbeaten which is probably as good a run as the club’s ever had in the Football League and we’re all moaning and not happy. “But we are real professionals and we have high standards. We need to continue that. “Let’s make it 17 or 18 then we can say we are in there challenging. “If we’d seen Chesterfield through, as we should have done, we’d been sitting three points off the automatics. “We’re all frustrated and moaning, but credit where it’s due.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-evans-offered-to-post-lester-his-photograph-1-8882254 ----------------- Treat Guiseley with respect and be professional says cautious Stags boss chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans has urged his players to treat National League Guiseley with respect and be professional on Sunday as Paul Cox and Adam Murray return to to the club for the FA Cup second round clash (2pm). Stags know a lucrative third round tie could be the prize for the winners on Sunday and Evans is determined there will be no giantkilling at the hands of his two predecessors in the One Call Stadium hot seat on their return. “It will be about mental application for us and professionalism as it was at Shaw Lane. We have to have a really professional performance,” he said. “Our objective is the same as Guiseley - to be in the next round. We know we are going to have to play well. This is a team that’s just one level difference to us. “This is not a team like Shaw Lane who were four or five divisions below. This is a team that, if they got promoted, they are with us. “From that point of view it’s a big game and they have some players who have played as high as the Championship and League One. “We will treat this just the same as when we go to Crawley or host Yeovil and Morecambe in the weeks after that.” Guiseley currently sit in one of the relegation spots after three National League defeats in a row. But Evans said: “What we know if they have good players, one or two of them have played for me, one or two have played for the Stags. “It will be about what we do. But we have total respect, not only for Guiseley, but for every opponent we face in the season. “It’s the FA Cup and we are at home. So it’s an opportunity to progress and get into the third round and that’s our only focus. “We know enough about them. We have an idea how they might play versus how they have been playing and we know it will be tough.” It will be interesting to see what reception Cox and Murray get on their return to a club where Cox won the club promotion back to the League and Murray served for so many years as a player. “I have only ever gone back to a club when I’ve done extremely well for them I have been back to Rotherham and Crawley, where I had back to back promotions at both,” said Evans. “They will bring their team back here and we will treat Paul and Adam with the respect they deserve as the opposition. But we’ll keep our focus very much on what happens on the grass. The respect stops at kick-off.” After several players disappointed in a poor second half in Saturday’s 2-2 home derby draw with Chesterfield, Evans intends to shuffle his pack. “We will change the team around on Sunday to reflect I wasn’t happy with the second half last Saturday against Chesterfield,” he said. “It will be reflective of people who are really working hard and proving a point to be in the team. “I would think there will be probably four, maybe five, changes. “But they would be experienced players. There’s no games getting played here. There is no weakening sides. There’s no naivety involved. “We’ve got a big week ahead. We have Sunday in the FA Cup, we have Blackpool on the Wednesday in the Checkatrade - when there will be wholesale changes - and then back to normality for Crawley.” Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/treat-guiseley-with-respect-and-be-professional-says-cautious-stags-boss-1-8885035 ----------------- |
Latest | December 2017