Archived News from January 2018
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EVANS, HEMMINGS, KEITH CURLE REACTION
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In-form Stags proving doubters wrong - boss mansfieldtown.net, 1 January 2018 After making it 10 points from a possible 12 over the festive period with this afternoon's 3-1 win against Carlisle United, Stags' boss Steve Evans believes his side are proving their critics wrong as they moved to within one point of the automatic promotion places. A brace from striker Kane Hemmings and a goal from defender Rhys Bennett ensured Stags raced to a fine 3-1 win against the Cumbrians at One Call Stadium this afternoon, despite Carlisle midfielder Jamie Devitt converting a controversial second half penalty. And the gaffer, whose side have lost just once in their last 18 games in all competitions, is pleased to see his side answering the questions asked of them with commanding performances. "We're a point away from where it really matters. We're working really hard. There's some teams around us that questioned us, managers that questioned us, they all questioned us, some of our own supporters questioned what we're doing, but we're a point away from the automatics," the Mansfield Town manager said. "We're not far away from second either and I think we'll all accept that Luton, with the investment, they're going to go and get promoted. I think the other two places automatically are there for fighting, but we're not alone. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/evans-post-carlisle/ "You look at some of the results today; Coventry won I think, two or three others won but more importantly, we won. We can't affect any other result in the country other than us, but you wouldn't want to play against Mansfield Town at the minute." After scoring the equaliser in Saturday's 2-1 win away at Wycombe, winger Alfie Potter provided the assist for striker Kane Hemmings' second goal this afternoon to cap off another fine performance and the boss believes the 28-year-old is beginning to show his best form in a Stags' shirt. "Isn't it fitting that a wee man that we've been waiting for to display the type of performances [to show] why we signed him, why we love Alfie Potter, why I've said no to four or five clubs in the last two weeks about taking the wee man, because he can give you so much. "When he faced the guy up for the third goal for Kane, I just thought 'somebody get on the end of it, because he's going to get by him'." Although the former Leeds United manager acknowledges that his side have drawn too many games in their excellent 18-match run, the Stags' chief can see parallels in the current squad with his Rotherham United side who raced to promotion from League Two in 2012/13. "We've not won enough of them; I made that clear before we went to Wycombe, we've not won enough games. I said to the players at half-time: 'don't let this opportunity slip, we've been here too many times'. "They gave us a fantastic response, they can have a day off tomorrow and go and get their legs up. We've travelled the length of the country and we'll freshen people up and we'll make some changes and get ready for Cardiff. "I'm really, really proud of them, they're a great group. They're the ones that have had all the headlines that we're not good enough, they've had the individual batterings. "We agreed many, many weeks ago that we would remain collectively together and that will do for me every step of the way. "This reminds me very much of the group I had at Rotherham United in League Two. They stuck together through adversity with thickness and they came out smiling, as we all know." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full post-match interview. ---------------------- Steve Evans proud of players after Mansfield Town beat Carlisle chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 01 January 2018 Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans was delighted with his players after a 3-1 home win over Carlisle United propelled them into the top seven, just a point from the hallowed top three places. It was a hard-earned win against Keith Curle’s Cumbrians, but Evans smiled: “I am really proud of the players. “We are a point away from where it really matters and we are working really hard. “Some teams around us have questioned us - and some of our own supporters questioned us. “But we have got ourselves a point away from the automatics and not far away from second either. “I think we’d all accept with their investment, Luton are going to get promoted. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-proud-of-players-after-mansfield-town-beat-carlisle-1-8935171 “I think the other two automatic places are there to fight for. We are not alone. But we can’t affect any other result in the country apart from our own. “You wouldn’t want to play against Mansfield Town at the minute as we are a decent side that, no doubt, is improving.” In a thrilling game, a brace from Kane Hemmings proved the difference in the end. Evans said: “They did have a chance before, but we scored two good goals. “Kane has gambled for the first, which is what strikers do and gets the goals. “Then there was some super play for the second goal. “But you know at half-time that Keith Curle is going to get a reaction as he has too many good players in the opposition dressing room.” United’s reply from a disputed penalty kick again saw some home fans shout abuse at the home bench which clearly upset Evans once more. He said: “Then they go 2-1 with the penalty. There are no big dramas, I’ve looked at it back and it’s not a penalty - there is no contact. The boy has dived and we’ll see where that goes. “Then we had to ensure some abuse on the bench because Carlisle scored. I’ve never known anything like it as a manager. But the players gave the best answer. “Alfie Potter then showed why we signed him and Kane Hemmings, who was also suffering the abuse a few weeks ago, has popped up with another great finish. “Then we had to work really hard to keep it at 3-1, though it should have been 3-0 today. I am really disappointed with Darren Drysdale, the referee, giving the penalty. I think he had ample opportunity to see it.” Evans added: “I thought we were terrific and some of the one and two-touch passing was exhibition stuff at times. It’s no exhibition unless it comes off and today it came off with real aplomb. “There were some really big performances today, probably no bigger than Lee Angol. It was a real lead-the-line type of performance. “We were by far the better side through they missed a big chance at 2-1 - the boy should score. “I still think if he’d have scored we’d have come back and won the game.” ------------------- Stags boss Evans lines-up new faces for glory chase chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 01 January 2018 Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans expects to delve into the January transfer market this week as his in-form side began 2018 just one point off the third automatic promotion spot. Two wins in three days over New Year and only one defeat in 18 games has propelled the Stags firmly into the League Two promotion race ahead of Saturday’s tough FA Cup Third Round trip to Championship high-flyers Cardiff City. Now Evans wants to fine-tune his squad and expects chairman John Radford and CEO Carolyn Radford will back him. “I have to talk to the chairman,” said Evans. “Myself and Paul Raynor have names - and they are only names at this stage - that we’d like to do something about. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/stags-boss-evans-lines-up-new-faces-for-glory-chase-1-8935950 “John and Carolyn Radford control that. We don’t control that. We’d like to do it. “I think you we see all the clubs at the top add something. We will try to do something. “We’d like to get another central midfielder in and maybe somebody down the left to compete, maybe somebody down the right and somebody up top. “But it’s about getting the right type of players to add to what we’ve got. “It’s no good signing another Lee Angol or Kane Hemmings. They have to add a different style. “I’ve seen some of the names being banded about and if we’ve got £80,000 a week for wages then we can sign them. “Some people think it’s easy but it’s a really tough job as all the good clubs want all the good players.” After several weeks of trying to get into the top seven, Evans now firmly believes his side have a great chance of automatic promotion after successive wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Carlisle United last weekend. Evans said: “I think they are a great group and they are the ones who have had all the headlines about them not being good enough. “But we agreed many weeks ago that we’d remain collectively together which we have every step of the way. “This reminds me very much of the group I had at Rotherham United - they stuck together through adversity and came out smiling as we all know. “One defeat in 18 games says they have a real resilience. My style of management is, if we can’t win the game, then don’t lose it. A draw is better than nothing. “We’ve gone away far too many times disappointed with points, but it’s better than losing a game.” ------------------ Potter staying put, Stags tell chasing clubs chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 01 January 2018 Chasing clubs have been told that Mansfield Town’s Alfie Potter is staying put at the One Call Stadium. The talented winger has struggled to win a regular starting place this season which has alerted other clubs wanting his services. However, on Monday his superb wingplay set up the crucial third goal for Kane Hemmings and boss Steve Evans said: “Isn’t is fitting that it was a wee man we’ve been waiting for to display the type of performances why we signed him and why we love Alfie Potter. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/potter-staying-put-stags-tell-chasing-clubs-1-8936307 “It’s why I have said no to four or five clubs in the last two weeks about taking the wee man because he can give you so much. “When he faced the guy up for the third goal for Kane I just thought someone get on the end of it as he’s going to go by them.” Former Northampton player Potter has only made six League Two starts this season, scoring once. --------------- Loanee enjoying life at confident Stags mansfieldtown.net, 1 January 2018 In-form Mansfield Town striker Kane Hemmings is enjoying life at One Call Stadium and believes confidence is high among the squad following today's excellent 3-1 win over Carlisle United, in which the frontman grabbed a brace. The on-loan Oxford United man scored his first goal in the ninth minute, capitalising on a poor back-pass to round Carlisle 'keeper Jack Bonham and tap in before defender Rhys Bennett put Stags 2-0 up in the first half. Carlisle got a goal back in the 67th minute, Jamie Devitt scoring a penalty, but with 15 minutes to go, Hemmings made it five goals in his last six games to finish the game off, turning in winger Alfie Potter's cross. Speaking after the game, the centre forward believes confidence is flowing in the Stags camp as the victory, which rounded off an unbeaten festive period, moved Stags into the Sky Bet League Two play-off places. "It's enjoyable, everyone's playing well," said the former Dundee man. "We're all playing with confidence and we all know where we want to go. I think that's the main thing, everyone's got an idea of where we want to go and we want to be as high [up] the table as possible. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/hemmings-post-carlisle/ "Winning games breeds confidence and I think you can see that in the team at the minute. "We've put ourselves in a great position in the league and hopefully we can capitalise on that and keep going forward. "They had a way of playing and at times they were effective, but they never really had many clear cut chances on our goal. Despite the one [goal], I think we looked well worth the three points." Mansfield's brilliant run has been aided by Hemmings hitting a rich vein of form and he feels like things are now going his way, as shown by the gift of an opening goal that he received during today's game. "The last three or four games have been enjoyable and [long] may it continue. Hopefully the goals will start pushing us up the league. "The gaffer's stuck with me when maybe he didn't need to and hopefully I'm repaying him at the minute. "I've been doing the same things I've been doing since I've came in. I think the ball's just falling to me and I'm getting on the end of a few more things and just putting it away. "I don't think I've changed too much. [I'm] maybe playing a bit higher, maybe not trying to get involved with the midfielders [as] much and just being a threat on the back line of the defenders. "Obviously [I'm] delighted to get the two goals. The important thing is we got the win in the end because it puts us in a real good position and we've had a fantastic two weeks." Looking forward, Hemmings is unsure what his future holds, with parent club Oxford United having the option to recall the striker later this month. "I don't know what's happening. I think it's very much in Oxford's hands, what they decide to do. If [they recall me], I've had a great time here but if I'm still here I'll be delighted." Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the striker's full post-match interview. --------------------- Kane Hemmings says he is growing in confidence at Mansfield chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 01 January 2018 On-loan Oxford striker Kane Hemmings admitted his performances are getting better as his confidence grows after his brace helped Mansfield Town into the play-off places with a 3-1 home win against Carlisle United. Hemmings is now waiting to hear if Oxford will recall him this month or if the loan will remain to the end of the campaign. “We are playing with confidence and we all know where we want to go. That’s the main thing,” smiled Hemmings. “Winning breeds confidence and you can see that in the team at the minute. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/kane-hemmings-says-he-is-growing-in-confidence-at-mansfield-town-1-8935213 “When you are confident you enjoy your football.” On where he will be at the end of January, he said: “If I am still here I will be delighted to be here. If not, I’ve had a great time here. “Personally it couldn’t have gone any better for me to start 2018. I was delighted to get two goals. “But the important thing was that we got the win in the end as it puts us in a really good position. “We’ve had a fantastic couple of weeks.” Hemmings punished a poor Danny Grainger backpass to open the scoring and said: “He was heading into a bit of an alley and I just anticipated he was going to play it back to the keeper. I wanted to get on the end of it and finish it. “The last three or four games have been every enjoyable for me and long may it continue. “Hopefully the goals will start pushing us up the league. “Other than that five or 10 minutes after the penalty we were very convincing today and they didn’t have many clear chances. “We were good today. Everyone all over the pitch was right at it and, after the great result at Wycombe, I think there were some tired legs out there. “But we can now rest up and get ready for the weekend now.” ------------------ Keith Curle admits 'basic errors' cost Carlisle Utd in their 3-1 defeat at Mansfield and warns changes in personnel may be needed newsandstar.co.uk Keith Curle admitted “basic errors” cost Carlisle United in their 3-1 defeat at Mansfield Town and said: “If the players cannot improve, then maybe we need to look at changing personnel.” A Kane Hemmings brace sandwiched in between a goal from defender Rhys Bennett saw the Blues start the new year with a loss, despite Jamie Devitt’s penalty. Mansfield led 2-0 at half-time. Former Rangers man Hemmings opened the scoring with nine minutes on the clock, before Bennett tapped home his second goal of the season from close-range after United’s loan goalkeeper Jack Bonham had saved Lee Angol’s initial effort. Blues boss Curle brought on strikers Richie Bennett and Hallam Hope at half-time as United switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with the changes making a positive impact. Midway through the second period, Carlisle halved the deficit. Bennett was adjudged to have been fouled by home keeper Conrad Logan with Irish midfielder Devitt slotting into the bottom corner from the spot. Bennett and and Sam Cosgrove both missed great chances to level the scores in quick succession with the pair both hitting the woodwork with around 15 minutes to play. And, not for the first time in the game, the Stags cashed in on a Carlisle miss as Hemmings steered home Alfie Potter’s delivery for his second goal of the game. “We made basic errors and we need to improve,” Curle said. “If the players cannot improve, then maybe we need to look at changing personnel.” http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/carlisle-utd/latest/article/Keith-Curle-admits-basic-errors-cost-Carlisle-Utd-in-their-3-1-defeat-at-Mansfield-and-warns-changes-in-personnel-may-be-needed-1f369cbb-6387-432a-9d33-926821d850fc-ds On United’s glorious double opportunity which saw Cosgrove glance a Hope left-wing cross on to the post, before Bennett hit the bar from close-range with the rebound, manager Curle said: “At 2-1, there was only one team in it. “Sam Cosgrove did well to get his head on Hallam's cross and then Richie’s hit the bar with the rebound. Two minutes later, they scored at the other end. Goals do change games.” ---------------------- Carlisle United boss Keith Curle vows to make changes in January after defeat at Mansfield chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Monday 01 January 2018 Carlisle United manager Keith Curle vowed to make changes in the January window after his side’s battling display at his former club Mansfield Town saw them head home with nothing in a 3-1 defeat. “We need to change the personnel inside that changing room as there’s not enough of the quality and people able to collectively make the right decisions at the right times,” he said. “It’s nothing personal. It’s purely professional. I need to improve the balance in that changing room “We gave away two absolutely soft goals and gave Mansfield a 2-0 start. But we’d had the best chance of the game in the early stages. “Second half we played on the front foot, scored a goal, had opportunities to make things happen, but didn’t. “At 2-1, if we scored next we’d have gone on and won the game.” Curle added: “We then had a great opportunity. The ball hit the post and came out and we don’t put the rebound in and two minutes later we are 3-1 down. “It’s basics - bread and butter for footballers. We haven’t been played through or laid down, but we’ve gifted them a two-goal start and you can’t give any team a 2-0 start in this division as goals change games.” Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/carlisle-united-boss-keith-curle-vows-to-make-changes-in-january-after-defeat-at-mansfield-town-1-8935175 ----------------------- John Radford @JRadfordMTFC Excellent start to 2018... another hard-working, inventive display in an entertaining match. Really pleased with our points return over Christmas and into the New Year. Well done to the gaffer and the boys. Let's maintain this top form now. COYS!!! ------------------ |
Latest | January 2018