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Archived News from January 2018

EVANS ON INJURIES, TAFT, FACUP, CAMBRIDGE
15th January 2018 19:24


Gaffer to manage Stags' focus with potential City clash looming
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 09 January 2018

Stags' boss Steve Evans says the incentive of a home tie with Manchester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup is 'wonderful', but is refusing to look beyond next week's third round replay against Cardiff City.

We held the Bluebirds to a 0-0 draw in the Welsh capital on Saturday, meaning we will welcome Neil Warnock's men to One Call Stadium next Tuesday (16 January, 7.45pm kick-off), with the Premier League leaders awaiting the winners in the next round.

Supporters can read the ticket information for the replay here.

And despite admitting that supporters and directors are 'allowed to dream', the gaffer has spoken of the need to remain focussed on the Stags' immediate matches; the Sky Bet League Two clash with Cambridge United on Saturday before the replay with the Bluebirds next week.

"We're not in the fourth round; we still have to earn that right against quite a formidable Championship side club in Cardiff City. Obviously the prize for both teams that will play here is just wonderful," the Stags' chief said.

"Manchester City are the best team in English football and if my opinion from the start of the season is proved right that they'll be the best in Europe, then it will be fantastic.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/evans-09-jan/

"Supporters can dream, our chairman and chief executive can dream, our directors can dream but the players and the staff, led by myself, have to be really focussed when they come to town.

"More importantly, we need to be really focussed when we go to Cambridge because those who don't perform at Cambridge have got 'Bob's hope' of playing against Cardiff. From that point of view, we need to be focussed on our next game.

"We've got too much respect for Cardiff City to think too much about Manchester City, but the prize is wonderful for both."

The former Leeds United manager said that work is still ongoing behind the scenes to add to his squad during the transfer window, whilst also revealing that defender George Taft will be embarking on another loan spell after his stint with Cambridge United came to an end.

"If they're not in the building to train on Thursday, then the answer [to whether there will be additions before the weekend] would be no. We're not going to let them train on Friday and be starting them in a game on Saturday, that's not going to happen.

"My understanding of the FA rules is that if you're not registered for the first game then you can't play in the replay. I don't know how true that is; if it's not true then let's sign Messi and get through!

"I think that's the rules so it's a case of if we don't get it done for tomorrow to get them in on Thursday to train with the group, then it will probably be the following week.

"We've got a fantastic squad of players here; we want to improve, we want to bring in players who can help us but we don't want to bring in any player. Any player doesn't make us better.

"He's a fantastic lad, George [Taft]. A great professional, we had real high hopes for him back in the summer. He's gone to Cambridge and done really well, we're not saying that Cambridge aren't looking at doing something going forward but at this minute in time, they're not.

"I've had a couple of managers come on about him so we'll see where that goes."

Frontman Kane Hemmings was forced off just before half-time in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Cardiff and he will undergo a precautionary scan today, however the gaffer will welcome three players back into training today.

"We'll get a scan on Kane this morning, just to see how his hamstring is. That's precautionary more than any symptoms the player's got this morning and then we'll look at the scan and see if he trains tomorrow.

"[David] Mirfin's still out. He's going to be a little while because he obviously had the operation. So Mirfin will be due back in the club next week after he's recuperated at home after you've had an op.

"The other three are on the training ground today. [Zander] Diamond's back in, [Joel] Byrom's back in and [Danny] Rose is back in; they're good players, they help the group but it doesn't mean they come in to play. Let's see how they train."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full news conference.

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Tickets on sale for Cardiff replay
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 09 January 2018

We will welcome Championship side Cardiff City to One Call Stadium on Tuesday 16 January (7.45pm kick-off) in our Emirates FA Cup third round replay.

We held the Bluebirds to a 0-0 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday and Stags had chances to win it, but were thwarted by some last-ditch defending and solid goalkeeping from their higher division opponents.

The replay will take place at One Call Stadium as the two sides battle for a place in the fourth round, where a home tie with Premier League leaders Manchester City awaits.

Read more at https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/january/date-confirmed-for-cardiff-replay/

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twitter Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc Jan 9

NEWS: The club has received confirmation that our Emirates FA Cup third round replay at home to Cardiff City on Tuesday 16 January (7.45pm) will not be televised.

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Forget the FA Cup and focus on Cambridge warns Stags boss
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 09 January 2018

As excitement builds over Mansfield Town’s FA Cup run, boss Steve Evans has told his players to focus on Saturday’s important League Two game at Cambridge United. Fans were sent into a frenzy on Monday when the fourth round draw paired the winners of this Tuesday’s third round replay between Stags and Cardiff City at home to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

However, with Stags on a run of one defeat in 19 and a single point outside the top three, Evans demanded all thoughts of Cardiff and Manchester City go onto a backburner until after Saturday’s trip.

“The chief executive told me who’d we drawn in a message. I didn’t watch it as we’re not in the fourth round,” said Evans.

“We still have to earn that right against a formidable Championship club in Cardiff City. “Obviously the prize for both teams that will play here is wonderful.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/forget-the-fa-cup-and-focus-on-cambridge-warns-stags-boss-1-8947552

“Manchester City are the best team in English football and, if my opinion from the start of the season is proved right, they will be the best in Europe. “Supporters can dream. Our chairman and chief executive can dream. Our directors can dream. But the players and staff, led by myself, will have to be really focused when Cardiff City come to town.

“And more importantly we need to be very focused when we go to Cambridge on Saturday as the players who don’t perform at Cambridge have Bob Hope’s chance of playing against Cardiff.”

He added: “The prize of being focused at Cambridge is to play against Cardiff City. “We have too much respect for Cardiff City to think about Manchester City.

“I’d be surprised if the replay wasn’t on television, given the prize, but we can’t speak for what BT do. That’s their own decision.”

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Stags frustrated in chase for new faces
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 09 January 2018

Mansfield Town look set to reach the midway point of the January transfer window without securing any new faces.

But manager Steve Evans is not overly concerned, saying: “I am smashing my head against the wall at the minute - some might think that’s a good idea!

“We are trying really hard. We have three or four things that we’re trying to make happen so we’ll see where they go.

“It’s hard work to improve on what we’ve got. It’s hard to get them here - but we are trying. “If they are not in the building to train on Thursday then the answer would be no to playing against Cambridge.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-frustrated-in-chase-for-new-faces-1-8948239

“Also, my understanding of the FA Cup rules is that if you were not registered for the first game you can’t be involved in the replay. If we don’t get it done by Wednesday and get them in the building to train with the group then it will be the following week.

“We have a fantastic squad of players here. We want to improve and bring in players that can help us. But we don’t want to just bring in any player for the sake of it.”

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Stags send Hemmings for hamstring scan
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town loan striker Kane Hemmings has had a scan on his hamstring to determine if he can return to training. But the Stags do look set to welcome a trio of injured players back for the weekend. Hemmings limped out of the Cardiff FA Cup tie last weekend with a tight hamstring.

Manager Steve Evans said: “We are getting a scan on Kane to see how his hamstring is. It’s precautionary rather than down to any symptoms the player. We will look at the scan before we decide if he will train.”

However, Evans did have some good news ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cambridge United. Top scorer Danny Rose, skipper Zander Diamond and midfield ace Joel Byrom could all be back.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-send-hemmings-for-hamstring-scan-1-8949139

“They are all back on the training ground today,” said Evans. “They are all good players who help the group.

“Does it mean they come back in to play? We’ll see how they train.” The only other player missing is centre half David Mirfin, recovering from a minor knee operation. “Mirfin will be a little while still because of his operation,” said Evans. “He is due back in the club next week after he has recuperated at home.”

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Stags defender returns but set to head out on loan again
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town centre half George Taft is back at the club after spending the first half of the season on loan to Saturday’s opponents Cambridge United. However, Taft is still well down the pecking order at the One Call Stadium with Stags well off in that department and boss Steve Evans admitted Taft will be heading out again this month.

“He will be going back out - it’s as simple as that,” said Evans. “He is a fantastic lad - a great professional - and I had really high hopes for him back in the summer.

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/stags-defender-returns-but-set-to-head-out-on-loan-again-1-8949124

“He’s been at Cambridge and done really well. “We’re not saying Cambridge are not wanting to do something further going forward, but at this minute in time they’re not.

“He is back in here and I’ve had a couple of managers come on about him already. We’ll see where that goes.”

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Stags boss Evans ready to sock it to dressing room joker!
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Steve Evans is delighted with the team spirit at Mansfield Town right now - but the manager is hot on the trail of the joker who went too far and cut up his socks!

“Confidence and team spirit comes from winning and this is a great dressing room with some fantastic characters in there,” smiled Evans.

“In fact I am looking for the person who cut my socks up on the trip to Cardiff. If I find the culprit they are in serious trouble!

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-evans-ready-to-sock-it-to-dressing-room-joker-1-8950025

“I went home with one full sock and one half-a-sock. I am looking for them.” He added: “They are a brilliant group that work hard. They know if they don’t work hard they go out, it’s as simple as that. “Can we work a little bit smarter as we go forward? Yes. “Will we be better when we get into February than we were in the early part of the season? I believe so. But that lies at their feet.”

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Evans expects a Stags sell-out on Tuesday
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans is hoping for three more points at Cambridge United on Saturday followed by a sell-out home crowd for Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay with Cardiff City. The Stags are on a real high, losing only once in 19 games, and Evans said he would be surprised if Tuesday didn’t sell out with the prize of a home clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City.

“We need a really disciplined performance at Cambridge on Saturday to add to our points tally,” he said. “Then we come back here and if the One Call Stadium isn’t full on Tuesday, it’s a problem.

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/evans-expects-a-stags-sell-out-on-tuesday-1-8950364

“Manchester City are the best club in English football and probably the best club in European football along with Barcelona and Real Madrid - they’re up in that echelon now and I think they’re going to be there for a long time, given the owners and the investment that Pep seems to have there. “It would be nothing short of phenomenal for this town and football club if we played them.” Stags’ last big FA Cup clash came when they lost to Liverpool in the 2012/113 third round. But Evans believes City are a far bigger proposition. “When Liverpool came they were a great side - they’re a great club,” he said. “But Manchester City at this time are a club the world looks at. “You look at the other football clubs they own in America and Europe and what they are trying to do. “The One Call Stadium needs an atmosphere against Cardiff that is hostile, that’s vocal, but in a really sporting way. Let’s be in their faces all over it.”

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Stags boss Evans welcomes Video Assistant Referee technology
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Stags manager Steve Evans believes using ‘Video Assistant Referees’ could be a good thing for the game. Evans is well known for his clashes with officials down the years.

So he was a highly interested spectator as ‘VAR’ was given an experimental debut for Monday night’s FA Cup clash between Brighton and Crystal Palace.

“In terms of fairness and fair play in the sporting world, everyone wants the big decisions to be right,” he said.

“I am the first person to moan about a throw-in on the halfway line if it goes against us. “But, in reality, we just want the match officials to have all the help they can get just to get the big decisions right as referees do the hardest job in football. If it helps them I’m all for it.”

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/stags-boss-evans-welcomes-video-assistant-referee-technology-1-8950353

However, the big talking point of the game ended up being whether Brighton sub Glenn Murray had handled as he put the Seagulls’ winner into the net in the 2-1 victory over their bitter rivals. “I noticed at the time the referee never called for the other ‘referee’ locked away at FA headquarters to give him assistance on the winning goal,” said Evans. “When I watched the pre-match build-up on the television they told us the four key match incidents when the ‘other ref’ could get involved with the match referee and it seemed quite fair to me. “It wasn’t going to be stopped for a free kick on the halfway line or a yellow card on the edge of the box. “I listened to Mike Riley - a Rotherham United supporter who I think is a fantastic man - and he explained it. He was right in what he said that technology now is taking the game to a different level. “We will be a long time away from that unless we have back-to-back promotions, though. “On the days it works for you, you will smile. “On the days it doesn’t work for you, you will still believe you were right and you’ll be making excuses, but the press will say ‘it’s quite clear it’s not a goal’.”

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Neil Warnock: FA Cup draw adds edge to Mansfield replay, says Cardiff boss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42632297

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock expects the prospect of playing Manchester City to make the FA Cup replay against Mansfield an "old fashioned Cup tie".

The Bluebirds face Mansfield on Tuesday, 16 January after a 0-0 draw in front of 6,378 in Cardiff.

But Warnock says interest will increase with the winners playing the Premier League leaders in the fourth round.

"They are probably the best team in the world at the moment so it's fabulous for Mansfield and ourselves," he said.

"I think it makes for a better second game anyhow with so much at stake.

"There'll be a great atmosphere - no disrespect to our fans, but 6,000 in our stadium was really a low-key afternoon atmosphere-wise.

"At Mansfield our fans will make themselves heard and Mansfield will probably fill their side so it should be a good old-fashioned FA Cup tie."

Warnock would like to pit himself against Pep Guardiola's runaway Premiership leaders, and will name as "strong a team as I can" against Mansfield.

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Latest | January 2018