Archived News from December 2018
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FLITCROFT, WALKER AND RYAN LOWE REACTION
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Stags' chief hails 'phenomenal' support
mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 26 December 2018 Stags’ boss David Flitcroft spoke of the ‘phenomenal’ relationship between the players and the Mansfield supporters after his charges ran out 2-1 winners over Bury in a captivating contest at One Call Stadium. Second half strikes from CJ Hamilton and Tyler Walker secured the three points that pushed the Stags to third in the table, while also stretching the unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to 15 games. The manager says that the rapport between the players and fans spurred his side on to victory in the Boxing Day clash. “We didn’t start off too well,” he said. “But after that, when we got our teeth into it, the engagement between supporters and players, you can feel that. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/december/gaffer-post-bury-win/ “They [fans] enjoy watching the players and the players love playing in this stadium. This place [One Call Stadium], on Boxing Day, was absolutely phenomenal. “I’ve seen the supporters love watching their team, and that’s what we have to serve to them. That’s the most pleasing thing for me today. “When I see the players play for the supporters like that, I think it’s phenomenal. “We moved the ball brilliantly and hurt them at every opportunity. The energy from Tyler Walker, CJ [Hamilton] and Jacob Mellis, they [Bury] couldn’t get a foothold in the game at all. “Their ‘keeper, [Joe] Murphy, had an absolute worldie today. Bury are a team that win a lot of football matches, but they couldn’t get out of their half. “The goal at the end leaves just a bit of disappointment in there, but what a phenomenal day. Today at home, the test for us was being brave and moving the ball.” The boss was full of praise for Mellis and Hamilton, who linked up superbly for the opening goal of the contest. “The run [by Hamilton for his goal] was brilliant. I always say the run makes the passer’s mind up, and it was so definitive. “The only words I can describe it [Mellis pass] with are top, top class. If you watch Match of the Day and a Tottenham player or a Man United player does it, we’d be drooling over it. “The supporters are appreciating the football, that’s the one thing that I love. They love CJ [Hamilton] in this stadium, and I love him! “We were absolutely cruising at 2-0, and to concede that late one, I wanted a clean sheet and the boys did. “The players have been brilliant today and they’ve been so dedicated over the Christmas period. The players deserve all the credit today.” The Stags’ chief also maintained that his side are continuously improving as we approach the halfway point of the campaign. “We’ve been brilliant all season at home. The football we play at home, I really enjoy watching us. We’re fit enough to see a game out or score goals. “There’s a lot of pace in the team. We’re nearly at the halfway stage [of the season] and we still have the games in hand. “The boys keep improving and getting better, and they have to hold onto that and protect it. You only remember the ones you win, and winning football, that’s what we’re bringing to the club. “It is personal [against Bury] because it is a club where I spent a lot of good time. I put all my effort, energy and time into the job. “We now have to stay consistent and keep that belief. The players are improving and getting better game-by-game. “We do push them hard and ask them every day to give all that they’ve got, and the players are stepping up to the challenge.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------------------- Flitcroft praise for Mansfield Town fans and players after crucial win over his former club Bury chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 26 December 2018 Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft was full of praise for players and fans alike after a Boxing Day to remember in beating his former club Bury 2-1. That made it 15 League Two games unbeaten and put Stags into the top three for the first time all season as they leapfrogged the Shakers. “The players have been so discipline and dedicated over the Christmas period and deserve all the credit,” smiled Flitcroft. “You can over-indulge. I think I had 12 pigs in blankets yesterday. It does happen. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/flitcroft-praise-for-mansfield-town-fans-and-players-after-crucial-win-over-his-former-club-bury-1-9509450 “But the winning run continues. We are being consistent and we are fit enough to see games out. “We’re not at the halfway stage yet and we have two games in hand. We’re making records and we keep improving.” Confident Bury dominated the early stages only to see Stags take a grip after 15 minutes that they never lost. Flitcroft felt the fans played a huge part in that. “We didn’t start off too well, but when we got our teeth into it, you could feel that engagement between supporters and players,” he said. “The players love playing in this stadium for the supporters and I think that’s the biggest thing for me. “The supporters are appreciating our football. “Today, Boxing Day, it was absolutely phenomenal and I have absolutely loved managing today. “Today I have seen a group of supporters just love their football team and we have got to serve them. “Without that togetherness winning games is not the same.” On beating Bury, he added: “I thanked the players as it was personal today. “It was a club I spent a lot of time at and I was incredibly successful there. I put my heart and soul into that football club. “We moved the ball brilliantly today. We hurt them at every opportunity. We didn’t allow them to play their expansive football and their keeper was absolutely brilliant. “I am disappointed it wasn’t more and their goal at the end just leaves a bit of disappointment in there. “Today we had to be brave and move the ball well and our fitness looked superior. It was a really important win.” The deadlock was broken on 61 minutes after a brilliant Jacob Mellis through ball sent CJ Hamilton in on goal. “The run makes the passer’s mind up and that run was so definitive,” he said. “You can only describe the pass as top class and if it was on Match of the Day we’d have been drooling over it. We don’t get that coverage in League Two, but it was an unbelievable ball.” Tyler Walker made it 2-0 from the spot before Bury grabbed a stoppage time spot kick success of their own and on the Bury penalty decision Flitcroft said: “I didn’t see it, but the referee was in a good position.” ------------------- Walker passes praise to team-mates after victory mansfieldtown.net, Wednesday 26 December 2018 Match-winner Tyler Walker praised his Stags' teammates for continuously providing ‘amazing’ service as he notched his 15th goal of the campaign this afternoon. The striker, on loan from Nottingham Forest, found himself on the scoresheet yet again following his brace at Stevenage just four days prior. Firing home from 12 yards, his penalty was ultimately the decisive factor in the Stags’ clash with Bury as they emerged as 2-1 victors courtesy of his goal. And Walker, in modest fashion, cited the players around him as the catalyst for his latest goal that secured three points for his side. “With the players we’ve got like CJ, Mellis, Bish, Benning and Whitey, the service they provide for a striker is amazing,” he admitted. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/december/walker-post-bury-win/ “I’m just trying to do my job and I’m really happy with 15 but I want more, I don’t want to stop there. “I want to get as many as possible from now until the end of the season. The main thing is to help get promotion, so that’s what we’ll try and do. “I’ve got a few friends and they’re trying to be supportive through social media. I don’t know what’s going on at [Nottingham] Forest because I try not to think about it. “I wish them all the best but I’m trying to concentrate what’s happening here, to ultimately earn promotion.” The 22-year-old was expectedly in a buoyant mood as he reaffirmed Mansfield’s superb form, which now sees them unbeaten in 15 games in Sky Bet League Two following their victory over the Shakers. “We’re playing some good football at the minute and everyone can see that. “We’re really enjoying our football, too. As a player when you’re playing in a team like that it’s really enjoyable. “We’re winning football [matches] and at the end of the day that’s what matters. “I’m really enjoying my football. It’s a great club to be at and we’re playing some great football. We’re in a great position so hopefully we can kick on from here,” he continued. Mansfield’s latest win arrived courtesy of Walker’s spot-kick; however, he also recognised the part of both CJ Hamilton and Jacob Mellis to kick-start proceedings at One Call Stadium. “The form of Mellis showed today because he’s a really good player - there’s no doubt about it. He’s one of the best players in the league by a mile. “And to play with CJ upfront is a dream. He [Mellis] put a great ball in for CJ and he was there to score it. “The ‘keeper has made a good save but he’s reacted quickest and nodded it in. “It was a big game with both teams around the same points so the fact that we won is obviously a massive thing and the three points is definitely the main thing.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the striker's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ---------------- Mansfield Town loanee Tyler Walker thanks team mates for ‘amazing service’ as he hits goal number 15 chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 26 December 2018 Nottingham Forest loanee Tyler Walker made it 15 goals already this season with the winner in today’s 2-1 home win over promotion rivals Bury. But he said he had the amazing service from his team mates to thank - particularly the in-form Jacob Mellis - for his ever-growing success. Walker crashed home a 79th minute penalty which proved decisive in the end after watching Mellis send CJ Hamilton away for the first on 61 minutes with the pass of the game. “Mellis is a really good player - one of the best in this league by a mile,” said Walker, who had also netted twice at Stevenage on Saturday. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-loanee-tyler-walker-thanks-team-mates-for-amazing-service-as-he-hits-goal-number-15-1-9509490 “To get the service up front he provides for me and CJ is a dream. “He put a great ball in and CJ was there to score it. The keeper made a good save from his first effort but he’s reacted quickest and nodded it in.” On the spot kick, he added: “Like every penalty I just look at the ball, try not to listen to the keeper talking nonsense and just pick my spot and stick with it. Hopefully they go in and this one did. “Like any professional you do what you can to win the game so if a keeper can put someone off he’ll do that. You just try not to listen to it. “With the players we’ve got, the service for a striker is amazing and I am just trying to do my job and get on the end of them. “I am really happy with 15 goals but I want more. I don’t want to stop here. I want to get as many as possible and the main thing is to help us get promotion.” Stags are now 15 League Two games unbeaten and Walker said: “We are playing some good football at the minute - everyone can see that - and we’re really enjoying it. “As a player when you are playing in a team like that it’s really enjoyable and we are winning games which is what matters most. “It was a massive game coming into it today with both teams on around the same points.” Walker is on a season-long loan from Championship neighbours Forest where his Reds team mates are urging him on to keep scoring at Mansfield. “I have good friends at Forest who are being supportive on social media,” he said. “I don’t really know what’s going on at Forest. I wish them all the best and want them to do really well but I am concentrating on what is going on here. “I am really enjoying my football. It’s a good club to be at. We are in a great position and hopefully we can kick on from here.” ------------------- Neal Bishop @NealBish Get in the boys!!! Felt good that 1 Ryan Sweeney @RyanSweeney97_ Great win for the boys John Radford I think that is the best Christmas present I’ve received this year... six points from the last two games and two superb performances. These players are giving everything for our club, guided by a manager who has them producing a terrific brand of football. Thank you for your magnificent continued support. COYS!!!! ------------------ Lowe unhappy with Bury desire in Mansfield Town defeat chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Wednesday 26 December 2018 Bury boss Ryan Lowe was full of praise for Mansfield Town after they leapfrogged the Shakers with today’s 2-1 home win, but was disappointed in his own side’s unexpected lack of desire and quality in such a big game. Bury’s reply came from a 96th minute penalty, by which time they had been out-thought and out-manoeuvred all afternoon, despite starting out on the front foot. “We were not good enough. That was not us,” said Lowe. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/lowe-unhappy-with-bury-desire-in-mansfield-town-defeat-1-9509351 “We showed a lack of quality and poor decision-making and it’s cost us. “We wanted too many touches and we needed to be calmer on the ball. “The first 15 minutes I thought we were on it. But from then on we were sloppy and a bit disorganised. “I don’t know if you put it down to a bad day at the office, but I didn’t really see the desire today to want to really run through those brick walls.” He added: “Mansfield are a good team. We knew that. And they probably wanted it a bit more which is disappointing. “They were threatening in behind us quite a bit, playing a few good balls over the top to willing runners. “You have to give Mansfield credit - they are where they are for a reason. They’ve got some good players and the fans were getting behind them. “So we knew it was going to be a tough place to come. We were under no illusions. “But it took us 94 minutes to put a ball down the side of their defenders and what happened? We got a penalty. “But I do keep saying we are nowhere near the finished article. People may be talking about this and that and we are in a good position, playing some good football. The hardest part is staying there and we need to work hard to do that. “The boys have been great, but today we just fell short of that.” Stags went 1-0 up on 61 minutes through a sublime through ball from Jacob Mellis that saw CJ Hamilton net at the second time of asking after excellent keeper Joe Murphy kept out his first attempt. Lowe admitted: “It was a great ball if that was my midfielder playing that ball. It was a weighted pass clipped over the back line and it was a great run from Hamilton. “Murph has been outstanding for us and pulled off some great saves. He pulled that off and you hope it will just stay in his midriff and he can catch it, but unfortunately it bounced out and it was good reactions from the kid to score. “They deserved to go 1-0 up but we then showed a bit of fire and got our backsides in gear.” However, they were then rocked by a penalty decision that saw Tyler Walker double the lead on 79 minutes. Lowe said he wasn’t sure if it should have been a penalty or not, but agreed: “The referee was right there. “You can argue the lad was blocking Tommo (Adam Thompson) and Will (Aimson), but you just can’t put your arms round someone’s neck in the penalty area - simple as that. “You give the referee a decision to make and he’s made one - right or wrong.” ---------------------------------- SHAKERS' MATCH VERDICT: Mansfield Town 2-1 Bury By Staff Reporter https://www.burytimes.co.uk/sport/17320576.shakers-match-verdict-mansfield-town-2-1-bury/ BURY boss Ryan Lowe said his side lacked quality and did not want it enough as they lost 2-1 to promotion rivals Mansfield Town on Boxing Day. A strike from CJ Hamilton and a Tyler Walker penalty were enough for the hosts at One Call Stadium, with Jay O’Shea’s stoppage-time spot-kick a consolation for the visitors. Goalkeeper Joe Murphy pulled off a string of fine saves to keep Lowe’s side in it but the manager was still left disappointed. “We weren’t good enough,” he said. “There was a lack of quality, too many touches and (poor) decision making. “The first 10 to 15 minutes I thought we were on it but from then on I thought we were sloppy in possession, sloppy in our units and distances. “I don’t know whether you can put it down to a bad day at the office. "I’ve just told the lads I didn’t really see the desire today to run through those brick walls. “They probably wanted it a bit more, so I’m a bit disappointed by that.” Lowe said the Shakers needed to continue to improve to ensure they stay in the promotion hunt. He made five changes to the side which beat Tranmere at the weekend but some players impressed him more than others, as they dropped down to sixth in League Two ahead of Saturday’s visit to Notts County. Lowe added: “I keep saying we are nowhere near the finished article, we still have long way to go, and I’ve said this to the boys. “We’re in a good position and we have been playing some good football but the hardest thing is staying there and that’s what we are going to do. Work hard to stay there. “We’ve got a good squad and some players gave me a headache and some players didn’t.” The Shakers started like a house on fire, with Eoghan O’Connell afforded too much time in the six-yard box but he could not get enough power in his header and Conrad Logan tipped over. Murphy made a fantastic save just before half time as a series of ricochets sent the ball to the Stags’ Hamilton but it was smothered by the goalkeeper. At the start of the second period a goalmouth scramble saw O’Connell head the ball against his own bar in an attempt to keep the ball out of the Bury net. The Shakers conceded on the hour in unusual fashion as an exquisite ball by Jacob Mellis found Hamilton, he volleyed it against Murphy but the ball popped up off the keeper and Hamilton headed into the empty net with Murphy stranded. Bury tired as the second half progressed and when Hamilton found himself in acres of space he looked set to score but Murphy saved with his legs. Referee Ollie Yates awarded the Stags a penalty with 11 minutes to play when Ryan Sweeney was pulled down by Adam Thompson at a corner, with Walker converting. O’Shea notched the penalty for Bury in stoppage time after Nicky Maynard was felled but the Stags gained revenge for their 1-0 defeat in the Checkatrade Trophy earlier this month. Mansfield Town (3-5-2): Logan; Preston, Pearce, Sweeney; White, Bishop, Mellis (Atkinson 85), Elsnik (Rose 69), Benning; Walker (Graham 88), Hamilton. Subs not used: Kean, Khan, Butcher, Law. Bury (3-5-2): Murphy 9; Aimson 6, Thompson 7, O’Connell 7; Miller 7 (Adams 52, 5), Dawson 6 (Danns 58, 5), Styles 6 (Maynard 71, 5), O’Shea 7, Stokes 6; Telford 7, Lavery 7. Subs not used: Hudson, Dagnall, Moore, McFadzean. Referee: Ollie Yates..... 6/10. Attendance: 4,959. --------------- |
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