Archived News from August 2019
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GLOVER, STERLING-JAMES, UNSWORTH REACTION
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Assistant boss ‘encouraged’ by youngsters’ performances
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 27 August 2019 Assistant manager Lee Glover says he was ‘encouraged’ by the performances of Mansfield’s younger players in this evening’s Leasing.com Trophy encounter with Everton under-21s, but was ultimately left feeling ‘disappointed’ with Stags’ penalty shootout defeat. The young faces in Mansfield’s starting lineup included goalkeeper Aidan Stone, defenders James Clarke (below) and Lewis Gibbens, midfielder Alistair Smith and forwards Jason Law and Jimmy Knowles, while attacking midfielder Tyrese Sinclair making his first team debut in the clash as a late substitute. Lee Glover says that Mansfield did enough to secure victory from the match despite the youthfulness of Stags’ squad, while conceding that improved finishing could have earned a win for the amber and blue. “I thought we were stronger in the second-half,” he began. “They’ve got a lot of quality players in their academy. “We blooded a lot of our young lads today and we’re disappointed not to have won it. We had some good chances and we needed someone to step up and knock one in. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/august/glover-post-everton/ “We created some good chances around the box and we’re disappointed that somebody wasn’t in and around the six-yard box to put one in. “In the last ten minutes we had the ball in good areas and we’ll chat about that [not finishing chances] more on Thursday. “We had to change it tactically [in the second-half]. I thought [Lewis] Gibbens (below) and [James] Clarke were excellent throughout. “The gaffer [John Dempster] wanted to change it up and he thought going to three at the back might suit us [in the second-half]. He was right. “I was encouraged by some of the young lads and I thought Omari [Sterling-James] and Macca [Alex MacDonald] did really well. “Macca gives a lot of energy to us in midfield and gets people going. There were a lot of pluses tonight. “We’re not daft though, as we’ve lost again on penalties which disappoints us. The lads take penalties all the time [in training] but I always think you can’t recreate what’s going to happen. “We leave it down to the players - who wants to take a penalty. Unfortunately tonight, a couple of the lads didn’t finish their penalties. The assistant boss spoke of the game’s two high quality strikes - scored by Everton’s Anthony Gordon and Omari Sterling-James (below) - while adding that he was impressed by the performance of Mansfield’s goalscorer. “I think the lad that scored their goal [Anthony Gordon] has a little bit of quality. It was a good finish,” he added. “Then ours was a nice bit of play along with a good turn and shot [by Omari Sterling-James]. So there were two good quality goals. “I think he [Sterling-James] has done enough to put pressure on the manager [ahead of Saturday’s game away at Exeter]. He’s very much in our thoughts - his performance was excellent. Lee Glover also revealed that had more first team players been fit ahead of tonight’s match, the Stags would have named a far stronger lineup for the game. “We like to win games, so if we’d have had everyone fit, we’d have had a far stronger side out. “As you know, we’re carrying a lot of first team injuries so it’s having a massive effect on us at the moment. We’re working on getting them back fit. “We’re treating it [Leasing.com Trophy] with respect. We want to put as strong a side out as we can, but our hands are tied with it.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Lee Glover’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. --------------------- New faces in pipeline as injury-ravaged Mansfield Town turn to the youngsters for Trophy tie chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 27 August 2019 Mansfield Town are hoping to add a couple of new faces to their injury-ravaged squad before Monday’s transfer deadline. Assistant manager Lee Glover said work was being done but could not be sure if anything would happen before Saturday’s trip to Exeter. “The gaffer has a couple of irons in the fire,” he said as Stags try to cope with nine first team players out. “He is speaking to people and we are hopeful we might be able to do some business. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/new-faces-in-pipeline-as-injury-ravaged-mansfield-town-turn-to-the-youngsters-for-trophy-tie-1-9959781 “It will be whenever it can get done. The gaffer has been in contact with the chairman and the chairman has been very positive, so we are hopeful something might get done.” With so many players out, Stags blooded a few youngsters in tonight’s penalties defeat to Everton in the Leasings.com trophy. Glover said tonight’s changes were forced due to the injury list and and Stags wanted to play a stronger side and make progress in the competition. “We would like to win games,” he said. “If we had everyone fit we’d have had a far stronger side out. “But we are carrying six first team injuries and it’s having a massive effect on us at the moment. “We are trying to get them back fit and working with the group. “We are treating this competition with respect and we want to put as strong a side out as we can. It’s just sometimes our hands are tied with it.” -------------------- Omari Sterling-James stakes his claim for a call-up at Exeter, despite Mansfield Town penalties defeat chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 27 August 2019 Omari Sterling-James put himself in contention for Mansfield Town’s trip to Exeter City on Saturday with an excellent display in tonight’s penalties defeat to Everton U21s in the Leasings.com Trophy. Ironically Sterling-James missed his spot kick in the 4-1 shoot-out defeat against a quality Everton side, but scored a good goal and might have had a hat-trick on another night. “I think he has done enough to be putting pressure on the manager,” said assistant boss Lee Glover. “The manager and I have spoken and he is very much in our thoughts. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/omari-sterling-james-stakes-his-claim-for-a-call-up-at-exeter-despite-mansfield-town-penalties-defeat-1-9959778 “Then putting in a performance like he did tonight was excellent.” With nine first team players out injured, Stags had a sprinkling of youngsters on show tonight and Glover said: “I was encouraged by some of the young lads. “But I though Omari did really well and I think Macca (Alex MacDonald) came on and gave us a lot of energy in midfield, getting people going. “There were a lot of plusses but we’re not daft. We have lost a game on penalties which disappoints us and for all the good play we sometimes get round the area we need someone to get in there and finish it.” It was Stags’ second penalties loss of the season and Glover said: “The lads take penalties all the time. I took penalties at a couple of clubs I was at and you can’t recreate what is going to happen. “We leave it down to how the players feel and who wants to take a penalty. I have been in some shoot-outs where you would be surprised about some of the people who didn’t want one. It’s just about who is confident.” Stags forced a late 1-1 draw in 90 minutes after Everton went down to 10 men following Beni Baningime’s second bookable offence on 70 minutes. “I thought we were stronger in the second half,” said Glover. “They have a lot of quality players with the academy they’ve got. “But we blooded a lot of our lads and we came strong. “We are disappointed not to win it as I think we finished the stronger. “When they went down to 10 men they will say that is a learning curve for their players, lunging in like that when he’s on a booking. “We had some good chances and we just needed someone to step up and put one in. “We should definitely have had more than one goal. With the balls getting fed in and fired across the box someone has to get in the six yard box and put one in.” He added: “We had to change it tactically at half-time so Knowles and Law came off. They did okay - it will be good experience for them and they will build on it. “I thought Gibbens and Clarke were excellent throughout. “The gaffer thought going to three at the back for the second half might suit us and he was right. “The lad that scored their goal has got a bit of quality and it was a good finish. “Then ours was a nice bit of play, a turn and shot. They were two quality goals.” --------------------- I want to 'prove' myself - attacking midfielder mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 27 August 2019 Attacking midfielder Omari Sterling-James has revealed that he wants to ‘prove himself’ at Mansfield Town after helping himself to a fine goal in tonight’s 1-1 draw with Everton under-21s. The 25-year-old, who found the back of the net for the second time this season, cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s opener for the Toffees. And while the Stags were unable to secure an extra point in their Leasing.com Trophy opener, Sterling-James remained optimistic of showcasing his talent to everyone associated with the club. “It’s been a long time [without a league start],” he told iFollow Stags. “When I first came to the club I was coming off the bench and starting every now and then. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/august/sterling-james-post-everton/ “And last season I wasn’t really involved at all, so I’m just here to prove myself to the manager, the fans and everyone else around the club. “Goals and assists are what you’re marked on in your performances - every time I step out there I’m going to try and keep doing the same.” Despite being unable to score from the spot during the penalty shootout, the former Birmingham City man remained positive regarding his overall performance. “I’m pleased with my work but I have to be putting that penalty away. “I was going left but as I was going to take it I’ve seen the ‘keeper go early and it’s done me a bit. But I have to do better there. “Scoring a penalty tops off what I’ve done in the game - missing it dulls the performance, I guess. “I’ve played limited games but I’ve just got to take my chances as much as I can, and when I’m on the pitch try and help the team. “I was happy to score because we had a lot of chances. We had a few half-chances that I thought could have gone in, I was just happy to get the shot off and see it hit the back of the net.” Sterling-James is also hopeful that his display caught the eye of Stags’ boss John Dempster ahead of their trip to face Exeter in Sky Bet League Two this Saturday. “Any minutes that I get I want to do the best I can whether I’m in the starting 11 or not,” he continued. “That’s the gaffer’s decision but I’m here and I want to help. “It’s been a bit frustrating but in the past few performances we’re getting chances, we’re playing good football it’s just getting over the line with the three points. “We need three points and we go into the weekend [against Exeter] looking for that.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Omari's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later tonight. -------------------- UNSWORTH HAILS 'SPECIAL' GORDON STRIKE IN SHOOTOUT WIN OVER MANSFIELD evertonfc.com David Unsworth described Anthony Gordon’s stunning first-half effort against Mansfield Town in the Leasing.com Trophy as "special". Everton defeated the League Two hosts 4-1 on penalties after an entertaining 1-1 draw at Field Mill on Tuesday night. Gordon, who netted twice in the Under-23s' 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Friday, skipped past a plethora of Mansfield defenders before steadying himself to curl a wonderful shot from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net. The quality of the goal was affirmed by the number of suitably impressed home fans who joined in the applause. “It was a special goal from a special player," said Unsworth. "Everything we’ve worked so hard with him on over the last 18 months is starting to come together. He’s doing his best work in the final third, he’s passing when he should be passing and beating people when he should be beating them, and now he’s got an end product to his game. https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1327563/unsworth-hails-special-gordon-strike-in-shootout-win-over-mansfield "His movement, his pace, his ability on the ball is there for all to see, and there’s more to come.” Having seen Everton's Under-23s draw each of their opening three league fixtures this term, Unsworth was delighted with the performance his side produced against Mansfield's more experienced outfit. “That’s the best we’ve played this season,” said Unsworth. “It’s nice to get a decent performance under our belt. "It’s a good night’s football. On nights like tonight you look at the desire from them and they were desperate to win. The personnel may change but the desire to wear the shirt and win the game is always there. It was a really great performance.” Gordon’s intelligent running and excellent close control when in possession was a feature of the first half and he probably should have scored earlier on when he failed to get sufficient purchase on a close-range shot that Aidan Stone saved more comfortably than he would have expected. Harry Charsley tested the keeper rather better after being played in by Gordon midway through the half. Mansfield weren’t without chances of their own in the opening period. Omari Sterling-James was particularly unfortunate. He found the side netting from distance, hit the post with a direct free-kick and forced Harry Tyrer into a fine save with a close-range flick. On the stroke of half-time, Everton almost doubled their advantage when Antony Evans’ free-kick from fully 30-yards flashed past Stone but struck the post. Gordon started the second half well, too, when he saw an effort palmed away by Stone after a superb period of passing football from Unsworth's side. Everton's task was then made tougher when Beni Baningime was sent-off after picking up a second yellow card on 69 minutes. “I thought his first yellow was wrong,” claimed Unsworth. “His first one was a great tackle and he won the ball. No complaints with the second yellow, but the first one wasn’t.” The young Blues defended magnificently until the 87th minute when the home dangerman Sterling-James finally got his goal, shooting from 10-yards out and finding the bottom corner. It was cruel on brave Everton but the youngsters kept their cool in the shootout, with Evans, Matthew Foulds, Charsley and Nathan Markelo all finding the net. Tyrer made a fine save to deny Otis Khan and Sterling-James fired wildly over to give Everton a 4-1 success. “How good were the penalties,” remarked Unsworth. “All credit to the players and a word for Harry Tyrer, who made a great save in the shootout and did well in the game.” -------------------- Aidan Stone @aidanstone26 Honoured to have made my professional debut last night Tyrese Sinclair @tyrese_sinco7 Proud moment making my @mansfieldtownfc debut last night ---------- |
Latest | August 2019