Archived News from November 2019
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CHORLEY FAC PREVIEWS
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FA Cup can be ‘springboard’ for season - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 05 November 2019 Stags’ boss John Dempster says that his side can use the Emirates FA Cup as a ‘springboard’ for their season, as the amber and blue did in the 2012/13 campaign, when an impressive cup run was followed by winning the Conference title. Mansfield begin their Emirates FA Cup campaign at home to National League side Chorley on Saturday at One Call Stadium (3pm). The manager, while reflecting on his FA Cup experiences as a player, stated that a good run in the competition can push teams to succeed in league matters. “I’ve had some excellent [FA Cup] experiences - I’ve played at Elland Road and when I was playing for Kettering we pulled Fulham,” he told iFollow Stags. “But my best experience was playing for Mansfield against Liverpool. That day sticks out in the mind because the build-up to that game was massive. “It was an unbelievable experience and we ran them close, but Luis Suarez scored that infamous goal with his hand. Read more at https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/november/dempster-pre-chorley/ “It was a brilliant time for me, but a sad time as well, because it was around the time I lost a close friend. “If it [2012/13 season] was a book, it would have a slow start, an average middle and an exciting and happy ending. “You hear coaches and managers talk about cup competitions and having too much game time, but that [FA Cup run in 2012/13] was definitely a springboard for us [to win the Conference title]. “I think it [good cup run] can add to the excitement, inspire the town and get people behind the team. The FA Cup hasn’t lost its magic because it can be an unbelievable experience for all.” John Dempster says that his side will ‘give it everything’ to beat a ‘very physical’ Chorley outfit. “We’re going to give it everything to beat Chorley on Saturday,” he said. “They’re a side that are struggling in the league below, but are very physical. “We’ll have to match them for attitude and application or it’ll be a tough afternoon. If we do that, we can progress to the next round. “I think there’s a chance they’ll come here and sit in. It’s very difficult to say how they’ll play - our efforts will go into making sure our performance levels are where they need to be. “We need to be positive and we need people behind us. People need to stay with us and we’ll need to shift the ball with pace.” On Tuesday morning it was announced that the Mansfield boss, along with midfielder Otis Khan, had been nominated for the Sky Bet League Two Manager and Player of the Month awards. Speaking of the nominations, he added: “It [Manager of the Month] nomination is simply because we had a good last month, which has now been and gone. “As a group, we’re not looking for pats on the back because we haven’t been good enough. We’re looking for another [positive] month. “We had a disappointing start to November on Saturday [against Colchester] but that’s been and gone - we can only control our efforts moving forward. “Otis [Khan] has been in good form, along with some other players, certainly in October. He had a frustrating time last season with lack of game time. “He’s a player who has impressed me since pre-season and is somebody that can change the game. He’s performed very well and people can see he works his socks off for the team.” Stags’ reserves will continue their Central League Cup campaign this afternoon (Tuesday) against Scunthorpe United at The RH Academy (2pm). The boss spoke of the team that will be fielded against the Iron. “There will be a mixture [of players for reserve game against Scunthorpe], mainly under-21 players. Jordan Graham will hopefully get some more minutes as well, coming back from a long injury. “Willem Tomlinson will play, Omari [Sterling-James] will play, Bobby [Olejnik] will play, but the rest will be under-21 players.” John Dempster provided an injury update on four of his players, saying: “KP [Krystian Pearce] came back in on Monday and his groin was a little bit sore - so he’s probably at least a week away. “Danny Rose, we’re expecting him to train today, which is a real positive. He was out yesterday smashing balls and there was no reaction from doing that. “If he comes through the training, he’ll be in contention for the squad [on Saturday]. We’ll be speaking with the medical team throughout this week and make sure that his fitness levels are where they need to be. “Hayden White is nearly pain-free. He’s had some difficulty on the site where he broke his leg and he’s had a little bit of pain there. “But we’ve been working with him since his suspension and trying to get him pain-free, so he can come back and join the group. “Davo [Craig Davies] has been training with the group. It’s difficult for Davo because he’s been out for a long period of time. “He’s a very committed character and he’s determined to get back to full fitness. It’s not a quick process though, unfortunately, because of the length of time he’s been out.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the boss’ interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. -------------------- No truth in CJ Hamilton rumour says Mansfield Town boss John Dempster chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town manager John Dempster has denied there is any truth in a Tweet from an account called Ex-Agent James Goodwin that suggested Stags are willing to let winger CJ Hamilton to leave in January with Barnsley said to be interested. “I don’t have a Twitter account, so I am unaware of that and that is news to me,” smiled Dempster. “It’s the first I’ve heard of it and there is no truth in that.” https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/no-truth-in-cj-hamilton-rumour-says-mansfield-town-boss-john-dempster-1-10091376 Hamilton was a wanted man by bigger clubs last January but is currently out of favour at Stags, starting games on the bench. ------------------- Mansfield Town boss John Dempster plays down League Two award nominations chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 05 November 2019 Mansfield Town manager John Dempster played down his Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month Award nomination for October after November began with another home defeat by Colchester last weekend. Ahead of that Stags had enjoyed a fine October that has also seen winger Otis Khan nominated for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month Award. “The nominations are simply because we had a decent last month - but that’s been and gone,” said Dempster. “In terms of accolades that’s not the place we’re in right now. “As a group, myself, the staff and the players, we’re not looking for pats on the back as we’ve not been good enough. Read more at https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-boss-john-dempster-plays-down-league-two-award-nominations-1-10086290 “We have credited the players with a good October. We are now looking for a strong November to build on. “We had a disappointing start to November on Saturday. But that’s been and gone and we can only control our efforts moving forward.” Dempster’s side managed 10 points and 12 goals from five games in October. He is up against Salford City’s Graham Alexander, who also took 10 points from five games, Bradford City’s Gary Bowyer, whose nine-point haul from four games included consecutive 2-1 wins against Swindon, Morecambe and Crawley, and Cheltenham Town’s Michael Duff, who saw postponements limit his side to just three games, yet Duff ensured that wins over Walsall and Macclesfield maintained his side’s momentum with seven points from a possible nine to stay in the top three. Khan is in the running for the League Two Player of the Month Award through his dynamic play from the left wing, taking defenders on at will, and setting up goals against Oldham, Forest Green and Walsall. Eoin Doyle (Swindon Town), Ben Tozer (Cheltenham Town) and Kevin van Veen (Scunthorpe United) are the other nominated players. ------------------- Boss John Dempster orders Mansfield Town to tighten up at the back chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town have been ordered to tighten up defensively by boss John Dempster ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup first round home clash with Chorley. Stags’ biggest strength of last season has become their Achilles’ heel this season and, again last weekend, they were beaten at home, despite scoring two goals. “The goals against column says it all,” said Dempster. “That can be a team thing but it can also be an individual thing. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/boss-john-dempster-orders-mansfield-town-to-tighten-up-at-the-back-1-10091565 “We have looked at every goal we’ve conceded this season and at times it’s to do with shape. Forget formations - it’s about players being in their actual position and being compact as a unit. “Quite a few of the goals are individual errors as well, so the basics of clearances, one v one defending, recovery runs being quick enough, being savvy and streetwise - maybe making a foul in the opposition half before they counter you. Sometimes a player may need to take a booking to stop an attack. “They are real basics that are important and need drilling in and coaching. “We do have senior pros in our ranks - and they are good - but they need reminding about the importance about doing the basics. “If we nail down those basics of defending as a team and as individuals our goals against column will improve. “We will always score goals and we are playing better football, so it’s those fine tweaks that will make the difference.” However, Dempster did acknowledge how good the opposition were last weekend. “Colchester are one of the best attacking teams I have seen. They’re in very good form and playing with confidence,” he said, “They deserve some credit as they had a game plan and it worked, though we didn’t help ourselves by the way we defended. “We won’t paper over the cracks. They had the better of the match overall and that hasn’t happened too often this season. “Forest Green dominated us for 60 minutes but we managed to get a point out of that. “We have played some good teams, but I think Forest Green and Colchester are the only opponents that have dominated us.” ---------------------- Blow for Jordan Graham as Mansfield Town reserves game is called off chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 05 November 2019 Young striker Jordan Graham’s hopes of more match action as he comes back from injury were dashed today when Mansfield Town reserves’ Central League Cup game with Scunthorpe United was postponed. First teamers Willem Tomlinson, Omari Sterling-James and Bobby Olejnik were also due to play in a side otherwise comprising U21s on the grass at the RH Academy. But a pitch inspection by the referee at 1pm declded the pitch was too waterlogged for the game to go ahead. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/blow-for-jordan-graham-as-mansfield-town-reserves-game-is-called-off-1-10086212 -------------------- Top scorer Danny Rose could be back for Mansfield Town this weekend chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town could welcome top scorer Danny Rose back from injury this weekend ahead of schedule. Rose has a good chance of making the bench for Saturday’s home FA Cup tie with Chorley with boss John Dempster saying: “Danny was out there training yesterday, smashing balls to make sure his ankle was string and there was no reaction from that. “We will get him back in with the main group and build him up this week. “If he comes through training he will be in contention for the squad. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/top-scorer-danny-rose-could-be-back-for-mansfield-town-this-weekend-1-10091648 “Whether he’s in contention for a start I will liaise with the medical team throughout the week to make sure his fitness levels are where they need to be as he had a slight issue with his groin before he did his ankle. “So we need to make sure there is no recurrence of either injury.” Howevr, it’s a longer road back for fellow striker Craig Davies. “Davo has been training with the group but it’s difficult for him as he’s been out for a long period of time to get his fitness up,” said Dempster. “He needs to get that mobility and get his feet working again. “But he is a very committed character. He is determined to get back to full fitness but unfortunately that’s a quick process due to the length of time he’s been out.” ---------------------- Pressure off underdogs Chorley for FA Cup tie at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS The pressure is off for struggling National League side Chorley on Saturday as they arrive at Mansfield Town as underdogs for a place in the second round of the FA Cup. After enjoying such a fine season when they got promoted from the National League North, Chorley begun the new campaign with high hopes that they could keep the ball rolling in non-league’s top flight. Manager Jamie Vermiglio spoke on the eve of the season about targeting the play-offs, but unfortunately things have not worked out the way he envisaged. The team are bottom, having won once in the league all season, and look like they require a miracle already to avoid relegation. The Magpies are a part-time club amongst a division of full-time operations and former Football League clubs and they have struggled to attract new players with other clubs able to blow them out of the water in terms of wages. On the pitch, they have struggled to find the back of the net on a consistent basis - particularly costly as they have kept several clean sheets. In many respects, boss Vermiglio has been a victim of his own success. The club enjoyed such a fine season last time out and they led the National League North for the majority of the campaign before agonisingly being pipped at the post for the title by Stockport. They then picked themselves up and memorably sealed promotion via the play-offs, beating Spennymoor in a penalty shoot-out. Vermiglio is a cult figure at Victory Park and spent many years as a player with the club. He was the assistant manager under previous boss Matt Jansen and took control when the ex-Blackburn forward resigned. Chorley are certainly not known for firing their managers, certainly in recent times under chairman Ken Wright, so Vermiglio’s job is probably safe, especially considering the level the club is currently operating at with its limited budget. Magpies fans and the board understand the difficulties the team faces this season, but it may be the board may look for a change if things don’t start to improve with football being so unpredicatble. Like opposite number on Saturday John Dempster,Vermiglio is young and as a manager, relatively inexperienced, but he still hugely popular and well thought of. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/pressure-off-underdogs-chorley-for-fa-cup-tie-at-mansfield-town-1-10091569 Goalkeeper Matty Urwin, formerly of Fleetwood Town, has just recently come back into the side after being injured for the first couple of months of the season. He is a big character and was integral to Chorley’s success last season, ending up the hero in the play-off penalty shoot-out win. Former Brighton, Cambridge, Macclesfield and Wrexham front man Chris Holroyd is current top scorer with six, but striker Marcus Carver has been at Chorley for a number of years and is also player always likely to get a goal. He scored with a spectacular overhead kick last weekend against Barnet. Along with Holroyd, summer signings also included former Burnley trainee Ntumba Massanka and well travelled non-league forward Nortei Nortey. Ex-Port Vale forward Louis Dodds and re-signed defender Mark Ross. Last week, they signed Martin Smith, a free agent after release from Salford City. Chorley have only picked up the one win, though have also managed 10 draws in their 19 National League games, the one victory being a 3-0 success over Stockport. They were hammered 5-1 at Notts County - the other Magpies. Chorley booked their place in the FA Cup first round proper with a fourth qualifying round 2-0 home victory over Spennymoor Town of the National League North. Mansfield will be without skipper Krystian Pearce again on Saturday with his groin strain and fellow defender Hayden White, also out injured. But top scorer Danny Rose has every chance of making the squad after his ankle injury healed quicker than expected. “KP came back in on Monday and his groin was a little bit sore. He is probably at least a week away,” said boss John Dempster. “Hayden is nearly pain-free. He’s having difficulty with the site where he broke his leg. He has a rod in his leg now with screws and he’s had a bit of pain there. “We have been working with him since his suspension trying to get him pain-free so he can come back and join the group without him dipping in and out which has been frustrating for both he and I this season.” ---------------------- John Dempster warns Mansfield Town’s players not to take National League strugglers Chorley lightly in Saturday’s FA Cup showdown chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town boss John Dempster warned his side not to take Chorley lightly as Stags set out on this season’s FA Cup adventure with a home first round tie against the National League strugglers on Saturday. After a superb October which has seen Dempster nominated for Manager of the Month and Otis Khan for Player of the Month, November started badly with a 3-2 home defeat by Colchester United last weekend. So Dempster is urging his players to avoid any cup banana skins and make sure they are in the hat for Monday’s draw and back to winning ways. “The FA Cup has not lost its magic for me and certainly hasn’t for the teams lower down,” he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/john-dempster-warns-mansfield-town-s-players-not-to-take-national-league-strugglers-chorley-lightly-in-saturday-s-fa-cup-showdown-1-10087710 “It can be an unbelievable experience for everyone involved and it can also be financially beneficial to a football club. “We are going to give it everything to beat Chorley on Saturday. “They are a side that are struggling in the league below. They are a big side and very physical. “We won’t be taking them lightly as, if we do, we’ve seen it in the FA Cup when people talk about potential banana skins - people will be viewing this one as a potential one for us. “We will have to match them for attitude and application otherwise it will be a tough afternoon. If we can do that we’re confident we can progress to the next round. “As long as we are not complacent and our attitude is spot on we have a great chance.” On the visiting Magpies, he added: “I think there is a chance they will come here and sit in. “I don’t think they’ll be flying out the traps as that could be dangerous for them. But it’s very difficult to say how they’ll play. “Our efforts will be concentrated on making sure our performance levels are up where they need to be. We need to be cautious of our defensive record, which needs tightening up. “But we do need to be positive and have people behind us. We might not be 5-0 up in the first 15 minutes so people need to stay with us.” Dempster knows how important a cup run can be to a successful season after playing against Liverpool in Stags’ title-winning campaign of 2012/13. “Our tie here against Liverpool are the kind of rewards you can get if you’re successful in the early stages of the FA Cup,” he said. “If you draw a big club it can be so beneficial from not only a financial point of view but also as an experience for everyone involved. “We had started that campaign very slowly. If it was a book it was a slow start, an average middle, and an exciting and happy ending. But we finished it like a house on fire and were very difficult to stop. “You hear managers and coaches talk about cup competitions and make excuses about injuries and too much game time. “But that cup run was definitely a springboard for us, and when you look at other teams that have had cup runs - Lincoln most recently - I think it can add to the excitement, inspire the town and get people together and behind the team. “A cup run would definitely benefit us in this current campaign. It’s important you maintain belief through the hard times. “We’ve played 17 games in the league - there are 29 to go, so lots of points to play for and I’m confident we can still be successful.” He added: “We spoke about the importance of getting a positive result against Colchester as we knew there was a two week break after that. “Having a two week break after a defeat is not good. But what is a positive is competing in the FA Cup - a competition with unbelievable tradition. “We are very grateful and in a privileged position to be competing in it.” ------------------ Mansfield Town boss John Dempster recalls magic of FA Cup tie with Liverpool and dreams of a repeat run this season chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town John Dempster has been underlining how important it is for his side to get through the first two rounds of the FA Cup to give them a chance of a dream tie against one of the sport’s biggest names. Ahead of Saturday’s first round tie with Chorley, Dempster has been recounting the run of 2012/13 when as a Stags player he helped them into an incredible third round home tie with his boyhood idols of Liverpool. Saturday's low key home tie against non-League Chorley may only be the first step on this season's FA Cup ladder for Mansfield Town. But boss John Dempster knows only too well where it can lead, having played against his boyhood heroes Liverpool in the 2012/13 competition, a game that created amazing memories for himself and the town. Stags certainly made hard work of getting to the hallowed land of the round three draw. After a 0-0 home first round draw with Slough, the replay ended 1-1, Stags having to win on penalty kicks to progress. Then after a thrilling 3-3 second round draw at Lincoln City, Dempster captained the side to a replay victory that booked the dream tie. As he prepared for his first FA Cup tie as a manager this Saturday, Dempster looked back to that season, saying: The FA Cup has not lost its magic for me and certainly hasn’t for the teams lower down. “My best FA Cup experience was playing for Mansfield against Liverpool, being a Liverpool fan. “I had played a part in getting us the Liverpool tie as I scored against Lincoln in the previous round along with Louis Briscoe. “I was captain at the time with Adam Murray out injured. It was a brilliant time for me but also a sad time as I had lost a close friend. “We played Lincoln away and Rheady got us out of trouble with a header to take it to a replay at the One Call. “It was an emotional night for me. The atmosphere was electric. “I went up for a header - it just came off my head if I'm honest - and there was a bit of a ricochet between the goalkeeper and the post - but it ended up in the back of the net. “They got an equaliser, but then in typical Louis Briscoe style he ended up smashing the ball and nearly taking the net off. The place erupted. It was amazing. “The build-up to the Liverpool game then was massive and at the time I was going through my sports journalism degree, so I actually did a radio documentary on it and got a good insight into both sides of it - media and player. “I got an insight into how excited supporters were feeling too as I interviewed a few of them. “It was an unbelievable experience. We ran them close and they wobbled. “We were putting balls into the box. Big Rheady (Matt Rhead) was smashing Jamie Carragher all over the place, Greeny (Matt Green) got a goal. “But then of course Luis Suarez scored that infamous goal with his hand, which was disappointing.” Despite their exit, Dempster did not go home empty-handed as he swapped shirts with Suarez. He smiled: “I managed to get his shirt at the end - it was the only time I got near him all game! “Before the game Paul Cox had actually said to us he wanted us to play the game and not the occasion and he didn't want any of us asking for shirts, which you can understand as he wanted players concentrating on the game. “But when Suarez came off the bench and made his way towards me I thought this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So I said can I have your shirt afterwards and he gave me a nod - his English wasn't great. “Within 10 seconds he had made his way over to the right where Exodus Geohagon was playing and I caught Exodus asking for the shirt too, so I am glad I got in before him! “That is something that is now in my living room - which my wife is not that pleased with. But that's where it is. “These are the kind of rewards you can get if you're successful in the early stages of the FA Cup. If you draw a big club it can be so beneficial from not only a financial point of view but also as an experience for everyone involved.” ---------------- Mansfield Town keeping close eye on Macclesfield Town troubles as Silkmen go on strike over unpaid wages chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town will be keeping a close eye on happenings at Macclesfield Town with next weekend’s opponents today going on strike after the troubled club failed to pay October’s wages. That has put Macclesfield’s FA Cup first round tie with non-league Kingstonian on Sunday in serious doubt with Stags up next in League Two at the Moss Rose next weekend. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-keeping-close-eye-on-macclesfield-town-troubles-as-silkmen-go-on-strike-over-unpaid-wages-1-10091298 Macclesfield’s 2018/19 season was ravaged by cash problems and unpaid wages with Sol Campbell coming in as manager to save them from relegation only to leave again due to the ongoing problems. Those money problems have now followed them into this season and with no wages paid for last month, players and some members of staff today began a strike that could see them booted out of the FA Cup this weekend and leave their fans worried they could follow Bury into oblivion. Macclesfield have previously been taken to court by players over unpaid wages and in May considered boycotting the final match of last season for similar reasons. Money earned in the FA Cup has previously Macclesfield survive. Defeat in the first round would earn the club nothing, but getting through to round two is worth £36,000 in prize money. --------------------- Manager is guest for radio phone-in mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 05 November 2019 Stags’ boss John Dempster will this Friday take part in a radio phone-in live on Mansfield 103.2. The Mansfield manager will be on air from 6pm until 7pm. Questions to the Stags’ chief can be made by telephoning the 103.2 studio on 01623 666 000 from 6pm on the night of the programme. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/november/manager-is-guest-for-radio-phone-in/ John Dempster said: “Since I was appointed to the role of manager I’ve always felt it important to be transparent with our supporters. “Lee Glover (assistant manager) and I held a fans’ forum before the season started but now we’re just over a third of the way into the season I felt that it was an opportune time for our fans to ask any questions which they feel are necessary and I will answer them with transparency and honesty. “I’ve always maintained an excellent relationship with our supporters and look forward to speaking with some of them again this Friday evening.” Mansfield 103.2’s head of sport Jason Harrison will present the programme. Subscribers to iFollow Stags will be able to watch the phone-in in full later on Saturday 09 November. -------------------- Midfielder targeting strong cup run mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 05 November 2019 Mansfield Town midfielder Conor Shaughnessy hopes to embark on a cup run, starting with victory over Chorley on Saturday. The 23-year-old will be looking to make his 11th appearance in amber and blue as the Stags host National League opposition in the FA Cup first round. He believes a run in the world’s most famous domestic cup competition would act as a massive ‘confidence boost’ for the club. “I love it, growing up watching the FA Cup and it’ll be great for us as a club to go on a little run. It’ll be great for confidence and helping us out in the league,” he began. “They [Chorley] are going to put up a strong fight - I’m sure it’ll be a physical game. It’s one of them where we have to start well and our quality will show.” https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/november/shaughnessy-pre-chorley/ The Lancashire-based non-league side, according to Shaughnessy, may be an unknown quantity due to them sitting a division below Mansfield in the English pyramid. He said: “You see underdogs coming forward all the time in these games and putting up a good test. Anything can happen in the [FA] cup so we won’t be taking it lightly at all, we’ll be looking to win. “Everyone ups their game in this competition, especially when you’re playing teams from the league above you so we’ve got to be ready for that on Saturday.” The Irishman, on loan from Leeds United, will be hoping to avoid a reoccurrence of a previous tie with his parent club which saw them lose to lower league opposition in the shape of League Two side Newport County in January 2018. “It was a tough day. It was my first experience of the FA Cup and it was a learning curve for everyone, for me. “I know going into these games you can’t take your foot off the pedal at all. You need to go into it 100 per cent because anything can happen.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Conor's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. --------------------- Mansfield Town loanee Conor Shaughnessy wants no more FA Cup heartbreak as Stags take on National League Chorley chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Young Leeds United loanee Conor Shaughnessy knows all about the agony of FA Cup giantkillings ahead of Mansfield Town’s home clash with National League opponents Chorley on Saturday. The Irishman was part of a Leeds side beaten 2-1 at Newport County in January 2018 and he admitted: “That was a tough day for us. “It was my first experience of the FA Cup and a learning curve for everyone. “I now know going into these games you can’t take your foot off the pedal at all. You need to go into it 100 per cent as anything can happen. “I think we might have under-estimated Newport a little bit. We played them away and it was a tough ground to go to. “We controlled the majority of the game but little things cost us. It was a big upset. “Everyone ups their game, especially against teams from leagues above you. So we’re going to have to be ready for that on Saturday.” He continued: “You see it all the time in these cup games, underdogs coming forward and putting up a really good test on the day. “Anything can happen in the cup, so we won’t be taking it lightly at all. We want to win. “Heart, desire and endeavour from us is the minimum expected from us. If we get that right we know our quality will show with the ball and it should go our way. “It will be a tough game and they will put up a really strong fight. I am sure it will be a physical game. “We just have to start it well and pass the ball well. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-loanee-conor-shaughnessy-wants-no-more-fa-cup-heartbreak-as-stags-take-on-national-league-chorley-1-10090007 “We are expected to get the result as we’re in the league above, but at the same time, it’s the cup so we won’t be thinking it’s an easy game.” Shaughnessy is a big fan of the competition, saying: “I love it. I grew up watching the FA Cup all the time. “It would be great for us as a club to go on a cup run. It would help our confidence for the league. “It’s a great competition for clubs to come up against higher opposition and that’s what we need to do. We need to get through these early rounds, push on and draw a bigger team and a good day for the club.” Shaugnessy admitted Stags need to tighten up at the back after Saturday’s 3-2 home loss to Colchester. “It was a tough game. We came up against quite a good team,” he said. “We scored two goals at home but we let ourselves down as a team defensively, conceding three. “We need to work on it - both individual mistakes and as a team - ahead of Saturday’s cup game.” ---------------------- |
Latest | November 2019