Archived News from November 2019
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DEMPSTER, PRESTON, McMAHON REACTION
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It was a ‘real battle’ - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 16 November 2019 Stags’ boss John Dempster has reflected on a ‘real battle’ between the Stags and Macclesfield Town, while praising his side’s defensive display at the Moss Rose. Neither side were able to find the net in a tight contest despite the amber and blue carving some good goalscoring opportunities. The manager, speaking to iFollow Stags post-match, praised the effort and endeavour on show from his players. “I think one thing was clear - both teams put an absolute shift in,” he began. “There weren’t many chances either way. We had a good opportunity in the second-half when Nicky [Maynard] went clean through. “Other than that, both goalkeepers weren’t really worked. It was a hard afternoon - it’s clear that Macclesfield are fighting for their lives. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/november/gaffer-post-macclesfield/ “It was a real battle and our players stood up to it. It was unfortunate that we ended up with ten men [after Danny Rose’s injury following all three Mansfield substitutions] but I think two months ago we lose that game. “I thought the players were a credit for the way they defended in the game. Matt Preston got a couple of whacks on the head and got back up, and it was a good performance from KP [Krystian Pearce] as well, who has come back into the team. “The positives were mainly with the defenders today, but every single player on the pitch put a shift in. That’s all you can ask for. “We win, lose and draw together and today we take that point. In the end, I don’t think it’s a bad point because we ended up with ten men. It was backs to the wall a little in the last ten minutes, but we dealt with it and showed a lot of heart. “The players have put a real hard effort in today and that’s what you ask of the players. We’ll take the point.” John Dempster also made sure that his side did not ‘underestimate’ today’s opponents, adding: “We prepared for the game like we would any - we knew they were going to be full-strength. The team they played on Wednesday was a strong one, so we knew if the game went ahead they’d be full-strength. “They’re doing well in the league under difficult circumstances. You could see that they’ve got physical players and players who have played higher than this division. “To my knowledge, Macclesfield trained in the early part of the week and played on Wednesday. They didn’t train on the Friday, but generally a Friday session is light and short. “We made sure that we didn’t underestimate them. They have some experienced players and a good young manager. “They’re in difficult circumstances and we wish them well. We hope that they come through this and it makes you grateful for the predicament we’re in - because we have very supportive owners who have backed the football club and have backed me.” After the Stags were reduced to ten men late in the game due to Danny Rose’s injury, the boss offered an update on the striker’s welfare. “He [Rose] has tweaked his hamstring. We’ll assess him and hopefully it’s not too serious. “He felt it straight away and you could see that he couldn’t continue. We didn’t want to make it any worse. “It made the task even more difficult because we had to play the last ten minutes with ten men. But the boys saw it through and it’s a point on the road with a clean sheet.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ----------------------- John Dempster reflects on “a real battle” for his Mansfield Town side at Macclesfield chad.co.uk, Saturday 16 November 2019 Mansfield Town boss John Dempster said his side showed the right mentality in defending their goal to keep a clean sheet and earn a point at Macclesfield. The Stags extended their unbeaten away run with a 0-0 draw at Moss Rose but had to be resolute late on when down to 10-men after Danny Rose was forced off through injury. Dempster said it was a “real battle” for his players against a midtable Macclesfield side who were “fighting for their lives” with off-the-field issues in the lead up to the game. Dempster said: “It’s a mentality, not to let the ball go in the back of your net. It takes bravery. Sometimes you’re going to get a whack, sometimes you’re going to get hurt, which a couple of our players did today. They put their bodies on the line to defend that goal and we were worthy of the clean sheet.” https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/john-dempster-reflects-on-a-real-battle-for-his-mansfield-town-side-at-macclesfield-1-10107592 “It was a real battle,” he said. “I thought we shaded it in the first half. In terms of opportunities, there weren’t loads for either team. When we did get in good areas the ball was very lively on the surface. Many times it was coming off our shins and knees because it was bobbling up. Other times we take responsibility for not having that quality when it really counts. “I was pleased with the players’ endeavour. The effort was there for everyone to see. Macclesfield are fighting for their lives, fighting for contracts, fighting for a future. I think, although it wasn’t pleasing on the eye at times, nobody could discredit the players for the effort they put in today. It was a real shift for both sides. “I was really pleased with how we handled their set-plays, particularly in the last 10 minutes when they were throwing bodies forward. They had a lot of big boys and we were brave. We were putting our heads in where it hurt. “Matt Preston’s had a few whacks, that was KP’s first game back for a while, Sweeney’s had a good game defensively and so has Conrad. You’ve got to credit the defenders sometimes. It’s a clean sheet on the road. “A couple of months ago we might have lost that game and it shows real character to come through, especially with 10 men. It was disappointing to see Danny hobble off but we got through it.” While Dempster said Rose was being assessed by the medical staff post-match for a suspected hamstring injury, though he hopes it is “not too serious”. ----------------------- We had enough chances to win - defender mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 16 November 2019 Defender Matt Preston believes Mansfield Town had enough chances to emerge victorious against Macclesfield Town but remained upbeat with their sixth clean sheet of the season. The Stags were forced to settle for a point at Moss Rose after several presentable opportunities were unable to be converted. Striker Nicky Maynard (below) came closest for the visitors - rolling the ball agonisingly wide when clean through - alongside several other attempts at goal. But Preston feels as though the clean sheet can be seen as a positive following a battle-hardened contest in Cheshire. “It’s a testament to the rest of the lads,” the centre-half told iFollow Stags. “The back-three, or five as a whole, had to do the ugly side today but it’s nice to see we can do that and come away with a clean sheet. “I think we should have won. It was one of those games where it was two sides cancelling each other out but I think we’ve had the better of the chances. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/november/preston-post-macclesfield/ “We were unfortunate that we went to ten men at the end and then it was just a case of whether we could hit them on the break. It was more about just don’t concede. “We should have clinched it but we haven’t - we’ll take a point and move on.” Despite the chances, the 24-year-old believes today’s conditions played a part in neither side making a mark on the scoresheet. “Today, it’s tough. I feel for the likes of Nicky [Maynard] because of the conditions and the way the game’s turned out, especially second half, “We’ve had a couple of good chances but it’s just unfortunate it hasn’t gone in. I wouldn’t say there’s anything drastic to improve. “The pitch’s lively and the rain was coming down so it was just one of those games to grit in. We had to be resilient and we showed that with another clean sheet.” The ex-Swindon Town man also looked ahead to the Stags’ trip to the County Ground next Saturday, where he will face his former side. “We’re going to need a lot of what we showed today,” he continued. “Swindon are a good team, they’ve shown that, and approaching most games in League Two it’s more about what we’re going to do rather than the opposition. “We can build upon what we’ve done today, in terms of the clean sheet, and then add to that. “The conditions will hopefully be better and we can play more than what we have done today, which is what we want to do.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Matt's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------------ Defender Matt Preston pleased with away clean sheet at rain-soaked Macclesfield Town chad.co.uk Despite not winning the game, Mansfield Town defender Matt Preston was pleased the side had picked up a clean sheet away from home in a 0-0 draw at rain-soaked Macclesfield Town on Saturday. The Stags left the Moss Rose with only a single point, failing to net several decent chances, but it was at least a sixth clean sheet of the campaign. “It’s a testament to the rest of the lads,” he said. “The back three, or five as a whole, had to do the ugly side today but it’s nice to see we can do that and come away with a clean sheet. “I think we should have won. It was one of those games where it was two sides cancelling each other out, but I think we’ve had the better of the chances.” https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/defender-matt-preston-pleased-with-away-clean-sheet-at-rain-soaked-macclesfield-town-1-10108565 Stags lost striker Danny Rose to injury late on, having used all their subs, and Preston said: “We were unfortunate that we went to 10 men at the end and then it was just a case of whether we could hit them on the break. It was more about just don’t concede. “We should have clinched it but we haven’t - we’ll take a point and move on.” The weather was awful at Macclesfield and Preston said: “It was tough. I feel for the likes of Nicky (Maynard) because of the conditions and the way the game’s turned out, especially second half, “We’ve had a couple of good chances but it’s just unfortunate it hasn’t gone in. I wouldn’t say there’s anything drastic to improve. “The pitch was lively and the rain was coming down so it was just one of those games to grit in. We had to be resilient and we showed that with another clean sheet.” Now Preston will prepare for a return to his former club Swindon on Saturday, who now top the table. “We’re going to need a lot of what we showed today,” he said. “Swindon are a good team, they’ve shown that, and approaching most games in League Two it’s more about what we’re going to do rather than the opposition. “We can build on what we’ve done today in terms of the clean sheet and then add to that. “The conditions will hopefully be better and we can play more than what we have done today, which is what we want to do.” ---------------------- Drewe Broughton Good away point. Deserved all 3. Drewe Broughton - High Performance Consultant @DreweBroughton Great to catch up with a few old friends at Macclesfield today. They have a great spirit and despite the “fake news” have trained hard all week and understand they HAVE to fight and play well to get moves to other clubs if needed. Great spirit from our boys Pressy was outstanding today. Multiple bangs, brave as a lion. Marshalled the defence with sweens and the captain. Macc fighting for their lives and in the strongest league position they have had for years. Away point ALWAYS good but such ... .. are the standards it felt like a loss. Running stats really high again. It’s a pleasure watching these guys apply themselves Replying to @NickSankey Wow.... 5 at the back. 3 really good CBs. 2 wingbacks and I find it a little disrespectful and wrong to call willem ( a defensive midfielder) and Connor!!! Wow. 2 top front men. A tough away game. We played same shape at Burton Tuesday and on a great pitch during the match comments on facebook: Steven Hymas Got to agree .midfield at burton was much more creative . got to make change .It set up for a 0-0 .need a couple of changes ------------------- McMahon proud of Macclesfield squad for claiming point after off-field struggles by Press Association Macclesfield manager Daryl McMahon expressed pride in his squad after they ended another trying week with a point from a goalless draw with Mansfield. McMahon’s players had vowed not to play the game unless they were paid their long-overdue wages the previous day but once they received their money they delivered a gritty showing to end a four-game losing run. And McMahon was delighted with how his squad battled to a point after a host of off-field issues again affected his preparation. “The performance from the group was outstanding today, I’m proud of them,” he said. “It was tight, Mansfield are a very good side with a lot of talent at their disposal, the two strikers they brought on would probably get into any team in the division. But we defended really well as a group, the back three were outstanding.” https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/sport/mcmahon-proud-of-macclesfield-squad-for-claiming-point-after-off-field-struggles/ His squad had gone on strike for the previous weekend’s FA Cup defeat and, with numerous worries building up away from the pitch, the manager says he is focusing only on the area where he can influence the crisis club’s fortunes. “Going through the circumstances we are at the minute I think you’ve seen this young team grow up, you’ve seen them behave as men today, they’ve been excellent,” he added. “It’s my job to motivate them in any circumstances. You have good times and bad times, on and off the pitch. The off-pitch stuff is beyond my control, all I can focus on is that changing room, I ask them to be honest and work hard and they did that today.” ------------------ |
Latest | November 2019