Archived News from February 2020
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COUGHLAN, WATTS, MICHAEL FLYNN REACTION
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Boss praises ‘character’ in ‘big win’
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 15th February 2020 Stags’ boss Graham Coughlan picked out the words ‘character’ and ‘determination’ to best describe his side’s battling win at home to Newport this afternoon. In testing conditions at One Call Stadium, striker Danny Rose’s first-half effort was enough to give the Stags all three points, with the amber and blue defending resolutely for the hour of play that followed. The boss says that he wants his side to now build on this afternoon’s ‘big win.’ “We knew that the weather forecast wasn’t pretty so we knew the game was going to be like that,” he told iFollow Stags. “Newport are a team that play for set pieces and chuck balls in the box. “Newport stopped this club progressing [in the play-offs last season] and having a day out at Wembley, so I made sure the players knew that in the last few days - the players performed with a lot of character and determination. “It was a really big win for us. We deserve better than the results we’ve been getting as we’ve been controlling games - we’ve just had one or two mad moments. “I don’t want to get too excited because I need to be cautious. I want us to build on this and I want us to look forward to the next game. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/february/gaffer-post-newport/ “It wasn’t the conditions to play nice football in, we all knew that. The crowd were fantastic again and you heard them in the 88th or 89th minute when we were under pressure. “They lifted the team and they knew how much it meant to the players. A massive pat on the back to them because I don’t think too many fans stick with their team the way our fans have been asked to do - they’ve been different class.” The manager says that today’s win was one that the Stags ‘thoroughly deserved.’ “All the lads have worked their socks off. I do believe it’s another game we’ve thoroughly deserved [to win]. “Our performances have been deserving of results, but we haven’t been picking up the results that we should. “Let’s be straight, let’s be honest. We should have beaten Carlisle here and we should have held on at Morecambe. “It was a big one today - now let’s settle down, get ourselves on the training ground and keep working. Let’s work towards the next game.” The boss also spoke of 20-year-old goalkeeper Aidan Stone’s performance, after the former Burnley shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in his first league start for the club. “He [Aidan Stone] wasn’t busy and that’s testament to our defenders. One thing about Stoney, you could hear him, he was roaring and shouting, and that’s what we needed. “Bobby [Olejnik] has been brilliant with him all week and even during the game. Fingers crossed it’s something to build on. “I have to give huge congratulations to Stoney tonight because he was different class as a young kid.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the boss’ interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------ Graham Coughlan told iFollow Stags after the win over Newport, Saturday 15th February 2020: “He [Aidan Stone] wasn’t busy and that’s testament to our defenders. When you stick a young lad in behind, the centre halves look after him that extra bit. "But one thing about Stoney, you could hear him, he was roaring and shouting, he was out on people's cases, and that’s what we needed, that little bit of leadership, that little bit of character, and he deserved it (the clean sheet). “Bobby [Olejnik] has been brilliant with him all week and even during the game. And we've brought in a goalie coach Seamus McDonagh to help us as well. “So fingers crossed it’s something to build on. And I have to give huge congratulations to Stoney tonight because he was different class as a young kid.” ------------------- Boss Graham Coughlan delighted with crucial revenge win over Newport County chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 15th February 2020 Mansfield Town manager Graham Coughlan was delighted to see his side dig in for a crucial 1-0 home win over Newport today. Danny Rose's goal in appalling conditions proved enough against a Newport side without a goal in 416 EFL minutes and opened the gap to bottom-placed Stevenage to 13 points. “It was a real big win for us,” said Coughlan. “We deserve better than the results we've been getting. We have been controlling games and just had one or two mad moments that have been hurting us. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/boss-graham-coughlan-delighted-crucial-revenge-win-over-newport-county-1742072 “Today we showed what we are capable of. But I don't want to get too excited. We got excited after the Bradford game. But I want us to build on this and win the next game.” Stags had to survive a late spell of pressure in the powerful wind and Coughlan said: “We knew it was going to be like that with the weather and you have to take the opposition into account as well. We knew they were going to chuck the kitchen sink at us. “It wasn't the conditions to be playing nice, pretty football.” The win also provided revenge for Stags after losing to Newport in last season's play-off semi-finals. “It was nice to fix and correct that result from last year's play-offs,” said Coughlan. “Newport stopped this club progressing and having a day out at Wembley. “I made sure the players knew that over the last few days and they played with a lot of heart, character and determination. “Every one of them stood up to be counted.” He added: “This club has taken a bit of a battering for the last 12 months but we are still getting big crowds cheering us on. “They lifted the team at the end. They knew how important it was and a massive pat on the back to them. They have been different class. “We thoroughly deserved that result today. We knew the importance of it. “Now let's settle down and work hard on the training ground towards the next game.” Newport boss Michael Flynn said: “Today I think the better team lost. “In the first half we played some really good football and we've lost the game to an error. “Danny Rose got a free shot just inside the box and it's killed us. “With all the injuries we've got, that group of players worked their socks off for us and put in a shift.” --------------------- Winning a 'great feeling' - defender mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 15th February 2020 Defender Kelland Watts cited his side’s home victory and clean sheet as a feeling that could hardly be topped after emerging victorious at the expense of Newport County AFC. The centre-half - on loan from Premier League side Newcastle United - produced a peerless display to help keep the Welsh side at bay. Danny Rose’s first-half strike ultimately proved to be the difference as he made use of space inside the area to fire beyond goalkeeper Tom King at his near post. Watts subsequently beamed with pride after securing his first victory in Stags colours. “It’s a great feeling,” he told iFollow Stags. “First win since coming here and to keep a clean sheet at home, it doesn’t get much better. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/february/watts-post-newport/ “It’s what I want to be doing as an individual and team. You come in the changing room to see the mood of all the lads, you can’t beat it. “And all the fans coming out, singing all game, it’s just what we want to be doing for them. “It [the performance] shows the character we’ve got. We’ve been unlucky in recent weeks, if I’m being honest, where we feel like we should have come out with more than what we did. “So today, to battle like we did under these conditions, credit to all the lads. Credit to everyone.” Storm Dennis’ appearance expectedly made life difficult for both sides but the 20-year-old instead relished the opportunity to battle his way through the Sky Bet League Two contest. “I loved it, to be fair, I thought everyone was enjoying it. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been on the wrong side of some results but when everyone’s enjoying it there’s no better feeling going to battle with your teammates. “Everyone was together and it’s what you love to see. “Believe me it [the conditions] was bad. It was windy, raining but you just had to roll your sleeves up and say you’re going to be counted. It felt like nothing was going to get past us today.” The former Stevenage loanee also notched his first professional goal on Tuesday at Leyton Orient - a moment he hopes to build upon before the conclusion of the season. “Being on the wrong side of the victory was disappointing, but it was good to finally get my first professional goal,” Watts added. “I can hopefully kick on and add a few more towards the end of the season. “I’m an honest lad, I work hard and I think if I can do you can’t really go far wrong.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Kelland's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ------------------- Loanee Kell Watts savours first taste of victory with Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Saturday 15th February 2020 Young Newcastle United loanee Kell Watts was delighted with his first taste of victory on loan at Mansfield Town after today's 1-0 home win over Newport. It was a crucial win in awful weather conditions and Watts smiled: “It's a great feeling. It's my first win since coming here and to also get a clean sheet at home, it doesn't get any better than that. “That's why I've come here. That's what I want to be doing. “Seeing the mood of all the lads in the changing room, you can't beat it. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/loanee-kell-watts-savours-first-taste-victory-mansfield-town-1742092 “The fans came out and cheered us on and then gave us a standing ovation at the end. That's what we want every week for them. “It just showed our character. We have been unlucky in recent weeks when we feel we should have come out with more than we did. “So to battle to a win today in these conditions is credit to all the lads.” He added: “With the wind and rain it was one of those games when you just have to roll your sleeves up and and be counted. “We felt like nothing was going to get past us today. I loved it and I think everyone enjoyed it - going into battle with your team mates. “The goal was a quality moment in the conditions. “I think we showed we wanted it much more than Newport today. “I love it here. I just want to work hard - I think if I do that I can't go far wrong.” ------------------- Aidan Stone @aidanstone26 Wow what a team performance Three points League debut Clean sheet Fans different class -------------------- Newport County boss admits play-offs look 'difficult' after 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town By Andrew Penman NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admitted that the League Two play-offs now look beyond his side this season after a 1-0 defeat in stormy conditions at Mansfield Town. County, who were beaten in the play-off final at Wembley last season, still have three games in hand over many teams above them in the table. But they are now down to 16th after a third defeat in four league games, 12 points off the top seven. Flynn’s men have failed to hit the net in almost seven hours of league action and have now scored just 27 goals in 31 matches. And, speaking after the final whistle at Field Mill, the Exiles boss said: “I’ve just said to the players, ‘if we put our hands on our hearts, do you think the amount of goals we’ve scored is going to get us into the play-offs?’ The honest answer is no. “Unless there is a massive turnaround or a drastic change and we go and win every game 1-0 from now on, then it’s going to be difficult. “We’ll never give up on it, we’ll always keep going, but it is looking tougher and tougher.” https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18238563.newport-county-boss-admits-play-offs-look-difficult-1-0-defeat-mansfield-town/ “The conditions were tough, but it was the same for both teams,” said Flynn. “I think we played some really good football in the first half and we’ve lost to an error. We gave them a goal and it killed us. “It’s frustrating but they’ve tried hard and I think the better team lost,” he added. “That group of players have worked their socks off for us with all the injuries. “And we brought Lewis Collins on and I thought he looked lively in spells on a difficult pitch. “So there are a lot of positives, but I’d rather we’d got the win.” Looking ahead to Wednesday’s Leasing.com Trophy semi-final against Salford City at Rodney Parade, the manager said: “There’s not much you can do over the next few days. “The boys have got to just keep believing and keep backing themselves to take the next opportunity.” ----------------------- POST MATCH - Manager Michael Flynn speaks to media following Mansfield defeat newport-county.co.uk Manager Mike Flynn felt “the better team lost” as Newport County AFC were beaten by Mansfield Town at a rain-sodden One Call Stadium. In a tough encounter in difficult conditions, due to Storm Dennis, Danny Rose’s first-half strike was enough to condemn County to defeat. Flynn was disappointed with the way the Exiles conceded but praised the attitude of his players, with many playing out of position due to injuries. “That group of players just worked their socks off for us. They’ve put in a shift,” said Flynn. “I don’t think you can ever question the commitment. https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/2020/february/mike-flynn-mansfield-town-a/ “The Cambridge game was a very poor performance but you can’t say they lacked effort. “I’ll never question their effort, they kept going to the end and that’s a good trait to have. “I thought we played some good stuff first half and we’ve gone and given them a goal. “Danny Rose gets a free shot at the edge of the box and it’s killed us. “There are a lot of positives but I would have rather had one or two more negatives and got the win.” Flynn was also pleased to see 111 supporters brave the weather to make the trip up north. “It’s easy for managers to say ‘the fans were great’ but when they’ve come up today they probably didn’t even know if the game was on because of the forecast of the storm,” he added. “I think that’s a fantastic following.” ----------------- |
Latest | February 2020