Archived News from November 2020
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CLOUGH PREVIEWS HARROGATE GAME
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Boss outlines ‘positive’ attitude to midweek fixture
mansfieldtown.net Mansfield boss Nigel Clough says the Stags will be ‘as positive as we can’ in tomorrow night’s home match against Harrogate Town, as the amber and blue look to make it seven matches unbeaten in all competitions. The manager spoke to iFollow Stags and the local media at The RH Academy on Monday morning, ahead of Tuesday evening’s fixture against the Sky Bet League Two newcomers. The boss drew parallels between his former club, Burton, and Tuesday evening’s opponents, who earned their Football League status for the first time via the National League play-offs last term. Nigel Clough also previewed the upcoming fixture between the Stags and Harrogate. “They [Harrogate] are a similar size of club [to Burton] and I think it’s brilliant for the Football League to have this fresh blood coming in,” he told iFollow Stags. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/november/nigel-clough-pre-harrogate/ “[Teams] getting into the League for the first time is wonderful for football. They had an incredible start [to the season], but I think things are naturally levelling off for them now. “To get up those leagues and steadily build, it’s lovely to see. They’re very competitive [this season]. “I think they’ve dipped a little in the last week or two, but that’s inevitable - everyone in the league will have those sorts of dips. “They’re very competitive and very strong on set plays. They bring a good aerial threat and that’s something we’ll have to deal with. “We’ll be as positive as we can. We’re at home, so we’ll try to take the game to Harrogate and create as many chances as we can. “Hopefully we can keep a clean sheet, [make] no mistakes, and take our chances.” Reflecting on Friday evening’s 1-1 draw against promotion hopefuls Colchester United, the boss says that although the Stags are ‘slowly improving,’ he believes more could have been made of the ‘situations’ his side created in the match. “We got within five or ten minutes of beating another top six side. We showed solidity at the back to restrict Colchester to very few chances. “The fact that we contributed to conceding the goal, it’s easy to put your finger on why we didn’t get the three points. “I thought we could have done a little more to get that second goal, but I thought we had situations and opportunities [to do that]. “I think we’re slowly improving, but it’s going to be a long job. You see the likes of Forest Green and Colchester, and how comfortable they are in possession, they’re better on the ball than we are at the moment - but we’ll improve.” There was also an injury update from the boss, who revealed the Stags will have just two absentees for Tuesday’s clash with Harrogate. “Everyone else [aside from George Maris and Joe Riley] made it through Friday night, so it should be about the same squad [for the Harrogate match].” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Nigel Clough’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------ Nigel Clough knows Mansfield Town must keep improving chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Monday 23rd November 2020 Nigel Clough believes the wins will come if Mansfield Town cut out the mistakes at the back. Stags face Harrogate Town on Tuesday night in search of their first home win of the campaign. And, although Clough is pleased with the side’s six-game unbeaten run, he knows things need to still improve. “We have got to improve, we know that,” he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-clough-knows-mansfield-town-must-keep-improving-3044322 “We are contributing to the goals we are conceding. We have to have the solidity at the hack, and I thought we had that for most of the game against Colchester. Mansfield Town will host Harrogate 'high on confidence' - Nicky Maynard “We need to cut out the small mistakes and then we will win games. “It is a team thing, it is an individual thing and it’s concentration. “We didn’t make a mistake against Sunderland and we kept a clean sheet. “You need luck as well. Some teams will create chances and take them, while others won’t take the chances. “We need to keep the ball better, especially higher up the pitch in the final 10 minutes. “We have seen in the last two games, against two top-six sides, how well they kept the ball and that is something we need to improve. “There are plenty of positives from Friday. We created enough chances to win the game and we just need to get that second goal.” Harrogate Town began the season in convincing fashion but have since slid down the table. The Yorkshireman have not won in the league since their 2-1 win at Grimsby Town on 20th October. But Clough still expects a tough game and knows his side need to be on it. “They came into the league firing and now it’s levelled off,” he said. “Their achievements over the last two seasons have been incredible and they will be a tough opposition. “They are strong on set pieces and we need to be strong at defending them. “You see how hard it is for ex League clubs to get back into the Football League. It is great to have clubs in the Football League for the first time.” ----------------------- Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town: Nailing the basics key to ending winless run, says Simon Weaver harrogateadvertiser.co.uk, By Rhys Howell Nailing the basics will be key to Harrogate Town's chances of making a return to winning ways when they visit Mansfield tonight, according to Simon Weaver. The Sulphurites boss is set to take his place back in the dug-out at Field Mill after missing his team's last two games while in self-isolation due to a positive Covid-19 test. And, having seen Town plummet from fourth down to 14th in the League Two standings as a result of them collecting just two points from the last 18 on offer, Weaver isn't looking to over-complicate things as he looks to mastermind a first victory in seven. "For large parts of the game on Saturday [at Leyton Orient] we played some really nice football, but we've just got to nail the basics now at both ends of the pitch and get back on track," he said. https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-v-harrogate-town-nailing-basics-key-ending-winless-run-says-simon-weaver-3045447 "Let's fight and scrap and snarl if we have to to get a scruffy win. "And, before we complicate it and try and be overly idealistic with our game-plan, let's make sure that we win the battle, earn the territory and make it hard for them, because with our energetic characters, we can make life difficult for anybody. "It isn't all doom and gloom. When you look at the quality and pedigree in squads like Mansfield's you think, 'actually, on balance we are doing alright.' "We're mid-table, we're competing well, we've got some good results in the bag, we don't need to complicate anything we just need to work hard and be a bit more ruthless in the final third - that more than anything." Mansfield come into the game 21st in the table, but are unbeaten in six matches in all competitions and have won four on the bounce since Nigel Clough replaced Graham Coughlan as manager earlier this month. "He's a touch of class is Nigel Clough. He's always done well since he started out at Burton Albion," Weaver added. "Mansfield are a completely different set up from ours and to be honest probably had a different set of ambitions from us at the start of the season. "We expect them to be organised. It's going to be a battle, without a doubt." Centre-half Will Smith remains Town's only serious injury concern with a hamstring issue which is expected to keep him out until January, but Weaver has confirmed that he plans to make some changes to the starting XI which lost out 3-0 to Orient at the weekend. And, with his goal-shy side having scored just twice in their last five league matches, it is in the attacking third where he is looking to freshen things up. "I don't think there needs to be wholesale changes because if you keep changing lots of areas and playing lots of different systems then you never know which variable really works," he said. "I think there's one or two changes, but we're just looking for people in attacking areas to grab the game. This is the attacking third of the pitch we have to concentrate on, so yes, there's an opportunity for a couple to come in and play their part now, but they've got to grab it. "In terms of the creative side, we need to show more spark.We're not missing much, but we have to supply the bullets, make sure that we find the target, make their keeper work and better still, score goals." Town's clash with Mansfield kicks-off at 7pm. ---------------------- |
Latest | November 2020