Archived News from January 2021
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CLOUGH, BOWERY AND JOHN ASKEY REACTION
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(footnote - John Askey was sacked as Port Vale manager two days later)
Manager delighted with ‘important’ win mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 2nd January 2021 ‘A great way to start the new year,’ said Mansfield boss Nigel Clough after seeing his side cruise to a 4-0 victory at home to Port Vale this afternoon. Captain Ollie Clarke opened the scoring inside the first minute of the contest, and a Jordan Bowery hat-trick sealed three points in style amidst snowy conditions in north Nottinghamshire. A red card for Valiants’ captain Leon Legge saw the Stags play the majority of the second-half against ten men, but the Stags’ manager believes his side were just as good against a full crop of Port Vale players. “Back-to-back wins in the league and a big three points is very important,” he told iFollow Stags. “The manner in which we did it, I think it’s been coming for two or three weeks. “It was nice to get the goals today, and for Jordan [Bowery] to get a hat-trick, he’ll be brimming with confidence. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/january/nigel-clough-post-port-vale/ “We said to the lads that we want quick starts in games, especially at home. We switched the midfield a bit, having George Maris in the centre, which gave Ollie Clarke a bit more freedom to roam forward with it. “They’re getting used to the formation and training was absolutely brilliant yesterday morning. They were sharp, they were bright, and I think it was a continuation from there into the game. “We’re just encouraging the lads, when you do get into that [winning] position, to go and get more goals. “I thought we played against 11 [men] as well as we did against ten. Sometimes you get a little bit sloppy against ten men, and it’s something that we mentioned to the players. “It’s absolutely brilliant [to get the first home win of the season], and to do it in January of a new year, we’re all looking forward to 2021 being a much brighter year than the previous ones, so it’s a great way to start it. “We have to get ready for Tuesday now. It’ll be a completely different challenge and prospect against Salford, so enjoy it tonight, but get ready for a battle on Tuesday.” The boss also commented on Bowery’s hat-trick, something he says is ‘brilliant’ for the striker and the team. “I think it’s great, because the only thing he needed to add to his game was goals. And he’s done that in the last few weeks. “It’s brilliant for him personally and brilliant for the team. The best thing you can do for the team is score a goal, and he’s done that five times in the last couple of weeks. “It’s great for his confidence. He’s scoring his goals from out on the left, so all-round, it’s great for him and the team.” Both sides emerged from the half-time break to see the One Call Stadium surface covered in a white blanket, following a flurry of snowfall at the interval. Despite the quick change in weather conditions, the boss says his game plan did not change for the second-half. “No [we didn’t change our game plan]. Apart from asking Mez [Michael Merriman, head groundsman] to make sure he had enough brushes ready to clear the lines! “The last thing we wanted was the game to be abandoned. The referee did well, he stopped it once and got the lines cleared. “To be fair to Port Vale, John [Askey, Port Vale manager] and his staff, they were never moaning at all about the outcome of the game or possible abandonment. So credit to them for that.” There was also an update on right-back Kellan Gordon, who missed today’s game due to injury. “He [Gordon] just felt his hamstring. He came off last week with it, and he just felt it in training this week. “Hopefully it’ll only be about a week or two, the same as Nicky [Maynard]. They’re not too far off, which is good.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Nigel Clough’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later this evening. -------------------------- Striker 'proud' after first career hat-trick mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 2nd January 2021 Striker Jordan Bowery admitted he was ‘proud’ to net his first-ever career hat-trick during Saturday’s dominant 4-0 victory against Port Vale. Despite snowy conditions approaching at One Call Stadium, skipper Ollie Clarke set Mansfield on their way with an instinctive finish inside the opening minute. And while defender Leon Legge was dismissed at the start of the second period for the visitors, Bowery took full advantage by finding the back of the net on three separate occasions. “It’s my first-ever hat-trick so I’m proud of that and hopefully I’ll get a few more,” he told iFollow Stags. “Three points, clean sheet, three goals so I’m very happy with that. “[The third] is probably the best finish of the three. It was great play by Ollie [Clarke] and the weight of pass allowed me to hit it first time with my left foot. I think it was a good finish. “It’s not very often that happens but I’ll take anything. I’m just pleased to, first of all, get three points and the home win, that’s the main thing. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/january/jordan-bowery-post-port-vale/ The hat-trick hero believes it was the best Mansfield performance of the season as they limited Port Vale to minimal chances throughout the contest. “I felt like they didn’t cause us many problems. They had that one chance where [Marek] Stech made a great save in the second-half but other than that I thought we limited them and didn’t look troubled. “Going all the way through the game I thought we were pretty comfortable. “I’d say all-round [the best performance]. We had a very good first-half against Crawley at home but of two halves I’d say this was the best one. “We gained a lot of confidence from the win [at Scunthorpe] last week and we know we’ve got to go out there and perform how we know we can. “We’ve got good players in the squad and we produced it today. Getting that win last week was a big factor in it.” And after recently moving, the No. 9 acknowledged he may have little choice in where to place his match ball this evening. “I haven’t got a clue - there’s stuff all over the place because we’ve just moved house so I don’t know. I think I’m going to cuddle it tonight,” he joked. “I’m glad I’m playing my part in the team. At the start of the season I wasn’t playing my best football, whether that was the type of football being played I don’t know, but I’m not making any excuses. “I’ll hold my hands up and say I wasn’t very good but now I feel like I’m contributing more. “I’m working hard and the gaffer [Nigel Clough] has got a lot out of us. It’s benefitting me whether I’m out wide or central I feel like I can always be a threat.” iFollow Stags can watch Jordan's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ---------------- Jordan Bowery proud of first hat-trick... but Mansfield Town striker has no idea where to put his match ball chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne, Saturday 2nd January 2021 Jordan Bowery claimed his first-ever hat-trick as Mansfield Town beat Port Vale 4-0... but the striker has no idea where he's going to keep his new prized possession. "I haven’t got a clue," smiled the striker when asked where he was going to put the match ball he was clutching during his post-match interview. "Stuff's all over the place as we've just moved house. "It's my first ever hat-trick so I'm proud of that, and I'll hopefully get a few more. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/jordan-bowery-proud-first-hat-trick-mansfield-town-striker-has-no-idea-where-put-his-match-ball-3083707 "Three points, clean sheet and three goals - I'm very happy with that." While Bowery is getting his new place in order, it was finally home sweet home for Town as they claimed their first home league win of the season at a snowy One Call Stadium. Ollie Clarke slotted the Stags in front with just 45 second played before Bowery doubled the advantage just after the half hour mark, lashing home George Maris' cross. The Valiants had Leon Legge sent off two minutes after the re-start for a second bookable offence before Bowery made it three from the spot after Harry Charsley was tripped. His third, coming in the 80th minute was the pick of the bunch, a first time left-footed drive which found the net via the post after Clarke set him free. "It's probably the better finish of the three," Bowery reflected. "Great play by Ol, great weighted pass and I just hit it first time with my left foot. "It was a good finish." The heavy snow carpeted the turf in the second half and, as the hosts were cruising, the biggest threat they faced was the game being abandoned. "It's not what you want to see, you don't know what's going to happen - if the ref will call it off," Bowery reflected, glad official Ben Toner allowed the contest to continue . "We were just praying for it to be on as we were 2-0 up (as the snow fell). "You could see their players for trying to get it called off but fair play to the ref." ------------------------- Jordan Bowery calls on Mansfield Town to attack Salford City chad.co.uk, By Duncan Browne In-form Jordan Bowery is calling on Mansfield Town to take the game to Salford City tomorrow night. The Stags got off to a lightning start in their 4-0 victory over Port Vale on Saturday, skipper Ollie Clarke netting after just 45 seconds. Bowery - who added the other three goals to claim his first career hat-trick - wants Town to put the Ammies under similar pressure at One Call Stadium. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/jordan-bowery-calls-mansfield-town-attack-salford-city-3084182 "It's a big thing in football, getting that early goal," he said. "It deflates them and gets them on the back foot. We just pushed on from there and it was a great victory. "We should be full of confidence now and going into Tuesday hoping for the win. "Salford are different opponents but we'll attack it the same way we did (against Port Vale)." Bowery - who has now scored five times in the past three games - wants to maintain his form in front of goal against Salford. He added: "I'm glad I'm playing a part in the team. "At the start of the season I wasn't playing my best football. I'll hold my hands up and say I wasn't very good, but now I feel I'm contributing more. "I'm working hard and the gaffer's got a lot out of us. It's benefitted me and I feel I can be a threat." ------------------------- 'Not my decision' - every word from John Askey after Port Vale lose 4-0 at Mansfield Every word from John Askey's post-match interview with The Sentinel and StokeonTrentLive stokesentinel.co.uk, By Michael Baggaley, 2 JAN 2021 Port Vale crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. Vale were 2-0 down at the break, then had Leon Legge sent off in the opening stages of the second half. The Stags also missed a penalty for 5-0 but their first home league win of the season never looked in doubt. Here's every word from John Askey's interview with StokeonTrentLive after the game.. https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/every-word-john-askey-after-4850406 YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GAME? It is a huge disappointment, to be a goal down withon two or three minutes… We just didn’t start. You have to compete from the first minute and we didn’t. Then you have an uphill task. The first one has come off a throw-in that shouldn’t have been a throw in. We should deal with it, and then we should deal with the throw. We haven’t. And then the second was off a corner. So you go in at half time 2-0 down, having not played particularly well. You come out in the second half having made changes and you have to try to go for it. We got good possession of the ball and somehow we contributed to lose it and Leon Legge has got himself sent off again. The lads who came on....you could see the difference they made, such as David Worrall, Cristian Montano and Tom Pope. Obviously we have been missing them like mad. But when you down to ten men there is only so much they can do. You could see a huge difference in them coming on but it was too much of an uphill battle by then. A KICK IN THE TEETH BECAUSE YOU HAD SEEN A RESPONSE FROM YOUR TEAM AT BRADFORD WITH THAT BATTLING PERFORMANCE? Yes, and then to start like we did, when we have talked about the importance of showing pride and passion for the football club, and within a minute you are down by a goal because I think we haven't done that. We haven't put our head in, tackled and organised. So it is bitterly disappointing. YOU HAVE PLAYERS (David Worrall and Cristian Montano) COMING BACK - I GUESS NOT 100 PER CENT FIT TO START - BUT DOES THAT GIVE YOU HOPE? Yes, we know when we have everybody back that we are a decent side. We have really been missing them. They haven’t trained other than 20 minutes here and there so you couldn't start them. Now they’ve had a game under their belt and another week's training, I would imagine they will be first on the team sheet. I THINK THAT’S A TWO-GAME BAN FOR LEON LEGGE. NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT EITHER BOOKING? No, none at all. I thought the first one was reckless, stupid really, there was no need to make the challenge and in the end it ended up costing us. It was debatable whether to take him off at half time and put Zak (Mills) on, but within a few minutes he had got himself sent off. But again we had good possession of the ball and have contrived to somehow give it away. INEVITABLY BECAUSE OF RESULTS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMMENT AND SPECULATION ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? There is going to be, isn’t there? It is just stating the obvious. All I can do is do my best and keep trying to push the players as much as we can. We have had a lot of things to deal with but at the end of the day it is about results. You have to get results and performances like today are just nowhere near good enough. DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE TIME TO GET RESULTS? I’ve not got a clue. It is not my decision. HAVE YOU MADE INQUIRIES FOR PLAYERS FOR THE JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW? Yes, but as I say, at the moment the only thing I am thinking about is today’s game. ---------------------- Ollie Clarke @ollieclarke29 About time (Raising hands emoji) (retweeting video of his goal) Tyrese Sinclair @ty_sinclair27 No L’s Only Lessons. But more importantly quality 4-0 win today to kick off the new year, let’s push on now ---------------- |
Latest | January 2021