Archived News from April 2012
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COX, GREEN, DYER, RHEAD, LIAM DAISH REACTION
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video interview with Paul Cox and Matt Rhead http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2708002,00.html post match interview with Paul Cox and Ross Dyer http://soundcloud.com/mansfield-103-2-sport/ post match interviews with Paul Cox and Liam Daish from BBC local radio http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17496985 VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I thought at one stage it looked like it had 0-0 written all over it. "We didn't seem to have a lot of energy today - we played a good side that were well organised and hard to break down. "But we kept plugging away and I think it's all credit to the players. They don't believe the game's over until we've scored and we've won now." Ebbsfleet United boss Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent: "I couldn't criticise the players for how they worked. I thought we were unlucky against a side pushing for play-off places. "To win away at somewhere like Mansfield, you've got to work hard, which we did. "You've got to make use of really good situations because they're going to be quite rare but we didn't quite do that. "We got in some great positions with the ball but we were wasteful with our decision making. "If we carry our performance today away to Forest Green then I'll be confident we'll get something." ----------------- Stags boss Paul Cox praises fans after vital 1-0 Ebbsfleet win Paul Cox chad.co.uk STAGS boss Paul Cox was relieved to see his Mansfield side grind out a crucial late 1-0 home win over resilient Ebbsfleet at Field Mill today to open a seven-point gap from sixth-placed Luton Town. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-boss-paul-cox-praises-fans-after-vital-1-0-ebbsfleet-win-1-4407766 Matt Green's 82nd minute strike saw them end a busy March with six wins and a draw from eight games and place one foot firmly in the promotion play-offs. "I was delighted with the result but not the performance as I thought we looked lethargic from the first minute to the last," said Cox. "It's been a tough month and we only played at 70-75 per cent of what we are capable of, so hats off to the lads, they kept pushing and got the win. "Credit to Ebbsfleet. They are an awkward side to play against - big, structured, well-organised and hard to break down. It was a real grueller. "At one time I thought it had 0-0 written all over it. We had a lot of territorial advantage but didn't have that spark in the last third where we looked fearful at times. "I tried to change things round a bit and it came up trumps. "The most pleasing thing was how we stayed patient and took our chance when it came. "Matt Green got us a goal out of nothing again. He is a lovely lad to work with and is writing his own story and winning us games. He is getting better and better and I think there is more to come from him still. "I thought Exodus (Geohaghon) and (Martin) Riley were rocks at the back for us today and defended well against an awkward side to play against. "Results today have gone for us but I am still planning for this chance to go right to the last game of the season." He added: "Credit again to our supporters. When it 0-0 near the end they could have got anxious and turned which would have spilled onto the pitch and made the lads anxious. Instead they rallied when we needed them most again. "It has been a tough month but a good one. Now we will give the lads a couple of days off and start preparing them for Kettering next Saturday which again is now our biggest game of the season. ------------------ Patience was key to vital Stags win, says boss Paul Cox Nottingham Post PAUL Cox believes patience was the key for his side as they had to wait until the 82nd minute for the winning goal against Ebbsfleet United. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15694000-detail/story.html The Stags boss admitted he feared two points may be dropped by his side as they try to gain a place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs. But Matt Green's late strike meant that would not be the case. Cox said: "We had to be patient and take our chance when it came along. It looked like it was going to end 0-0. We didn't have much energy. Ebbsfleet were well organised." Cox said his team's performance left much to be desired, believing they may have been feeling the effects of the loss at Fleetwood seven days earlier and a month in which they played eight games, winning six of them. He said: "I'm delighted with the result. It was not a great performance. We were lethargic from the first minute to the last. We had a lot of possession but didn't show enough quality in the final third. "We had some stern words at half-time. Maybe it was an effect of the Fleetwood match last week. We can play much better than we did. "But this is the end of a massive month for us, in which we have had some tough games. It is a credit to the lads they came out on top. Three points is all that matters." Cox has now singled out Saturday's clash at lowly Kettering as the biggest of the season. He hopes for an improved display there and in the following four matches to secure a play-off place and a chance to appear at Wembley again. He said: "We have to raise the bar again. Kettering is now our biggest game of the season. "The players are working extremely hard. You have to take your hats off to them." Cox reserved special praise for match winner Green, whose all-round display was impressive. He added: "It was a great performance from him. He took the goal very well." ------------------ Match-winner Green eyes 30-goal tally for Mansfield Town Nottingham Post MANSFIELD Town hero Matt Green is targeting the 30-goals mark after his match-winning effort against Ebbsfleet United at Field Mill. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15694001-detail/story.html It was Green's 27th goal of the season, making him comfortably the club's leading scorer. After the 1-0 win, he said: "I haven't really set targets but it would be nice to pass 30." Green's strike came in the 82nd minute, just when it seemed the Stags would have to settle for a draw. He said: "I got a yard of space and got a clean strike to find the bottom corner. It was an instinctive strike. "It was important we got the three points. I don't think we got going 100 per cent, but it shows what form we are in by not playing to our best but getting the win." It was Stags' eighth win in their last ten outings. They remain third in the Blue Square Premier, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Luton who have played two games less. Green believes they have what it takes to seal their play-off spot and a shot at a return to Wembley and possibly to the Football League. The first of five remaining league games is at lowly Kettering on Saturday. Green said: "It is a long season but we have got to see it through. We have got to pull together. Everyone believes we can do it." --------------------- 'We need to see it through', says matchwinner Green chad.co.uk MANSFIELD Town matchwinner Matt Green, whose goal was enough to clinch a vital 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet, said: “The goal was more instinct than anything else. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/we-need-to-see-it-through-says-matchwinner-green-1-4407767 “I am just happy we got the three points. We have a belief in the squad that we are going to get chances and whoever it falls to has got to be able to put it away. I think we have enough quality in this team to do that. “It would be nice to get past 30 goals but I haven't set a target. Winning is the most important thing. “It's been a long old season, but we need to see it through. I have had two promotions out of this league and I know what it's about. “We will continue to do everything to the best of our ability and everyone believes we have a good chance of doing something this season.” “We played well today away to a side pushing for the play-offs and I can't really criticise the lads,” said Fleet boss Liam Daish. “It is a difficult place to come and I am quite proud of them. When you come to somewhere like this you need certain things to go your way and today they didn't. “To win away somewhere like Mansfield you have to work very hard, which we did, and make use of situations if they come your way, which we didn't and I thought we were wasteful at times in great areas. “You also need a bit of luck and a referee who is going to referee the game as two sides equal and he didn't do that today. I am only being honest and even the Mansfield fans and manager would agree with that. “I couldn't ask any more from them though, and I think we deserved something out the game. “You have to make the most of your possession in good areas and I can't blame the referee for that. That is down to players taking responsibility and showing composure.” ----------------------- twitter.com/Mazza_78 Alan Marriott Great result from the boys! Glad I had bugger all to do having 2nd degree burn on my hand from earlier in week! Hand and kettle is not good! ----------------------- |
Latest | April 2012