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Archived News from April 2012

COX, DYER, NAS BASHIR REACTION
23rd April 2012 14:46




post match interviews with Paul Cox and Ross Dyer, from Mansfield 103.2

http://soundcloud.com/mansfield-103-2-sport


Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17643067

"I think performance-wise, we were very, very below par today. It was a difficult game, psychologically, coming into it we looked to get just over the finishing line.

"Sometimes psychologically has an impact on us and today we looked well below what we can do.

"Give credit to this group of players. Throughout the season they've re-invented themselves, they've worked extremely hard and they've deserved the results they've got."

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Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox celebrates clinching play-off spot Paul Cox
chad.co.uk

PAUL Cox paid tribute to his players tonight as Mansfield Town finally clinched a spot in the BSBP play-offs with a 3-1 win at struggling Hayes and Yeading.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/mansfield-town-boss-paul-cox-celebrates-clinching-play-off-spot-1-4449040

“We were not at our best today by a country mile but I am chuffed for the players as they have worked hard all season,” he said.

“It was a strange game and a strange atmosphere and we have crept over the line today really.

“We were not at our best by any stretch of the imagination but they have done the job and that's all I asked them to do. Credit to them they've been on a hell of a run.

“We knew Hayes would be dangerous and in the first half I was a bit disappointed with our finishing. The game could have been put to bed. Then we got done by a sucker punch.

“There wasn't a lot in it in the second half, but we put our chances away. I am just happy to mathematically be in the play-offs.

“Now we can start the mental side for what is needed to be successful.

“Credit to Hayes, they threw everything at us and there was some hesitancy in the box at times which we need to eradicate.

“If I am going to be totally ruthless we need to improve our performances on today. We were very sloppy all over the pitch.”

Cox said he didn't care who Stags faced in the semi-finals, saying: “The play-offs are a lottery. The scenario is we have to beat someone over two legs and then win a one-off game at Wembley.

“As long as we give a good account of ourselves and play to what we can play, we will give anyone a game. “Sometimes you also need Lady Luck over a 90 minute period.”

Ross Dyer grabbed a peach of a goal that put Stags 2-1 up and said: “It just came to me in the box, I swivelled and hit it on the half-volley with my left foot. It was a nice one to score to be honest.

“We have now confirmed our play-off place so it's been a good day all round. It was bouncing in the dressing room afterwards.

“Now we don't fear anyone, whoever we play we will take it by the scruff of its neck and do well.”

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Stags boss Cox can now look ahead to the play-offs
Nottingham Post

MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox warned his team the hard work starts now after they secured their play-off position with a 3-1 win at Hayes and Yeading.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15828908-detail/story.html

Matt Green scored his 28th goal of the season and set up another as Town made sure that they will have the chance to return to the Football League for the first time since their 2008 relegation.

Anthony Howell hit an early opener and Ross Dyer also got on the score sheet for the Stags, while Piero Mingoia scored a first-half leveller for the home side who are four points from safety.

And despite some rocky moments at the Kingfield Stadium, Cox admitted the nature of the performance didn't worry him – he only has eyes for the play-offs.

"We've just crept over the line. I don't think we were at our best by any stretch of the imagination but we've done the job and that's all I wanted," he said.

"We just wanted to get over that line and the hard work starts now. I'm really chuffed with the players because they've worked so hard all season.

"We can start trying to prepare for the play-offs now."

The Stags looked out of sorts for much of the game until Dyer's strike restored their advantage and Cox admitted the play-offs had caused his side to take their eye off the ball.

"It was a difficult game, psychologically. Coming into it, we looked to just get over the finishing line," he added.

"We looked well below what we can do. It wasn't the best performance by a country mile but we got the result."

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Boss admits United face struggle to survive after Mansfield loss
By Matt Lewis
http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-sport/hayesandyeading/2012/04/14/boss-admits-united-face-struggle-to-survive-after-mansfield-loss-113046-30760917/

HAYES & YEADING boss Nas Bashir admits the games are coming thick and fast as the clock ticks on his side's fight for survival.

Bashir watched his troops slip to their second successive defeat to Mansfield this afternoon as United remain in the Blue Square Premier drop zone.

Piero Mingoia cancelled out Anthony Howell's opener before second-half strikes from Ross Dyer and Matt Green secured victory for the Stags.

The United manager acknowledged his side were defeated by a strong Mansfield team who are hoping for promotion this season and has told his side to bounce back from the result.

He said: The games are coming thick and fast now. I thought we gave it a good go and we've got to give credit to them - they're a big, strong, organised side and it's no fluke that they're third in the table.

"We came out of the blocks too slow today and allowed them to get an early start, gifting them the first goal, but we got ourselves back in it. The pitch doesn't help but I'm not using that as an excuse.

“For 20 minutes at the start of the second-half we came out and I thought we were going to take the game to them. We had one or two half chances and the second-goal killed us, which it often does in games because they get the momentum.

"The third goal was disastrous, it went from one end of the pitch to the other and it was a very poor defensive goal to give away."

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Hayes boss Nas Bashir told the NLP: "We are where we are and there's no getting away from that. It's out of our hands now.
I thought we were in it for long periods but the referee has made some bad calls at important times and he's allowed himself to be bullied by the Mansfield players."

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