Archived News from September 2018
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FLITCROFT, WHITE, JOHN SHERIDAN REACTION
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Stags' boss praises players for preserving unbeaten start mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 01 September 2018 Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has commended his players for ‘earning’ the 1-0 victory over Carlisle United which preserved Mansfield’s unbeaten start to the league campaign. Tyler Walker slotted home the only goal of the game from the spot in the 55th minute, which followed by a resolute display from the Stags to keep hold of their lead. The manager was pleased with the performance, but added that the Stags still have things to work on going forward. “[It was just] a 1-0 win. I do want more,” he said. “I do want us to improve on that aspect of the game. We’re creating chances and we’ll be up there with created chances in the league. “You have to put teams to the sword. If you get that 2-0, it breaks the soul and heart of a team. It stops them coming at you. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/september/flitcroft-post-carlisle/ “Unlike Colchester a few weeks ago, we withstood that last little bit of pressure. Any team with hope are going to keep coming at you. “We carved them open at time and I thought some of our passing was really good. That’s something that has definitely improved to get us into the last third. “We have to make our home form the key. Away from home we’ve had a few solid draws this season. We’re unbeaten. “There was potentially another penalty with Craig Davies [going down in the box]. Then there was the Tyler Walker incident when he was down with a head injury for 17 seconds. Darren Drysdale is a good referee but they [officials] have missed that. “I’m really buzzing for the fans, the chairman, Carolyn and the directors. We’ve threatened to get that win and now we’ve got it, it’s a well-earned start. “Nothing is ever given. You have to earn the right for three points. We’ve made sure we earned that victory today and it was good to watch. “Pearce, Preston and Sweeney really come together. They’re improving. Bobby’s performance was excellent in the key moments and the key saves. I’m happy with a lot that’s gone on today but again, loads to improve on. “When a team has hope they will keep on coming at you. When it’s 1-0 it feels a little cagey. Players are going to miss chances and as a support we have to support them in that moment. “The players are desperate to do well for the football club. There have been times in my tenure when we haven’t held onto leads so the boys have come through a big test today and all credit to them.” The Stags’ boss continued to praise his players after the win, which followed the narrow loss to Championship side West Brom in the week. “You can’t fluke just trying to get wins,” he added. “I was disappointed after Tuesday [West Brom], even though it was a valiant effort. We got beat and that hurt. “I look at the consistency in the team. We’re not a team that looks like we’re going to concede a lot of goals. We’re playing with and adventure and a verve to get bodies forward. But we’re really solid at the back as well. “We’ve been able to shut out teams all season, but now it’s about driving it forward and improving in the top end of the pitch. “I think there was a psychological impact drawing the game like we did against Colchester. I get it because we were so dominant in the game. “I think it’s really important that you make your home a place where people come and fear it. Carlisle have come here and really respected our work and our players, and I’ve said that to the players. “It’s our responsibility now to break down teams. Every time we exploded into movement, we looked threatening.” Striker Danny Rose made his first start of the campaign this afternoon, and the manager expressed his delight at the forward staying at Mansfield following the closure of yesterday’s loan window. “It was really good at 5pm [yesterday]. We breathed a sigh of relief at 5pm that Danny was with us. That was important. It was like signing another player. “I think now he can concentrate and focus on what he has to do and focus on football. Focus on the training ground and on the grass. “When I spoke to Danny on Wednesday or Thursday it was the admiration and the way the crowd felt about him in the games he’s come on, that’s what’s pleased me. That he still has the connection with the supporters who have been brilliant with him. “That [unconditional support] is what he’s been given. Whether it’s the chairman, whether it’s Carolyn, whether that’s the directors, our supporters, me. He’s had unconditional support. He’s come through a tough time mentally.” Lastly, the Stags’ boss looked ahead to Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy fixture against Lincoln, and hinted at possible changes to the side for the clash. "It’s too early to talk about it [team selection vs Lincoln]. We’ll have to see where the boys are. We’ve had a positive today with White coming through. We were cautious with him because I didn’t want it turning into a longer term injury. “With Matt Preston we’ve coasted him through. We’ve gone down the FA guidelines, which you have to do now for the safety of the players. “We have two excellent players back in the team with that energy that they’ve got. Hopefully if we can get to Monday afternoon with a full quota of players, I’ll be delighted. It might give us an opportunity to change it up a bit.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ----------------- Flitcroft delighted to see Mansfield Town hold out for victory chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 01 September 2018 Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft believes his players had to overcome a mental barrier today as fear of a repeat of the last home game hung over them. Stags conceded a late equaliser against Colchester last time out and, leading only 1-0 today against Carlisle, had to withstand some fearsome late pressure. But they hung on for three well-deserved points in a nervous finish, after missing a string of good chances to seal the points early. Flitcroft said: “I think there was a psychological impact from the way we ended up drawing the game with Colchester which I probably didn't realise. “It was like a morgue here in the crowd at the end of the Colchester game - and I do get it as we had been so dominant. “It is our responsibility now to break down teams and every time we explored it we looked threatening. “It was a good performance, but it can be better. It was a bit nervy towards the end, which it would not have been had we been better in key moments. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/flitcroft-delighted-to-see-mansfield-town-hold-out-for-victory-1-9330291 “But these players do want to score for the team, they want to score for the town, they want to score for each other. They are not missing chances on purpose. “We are creating good chances and if we'd scored a second we'd have put it to bed and there would probably have been no nervousness. “But I do understand it with what happened against Colchester.” He added: “There is a lot of support for these players out there for the way we are trying to do things and build this team. I thought we moved the ball about really well today.” Stags welcomed back defenders Matt Preston and Hayden White from injury and the manager said: “I was really happy to get Matt Preston and Hayden White back in the fold. They are really important players for us this season and credit to the medical staff.” In the end Stags keeper Bobby Olejnik had one crucial save to make in time added on and kept our Jerry Yates' header. “He had one save to make at the end but it was a fantastic save,” said Flitcroft. “It was strong and it was brave. He stood firm and he has had to make it at a key time. “When a League Two team has hope they'll have a gamble, throw men up, and get the ball in early. So it's imperative we as a group start improving on our work in that last third. “It's good when you look at the table. There are too many draws, but some are away draws. “We haven't got enough points on the board for the performances we've had.” ---------- Mansfield Town boss calls for free admission to early Checkatrade games to instil atmosphere chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town manager would love to see free admission to the early rounds of the Checkatrade Trophy to generate the missing atmosphere. Stags kick off their opening Checkatrade group games tomorrow night with a trip to Lincoln City (7.45pm). But Flitcroft knows it is only in the later rounds when the public respond to a much-maligned competition which he feels makes a mockery of the inclusion of the Premier League U21s sides which is supposed to give the youngsters a better feel of real competitive games played in front of a bigger crowd than they are used to. “I think it’s a good trophy,” he said. “But I wish we could somehow make the competition free to watch at this stage and get loads of kids in and loads of energy. Superfast Sky Broadband With No Usage Caps and Average Speeds of 36Mb Promoted by Sky “They put the Premier League U21 teams so people can go along and see the top teams but there are not enough people in the stadiums in the early rounds. “That’s the only thing that galls me with the competition really. Could the sponsors put that money in? Do we have to charge for it? Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-boss-calls-for-free-admission-to-early-checkatrade-games-to-instil-atmosphere-1-9332866 “It’s certainly a competition that League One and League Two clubs do take seriously because the prize is good. They have added prize money to win each round. “But at times it’s worse than a reserve game in the early rounds and if they could look at that and get a real think tank going on how to really fill a stadium, get every local school in and just flood it.” Flitcroft added: “It’s no good saying the U21 teams and the younger players are not playing in an environment and then we put them in one with no fans.” He said free admission for such games would be a big boost for hard-pressed Stags fans. “You look at our supporters with the schedule we’ve had. They had to go to Macclesfield and then West Brom and now this is another game they’ve got to pay for,” he said. “If that was looked at then I would be really happy with the competition.” Stags welcome Wolves U21s in the next game on Tuesday, 9th October before the group is completed at home to Scunthorpe on Tuesday, 13th November. Flitcroft will check on the fitness of his squad at the end of today and decide what sort of side to send out at Lincoln tomorrow. “We will assess it and see where the boys are,” he said. “If we can get through to the end of Monday with a full quota of players I will be delighted and it might give us the opportunity to just change it up a little bit.” Stags welcomed back defenders Hayden White (hamstring) and Matt Preston (concussion) from injury on Saturday and the manager must now decide if they need more football at Lincoln to catch up or whether to rest them just in case. Flitcroft said: “We were cautious with Hayden as we didn’t want to turn it into a longer term injury. So all credit to the medical department for that. “Credit to the player too as he turned in a fantastic performance on Saturday. “We coasted Matty Preston through. We had to be patient and went down the FA guidelines, which you have to do now. The safety of the player is paramount for me. We had to make sure he was right. “That is two excellent players back in the team with the energy and pace they’ve got.” -------------------- Keeping Rose is like making a new signing says relieved Mansfield Town boss Flitcroft chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft described keeping striker Danny Rose this week as like making a new signing. The Stags had been on tenterhooks as last season’s top scorer Rose, on the transfer list at his own request, could have been snapped up until the loan window closed at 5pm on Friday. Instead, the only movement was in as Derby County midfielder Timi Elsnick came in on loan for the rest of the season. Rose had seen a proposed move to Peterborough United fall through and manager David Flitcroft now hopes to see Rose get back to his best for the Stags, who remain unbeaten in League Two after Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Carlisle United. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/keeping-rose-is-like-making-a-new-signing-says-relieved-mansfield-town-boss-flitcroft-1-9332859 “When the window closed at 5pm it was almost like we’d signed a new player,” smiled Flitcroft. “His form has not been what I’ve wanted it to be in my tenure here. “But now I think when all the background noise has gone away, he can knuckle down and start being a Mansfield Town player that represents the town like he did before I came in. “I am looking forward to working on and building that relationship and us improving the top end of the pitch.” Rose worked hard but missed a hat-trick of chances against Carlisle. “Danny just lacked a little bit of sharpness on Saturday,” said Flitcroft. “He came on for that 30 minutes at West Brom in midweek and he looked sharp there. But the game had died off a bit by then. “When he gets that sharpness, the chances he had against Carlisle, he will finish them. “But there was an endeavour and an honesty there. “What I’ve loved is the connection he’s had back with the fans. “He’s come though a tough period and the fans have stayed with him and supported him unconditionally.” ------------------ David Flitcroft told BBC Radio Nottingham after the Carlisle game: "Half an hour of the Macclesfield game, I wasn't happy with it." -------------------- Defender in high spirits after hard-earned victory mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 01 September 2018 Stags' right wing-back Hayden White boasted high spirits after his side earned a clean sheet, coupled with three points, on his return to the Mansfield Town starting line-up. Missing the previous two games because of a tight hamstring, the 23-year-old was brought back into the fold by manager David Flitcroft for this afternoon’s Sky Bet League Two clash. He was part of a back-line that helped secure a 1-0 victory over Carlisle United and stated that he feels good after an unfamiliar fortnight following the birth of his first child. “I’m feeling good, really good; obviously I had a few issues at home last week and sleeping in a hospital bed isn’t the best thing for a footballer but no, I’m feeling good today,” he said in a joking manner. “They’re all good issues. She [the baby] is fit and healthy. The missus is the one that’s been getting up in the middle of the night so there hasn’t been too many disturbances on my part! https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/september/white-post-carlisle/ “It’s been good in all seriousness - the gaffer, staff and players have supported me all the way so I’m very grateful for that.” The Stags’ No. 2 produced a display that, alongside the rest of his teammates, merited more than the solitary goal they were able to muster. He recognised that his side have drawn more games than they probably should have so far this campaign, but this didn’t hinder the 23-year-old’s post-match morale. He continued by saying: “We just said in the dressing room there that it could have been five, six, seven and another day maybe three or four but the win’s the most important thing. “We’ve been playing well since the start of the season knowing we needed to turn draws into wins and I’m just happy we were able to do that today. “Obviously the clean sheet and the attacking play were fantastic. I think everyone that played and is going to play throughout the season knows exactly what they’re doing. “A few weeks ago we saw that it can go the other way so it was really nice to not see it go that way [earning a draw] but it’s not a shock to see how well we’re defending because that’s how we’re training. When it comes through in games it’s nice.” White rounded-off by looking ahead to the Stags’ next fixture - where they face Lincoln City at Sincil Bank in the Checkatrade trophy. “Every competition we’re in we want to win, and every game that comes out way we want to win as well, and I know the gaffer thinks the same so another game another opportunity to win. “It’s still early days and the boys are doing well, we’re training hard and playing well so I can only see as the season progresses that we’ll only get better.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Hayden's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------ White swaps nappies for three points as he returns to Mansfield Town fold chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 01 September 2018 Hayden White was delighted to get back into the Mansfield Town side today and help them finally chalk up a win after four draws in a row. After a tiring two weeks which included the birth of his daughter and a problem with a tight hamstring, he returned to play a key role in today's 1-0 home win over in-form Carlisle United that maintained Stags' unbeaten start to the League Two campaign. “We have been playing well since the start of the season but we knew we needed to start turning draws into wins. So I am just happy we were able to do that today,” he smiled. Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/white-swaps-nappies-for-three-points-as-he-returns-to-mansfield-town-fold-1-9330341 “It could have been five, six, seven today. On another day we won't have that many chances and we'll score three or four. But the win is the most important thing.” Once again Stags came under late pressure but, unlike the last home game, saw it out for a priceless clean sheet. “Last time here we saw it can go the other way it was really nice to see it go our way,” he said. “But it's not a shock to see how well we're defending as that's how we are training. “It's still early days. We are playing really well and as the season progresses we can only get better.” White said the arrival of his daughter' was not affecting him too much at the moment. “I'm feeling really good,” he said. “Obviously I had a few issues at home last week - all good issues - and sleeping on hospital beds isn't the best thing for a footballer. But I felt good today. “The missus has been the one getting up in the night so I've not been too disturbed. “It's been good and the gaffer and staff have supported me all the way through it which I am very grateful for.” ------- chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 01 September 2018 Carlisle boss John Sheridan, meanwhile, was disappointed his side left it late to start showing any urgency in today's 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town. The Cumbrians had won their last three games but were lucky to still be in it as Stags created chance after chance. In the end it took a stoppage time save from Bobby Olejnik to deny Jerry Yates an equaliser and Sheridan said: “We started showing urgency with 10-15 minutes to go and caused them problems - and Jerry should have scored. “Balls were going in and bouncing round the box and that was because we were playing on the front foot more. “We should not have to wait 70 minutes for that. You can't afford to do that. “I just felt we were a bit off our game if I am being honest. I think if we'd got anything out of that game we would have been fortunate as they had some good chances. “We are our own worst enemy. We came into the game fourth in the league and came here in a bit of form and I just expected more from us.” He continued: “I thought we did okay in the first half but we weren't really at it today. We made life hard for ourselves. “At this level of football you just don't know who is going to turn up and I think one or two of our lads were not really on their game. “Leading up to the goal there were bad decisions from us, whether it was a penalty or not I don't know. I couldn't see form where I was but the lads say it wasn't.” Referee Darren Drysdale angered both sides with his display and Sheridan snapped: “The referee never had his whistle out his mouth all day. “It's grown men's football. Every time someone touches someone it's a free kick all the time. “I can't stand it. It drives me up the wall and, to me, it spoils the game.” Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/flitcroft-delighted-to-see-mansfield-town-hold-out-for-victory-1-9330291 ------------------- MANAGER: We're disappointed because we wanted to keep the run going https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2018/september/sheridaninterview2sep18/ by Andy Hall United boss John Sheridan gave us his reaction to the away defeat at Mansfield shortly after full-time on Saturday afternoon. “It was a tough game for us, but I knew it would be that way,” he said. “They’re a good team but, with the form we’re in, I came here expecting us to put up a much better show. “I just felt that too many of our players were off their game, if I’m going to be honest. We’re our own worst enemy because this was an opportunity, with being fourth in the league, to continue our good form. “When you have these opportunities to stay up there and keep things going you have to take them, but this is what you get at this level. A win would have put us in the top three, we didn’t get it, and as much as it frustrates me I have to accept that this type of performance will come along every now and then.” “I changed the system, and what was a winning team from last week, and we did well in the first half,” he continued. “The team has been easy to pick, because we’ve been winning games, but we still find ways to make things very hard for ourselves. “Going into half time I was comfortable with what I’d seen. We’d nullified them for the most part and there was no r eal danger in their approach play. Having said that, it doesn’t excuse us from the fact we should have done better. “The only bit of urgency I saw throughout the game was through the last 10 or 15 minutes where we started to cause them problems. We shouldn’t be waiting for 70 minutes for us to start performing. The desire and urgency that was lacking should be there from the start.” On the overall performance, he said: “I expect a lot more from them, and I felt that too many of them were off their game. I’ve just got to take it on the chin and make sure we move on. It’s about how we react now. “Unfortunately we give away too many silly little free kicks at bad times and we lose the chance to build our own forward play and momentum. Like I say, too many of our players just weren’t at it. They’ve been playing well of late but when you have four or five of them not performing it causes you problems. “This is what you get at this level. I haven’t had a go at them because they know they can be better. What I’m looking for now is a reaction from them. I’m not looking for excuses, it’s a game we lost and we have to deal with it.” One of the main talking points from the game was the penalty decision, early in the second half, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides on the day. “There were errors leading up to their goal, which was disappointing, and I don’t know if it was a penalty or not, I was too far away,” he told us. “It doesn’t surprise me that it was given because the referee had his whistle in his mouth all game. “Every time someone touched someone else he thought it was a free kick. That really frustrates me because it’s a grown man’s game and there’s going to be contact. It was ridiculous how many free kicks he gave and how many times he stopped the game. “I think it was Jamie Devitt who brought him down and he says it was never a penalty. The other lads are saying the same, but they do say that. It’s been and gone so it’s not really worth talking about.” “If you look before it was given, there were some bad decisions from us in the lead up to the goal,” he added. “With the quality of the players we have here we should be making the right decisions more. “I do get frustrated by it, but that’s why I have to keep my head together. It’s the second division we’re in, not the Premier League. I’ll keep reminding them what we want and that the good players are the ones who do the easy things well most of the time.” United’s best chance of the day came deep into time added on when Jerry Yates arrived at the back post to thunder a Gerrard cross at the target. “We could have sneaked a draw at the end,” he agreed. “Mansfield had some good chances, and we were chasing the game a little bit at times, but Jerry should probably have scored. There were one or two balls from us pinging around the box and some half chances. “I’d have taken it, but I think we’d have been fortunate had we got it. We’re disappointed because we’ve had a half decent start to the season. We were after three points from this game as well, but it just wasn’t to be.” ----------------- I won't make excuses for our Stags setback, says Carlisle Utd's John Sheridan Boss admits too many players were below-par against Mansfield in Blues' first league defeat in five http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/carlisle-utd/latest/article/I-wont-make-excuses-for-our-Stags-setback-says-Carlisle-Utds-John-Sheridan-f569b194-ab23-475b-adce-07998a32f0a5-ds John Sheridan said he could make no excuses for the loss of Carlisle United’s winning run at Mansfield. The Blues were below-par as they suffered their first League Two defeat since the opening day. Tyler Walker’s controversial penalty settled the game but the hosts blew several chances to enhance their 1-0 victory. United boss Sheridan admitted too many of his players were below par and he is now seeking a reaction. “I’m not looking for excuses,” he said. “We would have been fortunate to get something out of the game. “I just felt we didn’t get going. We lacked that urgency and bit of desire to our game, which I haven’t said before this season. “It’s that belief - do you want to go and get the win? “We would have been in the top three with a win, but it wasn’t to be. It’s League Two, not the Premiership, and you have to accept these performances. There will be plenty more along the way.” Saturday’s setback was also the first time United have failed to score under Sheridan, Jerry Yates having their best chance saved by home keeper Bobby Olejnik at the death. Keeper Adam Collin made several good saves on his first start of the campaign, while Macaulay Gillesphey and George Glendon were also recalled by the Carlisle boss. Sheridan added: “I changed a system, changed a winning team, and other than a few [Mansfield] corners I was happy with the way we played in the first half. “But we weren’t really at it [overall]. They had some good chances but we were our own worst enemy. “I wanted a bit more from us, a bit of belief. Unfortunately at this level of football you don’t know who’s going to turn up. “It wasn’t until the last 10-15 minutes when we started showing some urgency and causing them some problems, and we should have got a goal. “I shouldn’t have to wait to 70 minutes for that. When you get into a decent position, don’t let it go as easily as it did. There were so many silly free-kicks and I’ve never seen so many balls going back to the keeper. “But we’ll take it. I’m not too hard on them, because it’s been a decent start so far, but I want more.” Sheridan insisted he did not get a clear view of the game’s crucial moment, when ref Darren Drysdale penalised Jamie Devitt for a challenge on CJ Hamilton. That enabled Walker to score the winner from the spot. United’s players were adamant it was a soft decision, with footage of the incident appearing to support their complaints. Sheridan was critical about the ref’s display in general, saying: “He’s never got his whistle out of his mouth all day. “It’s grown men’s football. Every time someone touches someone it was a free kick. I cant stand it, honestly. It drives me up the wall. For me it spoils the game.” Sheridan confirmed he would make changes for tomorrow’s Checkatrade Trophy game against Morecambe. The manager’s No2, Tommy Wright, was in the dugout as normal a day after it was revealed he is facing two charges of accepting bribes. He will appear before Westminster magistrates on September 24. ------------------------- Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc HE'S BACK: @dannyrose_32 made his first league start of the season today Danny Rose @dannyrose_32 Good to be back Neal Bishop @NealBish 3 points and clean sheet, happy Saturday!!!! ------- |
Latest | September 2018