Archived News from March 2021
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CLOUGH ON JASON LAW AND PREVIEWS BRADFORD
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Young attacker has earned his place - boss
mansfieldtown.net, Monday 1 March 2021 Manager Nigel Clough says Jason Law earned his recent first team appearances by showing a continual improvement since the Stags’ boss joined the club. Law (below), 21, made his league debut for the amber and blue at home to Cambridge, and has gone on to start successive fixtures since. The boss says that club staff will ‘assess’ Law over the ‘next few months,’ to see if the versatile forward has a part to play in the 2021/22 campaign. “He [Law] has just got better,” Nigel Clough told iFollow Stags. “When we first came in, we didn’t see an awful lot of him because we were concentrating on the first team lads, which he wasn’t really a part of. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/march/young-attacker-has-earned-his-place---boss/ “We played him at Scunthorpe in the Papa John’s Trophy and he did well. A couple of people mentioned to us that he’s neat and tidy and won’t give the ball away. “Training with the first team as he has done every day, he’s just gradually grown in confidence. I think he’s improving. “We want to assess him in the next few months to see if he can play a part for us next season.” "We put him in there [wide right position] because Harry was absolutely desperate for a rest, he has ran himself into the ground in the last few months, and it came to a head at Harrogare where he looked dead on his feet. Inevitable that a player like that will need a breather. "We thought it would be a good partnership between him and Kellan because when you have such an attacking full-back as Kellan you want more of a midfield player than a winger who will then allow Kellan to get forward and he can feed him. "At the moment we think Tyrese Sinclair is probably a little bit better coming on and having an impact. Looking ahead to the final few months of the season, the boss says that - as well as achieving safety - he wants his squad to develop a ‘pattern of play’ ahead of next term. “[We’re taking the season] very much on a game-by-game [basis]. We want to get safe, that’s still the bottom line, but that can be in several ways. You finish in the top half of the league and you’re safe. “We want to get as many points as we can, but we must also have an eye on next season as well. I think we’re good enough to stay up this season, I have no doubt about that. “We don’t want to get dragged into any silly relegation fight, but we also want to have a look at things for next season. “We want to have a look at players like Jason Law and maybe one or two others. “It’s about establishing a pattern or method of play over the next three months, as well as winning games.” The Stags are next in action on Tuesday night, against the in-form Bradford. The boss previewed the fixture, along with speaking of strikers Andy Cook - on loan at Bradford - and Nicky Maynard, who was loaned out to Newport in January. “They [Bradford] are in a good run of form at the moment. I know Cooky [Andy Cook] has certainly helped that and got them a couple of goals. So we’re pleased he won’t be playing against us! “Everything has sort of gelled and come together in the last couple of months [for Bradford]. They’ll be as confident a team as we’ll face this season. “We’re pleased for him [Cook]. He wanted to go and play games and Nicky [Maynard] was the same. If we were being ultra-selfish, we could’ve kept them for the odd ten minutes here or there. “But games like Saturday [against Morecambe], we didn’t put a sub on until the 92nd minute. Maybe him and Nicky would’ve been sitting there disappointed that they didn’t get any game time. “It was best all round, especially for the lads, as they’re too experienced to be sitting on someone’s bench. “We haven’t made decisions on either of them. Nicky’s contract is up [at the end of the season] but I believe we have an option [to extend] on Cooky. So that’s a conversation we’ll be having in the next few weeks. “They’re both good lads and it’s about being fair to them as much as anything. We’ve put our faith in Reidy [Jamie Reid] for now, he's a fit lad, so barring injury he’s going to play the majority of the games from now until the end of the season.” Mansfield returned to winning ways on Saturday, with their 1-0 victory over Morecambe. Nigel Clough discussed the win, further praising the resolute defensive performance from his side. “We were a little more solid and didn’t make any mistakes [against Morecambe]. Everyone did their jobs throughout the team,” added the boss. “Having conceded the goals that we have, we’re entitled to improve [defensively] because that should hurt their pride. It hurts all of us when we’re conceding goals. “Some of them [goals conceded in the last few games] we couldn’t do anything about. But we certainly should be defending better for some of the goals we conceded.” There was also an injury update from the boss ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Bradford. “One or two knocks. Stephen Quinn [has a] back and groin [problem] from Saturday. Picking one of his kids up on Friday he's tweaked his back, believe it or not. “Jason Law [has a] groin [issue] alongside one or two knocks and niggles. It might well be the same squad [from Morecambe for Bradford]. “Laps [George Lapslie] won’t make it and Stephen McLaughlin is doubtful. Oli Sarkic is probably the closest of the three [short-term absentees]. “When it’s Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday it [injuries] is inevitable. There is very little recovery time and very little time to do things.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow. ------------------------- Mansfield Town facing tough test at in-form Bradford City chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Monday 1st March 2021 Nigel Clough expects Stags to face a Bradford City side full of confidence tomorrow night. The Bantams have soared up the League Two table after winning nine of their last 12 matches since new bosses Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars took charge. “They are the form team in the league right now,” said Clough. “It's a staggering run they are on since changing manager. “They had a good win at Walsall on Saturday and they will be confident. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-facing-tough-test-at-in-form-bradford-city-3150774 “You never really know how the games will go. You can have ideas of how you think it will pan out but it very rarely goes that way. “Bradford are a very strong team at home and have got some very good players. It will be all about how we start the game and deal with them.” Clough hopes Stags can build on the impressive weekend win over Morecambe and go on a good run of form. But he knows his side face some tough tests ahead, with a number of play-off chasing sides still to visit the One Call Stadium. “The next few home games are against top seven sides and the away ones are against so called lesser sides” said Cough. “ It is going to be interesting to see the contrast and it makes it a tough run of games for us. “Ideally we can get back into the top half. We have had a reasonable run in the last three months and are still in the bottom half of the league. “It just shows the position we are trying to recover from in terms of points and confidence. “The win over Morecambe has lifted the mood around the place. “It was important we stopped the rot as soon as possible and we did that with the result and the performance. “We have to keep doing the right things and not make mistakes. As long as we do that then we are in the game. “It was a solid performance against Morecambe and hopefully this will be a springboard for us.” ------------------------ Nigel Clough believes the future is bright at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, By Stephen Thirkill, Monday 1st March 2021 Nigel Clough believes the future is bright at Mansfield Town. Stags field six players aged 24 or under in the starting line-up for the 1-0 weekend win over Morecambe. And the Mansfield manager feels it will stand his team in good stead for an improved campaign next season. “The Morecambe starting line-up bodes well for the start of next season and beyond,” he said. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-clough-believes-the-future-is-bright-at-mansfield-town-3150616 “We have got a brilliant academy. Richard Cooper and his staff are working very hard. “There is no point in them doing that if we can't give them an opportunity. “We are trying to filter them in and give them exposure and experience when we can. “Jason law is a bit of an exception as has been around for a while and out on various loans “It's a great policy when you hang on to someone who shows they might have something. “Even if it took three years he has played for the first team so it has been worth hanging on to him. “We are hoping Jason can play a big part next season and any games he can get now will help him do that.” With 15 games of the current season left, Clough admits he already has one eye on the 2021/22 campaign. “We need to make sure we don’t get dragged near the bottom two again,” he said. “We are still learning about the players and, as much as we are trying to win games now and get into the top half, a lot of what we do has one eye on next season. “We have got plenty of games left to get points and build up our confidence. The games are coming fast and we have to keep winning games. “There are hardly any midweek gaps now. It has been a relentless season with a lot of games coming fast.” ------------------------ Hull talk won't distract Bradford City midfielder Watt By Simon Parker ParkerTandA Chief Sports Writer https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19126640.hull-talk-wont-distract-bradford-city-midfielder-watt/ CITY won’t get wrapped up in the rumour mill after Elliot Watt was linked with Hull. The League One promotion chasers are keeping tabs on the midfielder, according to a national report over the weekend. But Conor Sellars does not expect the speculation to derail City’s bid for a fifth straight win when they face Mansfield at Valley Parade tonight. “It happens at every club,” said the Bantams joint boss. “Players play well and they get linked with clubs in higher leagues or positions. “I know Elliot’s the kind of character that won’t let it affect him. He’s just got to make sure that he’s putting performances in. “That (speculation) is part and parcel of football. If you’re going to get interest from a higher division, then you are obviously doing something right. “The skill is to do it consistently. But again, he’s a Bradford City player and he’s going to give everything to the cause. “Rumour from a paper might be nothing. You hear things that happen like that. “We’ve just got to keep everybody level-headed and working on the next game which is Mansfield.” City, who last won five in a row in 2004, continue to be one of the form teams in the division. But Mansfield went on a similar run over Christmas before a five-game slump without a win. Sellars added: “We just want to try and make sure that doesn’t happen to us. But ultimately, we’ve got to be mindful that teams lose games and we’re no different. “Teams are going to come here and be better than us on the day and we’ve got to roll up our sleeves and make sure we’re ready for the fight. “It’s so tight between the places in the league table. “That’s why you can’t ever lose concentration and why we always talk about the next game. “As you see, Southend are beating top teams and things like that. We’ve got to be ready. “We’ve got a job to do whether we’re playing the top of the table or the bottom. We’ve got to be ready.” City endured a nervous finish at Walsall before their latest victory - which Sellars put down to “mental fatigue”. “We just lost a little bit of concentration towards the end,” he admitted. “They were quite random in the way they were attacking, which changed how we had to defend and who had who. “I don’t think it was the mentality but we were just subconsciously affected for a period of time. “It was massive for the guys to come under that pressure and still win the game. “There was a lot going on and you can’t question their endeavour, work rate, aggression and determination. It was all there to see.” Sellars and Mark Trueman have a decision to make on who will spearhead the attack. Andy Cook is not allowed to play against his parent club. Danny Rowe and Clayton Donaldson are competing to fill in for the striker who has scored three in three games. But Lee Novak faces a longer spell out after a minor setback in his recovery from a knee injury. Sellars said: "Lee's had a little setback and is not going to be available for the next few weeks." --------------------- Bradford City v Mansfield Town - Bantams ‘brains trust’ happy to be spoilt for choice MARK TRUEMAN and Conor Sellars are facing the sort of selection dilemma that all managerial teams love ahead of tonight’s game. By Leon Wobschall https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city-v-mansfield-town-bantams-brains-trust-happy-to-be-spoilt-for-choice-3151118 With loanee Andy Cook ineligible against his parent club, City are spoilt for choice with several players desperate for their opportunity to make their mark in a side who are chasing their fifth successive league win to bolster their play-off push. Sellars said: “We have a decision to make on who to put in Cooky’s position and we will hopefully make the right call. “We have a lot of different options. We have Danny Rowe, who played before Cooky arrived, Clayton (Donaldson) is very experienced and causes threats to the opposition and we have got Rumarn (Burrell) and Charles Vernam. So we’ve real options.” While showcasing their footballing credentials during their sterling rise since mid-December, City are also displaying increasing evidence of their ability to break down teams if recent games are anything to go by, with their ability to ‘solve the puzzle’ being a further testament to the brains trust of Trueman and Sellars and their impact on both the training ground and in the classroom. Winger Ollie Crankshaw said: “There is a great vibe. Everyone’s happy and we are working hard on the field and off it and learning new shapes and tactics and how to break teams down. It is paying off in our results.” Last six games: Bradford City WLWWWW; Mansfield DDLLLW. --------------------- |
Latest | March 2021