Archived News from October 2021
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CLOUGH AND MARK COOPER REACTION
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Boss on Barrow defeat
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 2nd October 2021 Manager Nigel Clough has offered his post-match thoughts following today’s 1-0 defeat to Barrow. A scrappy affair was decided by a controversial penalty in the second-half, which was converted by Ollie Banks on 55 minutes at One Call Stadium. The boss believes the decision was ‘such a setback’ for his side this afternoon. “It was certainly not a penalty. I saw him [Harry Charsley] make a challenge at the far post, the like of which you see numerous times throughout the game. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/october/boss-on-barrow-defeat/ “Then there was no penalty given for several seconds. Unfortunately, the decisions today [from the officials] have contributed to the result. “The penalty was such a setback. We were settling into the second-half and we set up to attack and go forward. “We’re not getting one break with any single thing at the moment, anywhere on the pitch. “I think it [penalty] knocked us. When it’s happened, with decisions going against us, you see heads drop. It’s tough times for everybody at the moment as everything’s going against us, but we have to get through it. “You work even harder [to get through it]. We worked hard at Orient last week for a clean sheet and I thought we worked hard today. We can’t do anything to legislate for a penalty being given like that.” Nigel Clough says Stags were ‘solid’ at the back but needed better ‘decision-making’ in the final third. “We’ve had one kicked off the line and we got into some very good positions again today. We didn’t hit the target enough or work the goalkeeper enough. “[We needed] better decision-making again, in and around the penalty area. I think we had five shots in the first-half and missed the target with all five. “I think we were pretty solid [at the back] apart from late on, when we’re pressing forward. I thought we were pretty solid today and Nathan [Bishop] hasn’t had too much to do.” The boss reverted to a 3-4-3 system in the second-half in an attempt to draw level before full-time. “We tried to shake it up and get Oli Hawkins up front. At the moment he’s our best centre-half and our best centre-forward. “So at 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go, we had to sacrifice him at the back and put him up there. “We went with three centre-halves and tried to get Jordan [Bowery] wide.” Log in to mansfieldtown.net/ifollow to watch the manager’s interview in full. ---------------------- Nigel Clough feels the world is against Mansfield Town after defeat to Barrow CHAD.CO.UK, By Stephen Thirkill, Saturday 2nd October 2021 Nigel Clough feels like the world is against his Mansfield Town side after their 1-0 defeat at home to Barrow. Ollie Banks banged home a second half penalty to leave Stags eight games without a win. “It was never a penalty,” he said. It was a challenge at the back past like you saw throughout the game and that doesn’t get given “There was no penalty given for several seconds. The fourth official said it was thinking time and that worries me tremendously. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-clough-feels-the-world-is-against-mansfield-town-after-defeat-to-barrow-3405429 “The last time we saw this ref was at Cheltenham in the FA Cup last season and the decisions the officials made that day contributed to us getting knocked out. “The decisions the officials have made today have contributed to us losing today. “We are not getting one break at the minute with anything anywhere on the pitch at the moment. “Every single thing is going against us. It feels like the world is against us.” Barrow enjoyed the best of the first half chances with Josh Kay hitting the bar and Patrick Brough having a header cleared off the line. Banks gave Barrow the lead after Harry Charsley pushed Mark Ellis. Farrend Rawson was then dismissed for bringing down Joe Grayson when he was through. But Clough admitted that his side need to do more in the final third if they are to start putting wins together. He added: “I wasn’t too disappointed with how we played, especially in the first half. “The penalty was a big knockback as we were settling into the second half and we were pressing “We had an attempt kicked off the line and had another chance go just over at the end. We got in good positions but didn’t create enough chances and work the keeper enough. “We needed better decision making in and around the box. We had five shots in and around the box in the first half and missed the target every time.” But Clough was happy with his side’s defensive efforts and has vowed they will keep working hard to turn things around. “It was the conditions today where you need to work the keeper and maybe he spills one,” he added. “I thought we were pretty solid defensively and Nathan Bishop didn’t have a lot to do. “I thought the least we deserved was a clean sheet and a point. “The penalty knocked us, when things go against you you see heads dropped. “It is tough times, we have seven players out and we can’t win a game to save our lives. “We have to pick the lads up, we have to turn it around and keep working hard. “We can’t do anything to legislate against a penalty being given against us like that. “We thought we had a platform to take it on today and get the win, but the decision has rocked us.” Stags face Sheffield Wednesday this Tuesday in the Papa John’s Trophy before a massive home match against fellow strugglers Oldham next weekend. ------------------------ Mark Cooper admits Barrow were a little lucky to beat Mansfield Town CHAD.CO.UK, By Stephen Thirkill, Saturday 2nd October 2021 Barrow boss Mark Cooper felt his side were lucky to leave Mansfield Town with a 1-0 win. Former Chesterfield player Ollie Banks hit the winner with a second half penalty after Mark Ellis had been pushed in the back. Barrow then survived some late scares with Ollie Clarke, Danny Johnson and Oli Hawkins all going close. But Cooper was upset at his side’s wasteful first half finishing which saw Josh Kay hit the bar when well placed and Patrick Brough have a shot cleared off the line. “It was not a great performance from us,” he said. “We surrendered the ball and we needed to play with the ball better, that's how we are set up. “If I’m honest, we were a little lucky to come out at the end with a win. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mark-cooper-admits-barrow-were-a-little-lucky-to-beat-mansfield-town-3405433 “We should have been ahead early, we had three really good opportunities to score and put pressure on Mansfield. “It was a good opportunity for us to get in front, you don’t get anything for free and we have to put those chances away as you know what is coming the other end. “We will have to be much better than that going forward but credit to the players, they dug it out.” But Cooper was quick to praise his players for their brilliant back-to-the wall defending in the closing stages of the contest, which saw six minutes of stoppage time. “I am pleased with the result,” he added. “It was a difficult afternoon with the wind and the rain, especially in the first half. "Mansfield started to play after we missed our chances, they have some really good players. "When they start firing they will be a dangerous side for a lot of teams. “We started to play in the second half, we kept the ball better and got the goal. “It was a penalty and it was a great strike from Banksy.“The players stuck in and defended magnificently after that, Mark Ellis was outstanding again. “I am pleased with how we managed the game at the end.” --------------------- |
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