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Archived News from October 2022

CLOUGH, SWAN, MICHAEL FLYNN REACTION
20th October 2022 12:21


Boss hails side’s desire in hard-fought Saddlers win
mansfieldtown.net, Sat 15 Oct 2022

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says his side did well to record a second successive hard-fought victory in a week as Stags beat Walsall 2-1 in a ‘very difficult game’ at One Call Stadium.

Goals from George Lapslie and substitute Will Swan ensured that Mansfield extend a run to seven matches unbeaten in Sky Bet League Two.

It follows another well-fought win after Stags beat 1-0 in Cumbria last Saturday.

The amber and blue showed immense determination to overcome the Saddlers whose direct style made it difficult for Mansfield in 37 second-half minutes before Swan’s fourth of the campaign sealed the points.

Speaking to iFollow Stags after the contest on home soil, Nigel said: “[It was] Hard-fought again and a very difficult game.

“We’re not under any illusions that people are going to come here and make it easy for us.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/october/boss-hails-sides-desire-in-hard-fought-saddlers-win/

“Walsall [kept] coming and scrapping for everything.

“It’s very difficult to get the ball down and play at times.

“We did in patches.

“I thought we were very good, especially in the first 25 minutes of the game.”

Mansfield’s opener came courtesy of George Lapslie on 15 minutes. Stags’ sweeping move cut open Walsall’s defence before the midfielder slotted into the bottom corner.

“It was a good team goal again,” the gaffer said.

“We encourage them [our wide centre-backs] to get forward from that position and put a great cross in.

“Quinny’s [Stephen Quinn’s] header at the far post back to Laps [was excellent]. Everybody is in the positions they should be in.

“Quinny is competing at the far post. Laps is in the six-yard box and once he takes that excellent first touch, he just turns and finishes.”

The Stags second, a header from Will Swan, secured the points.

“With the height and strength that they had in the back three today, it has to be an excellent cross and an excellent header.

“It was both to get the goal.

“[It was a] Great header. As a striker you want those [deliveries] just dipping over the first defender.

“When you’re six or seven yards out, any sort of header at all and you fancy yourself to score.

“He couldn’t start the game. He’s hardly done any training in the last ten days with this virus he’s had.”

The gaffer praised the manner in which Stags, despite not being on top form, managed to record back-to-back victories.

“You have to find a way to win,” he said.

“We did it last week and we’ve done it again this week.

“That could be the difference between the team [from] this season and last.

“We’re a few points ahead of where we were this time last season.

“We’ve got Rhys Oates coming back in four or five weeks.

“We’ve got players getting fit like Hiram Boateng and Will Swan so we’ve got to keep them fit and we’ve got to find a way to win.”

The wins over Barrow and then Walsall this afternoon have showcased an attitude built for success, the boss feels.

“[It’s a] Good sign [winning when not at your best].

“It’s a magnificent six points we’ve picked up [in the last week].

“We’ve won four on the spin away from home.

“It’s important that we won today.”

He added: “We’ll put our feet up for a day, then get ready for Crawley next week.”

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On the substituions, Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Nottm after the game:
“I presume it was Lucas the crowd wanted bringing off when we made the substitutions. Sometimes we get the odd one right!”

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We found a way to win again says delighted Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough after ​​​​​​​late victory over Walsal​​​​​​​l
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Sat 15 Oct 2022

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough hailed his side's battling qualities as they again toughed out a narrow win today, beating Walsall 2-1 with a late Will Swan header.

The visitors battled hard and made Stags struggle to play flowing football, but the win made it seven games unbeaten and Clough was delighted.

“We are under no illusions that anyone is going to come here and make it easy for us,” he said.

“Walsall came here scrapping and battling for everything. “They were putting long throws into our box at every opportunity and it was very difficult to get the ball down and play at times.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/we-found-a-way-to-win-again-says-delighted-mansfield-town-boss-nigel-clough-after-late-victory-over-walsal-l-3881283

“I would like us to play fantastic football and keep a clean sheet, but it doesn't happen like that in football very often. You have to find a way to win. We did it last week and we did it again this week.

“I think that could be one of the differences between the team this season as opposed to last. We are ahead of where we were last season, which is a good place to be, and we are getting players fit.

“We have to keep trying to find a way to win as teams will keep making it very difficult.

“It is a good sign when you are winning when you're not at your best. The last two games have been a magnificent six points.”

On today's game, he added: “There were patches today in which I thought we were very good, especially in the first 25 minutes.

“But I thought the goal they got was out of the blue and set us back. The lad just popped up in an area on his own and took everybody by surprise and smashed it in at the near post.

“They had the momentum going into half time so it was important we came back out second half and wrestled it off them.

“I thought we started the half well, then they had a couple of opportunities from crosses going in and little flicks and you just hope you don't concede in that period.

“I think overall we deserved the win. We had a couple of scares throughout the game, but our play was just about good enough and the substitutes were key to the victory.”

He continued: “Our first goal was a good team goal. For the second, with their strength at the back, it had to be an excellent cross and an excellent header - and it was both to get the goal.

“We tried to freshen things up with the three substitutes, get some fresh legs out there and a little more creativity.

“It was important to get Will out there again. He has hardly trained at all in the last 10 days with the virus he had.

“We had such strength on the bench today.”

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Swan: Akins’ cross was ‘perfect’ for winning goal
mansfieldtown.net, Sat 15 Oct 2022

Mansfield Town striker Will Swan lauded the assist from Lucas Akins as ‘the perfect cross’ as the 21-year-old bagged the winner to help Stags seal all three points against Walsall.

The Nottingham Forest loanee scored the decisive goal to extend Mansfield’s unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to seven games.

And after the match, Swan was quick to praise his provider, Lucas Akins, who burst beyond Hayden White to whip in a left-sided cross for Swan to rise high and head home.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2022/october/swan-akins-cross-was-perfect-for-winning-goal/

“The ball from Lucas [Akins] was inch perfect, there wasn't a whole lot I had to do,” said Swan, speaking to iFollow Stags.

“It was right between the two centre-halves. He made it easy for me just to jump up and head it home. I think I fell to the floor afterwards, got sandwiched in between them. .

“Maybe I’m underplaying it [role in the goal] but it was a very good cross so I don't want to take away from that.

“I think off the back of draws and what not at home, I think that was a really important one for us to get back to feeling confident playing at home, [like] the way we did at the start of the season.

“We’ve clearly improved our form away from home so yeah it was a big one.”

After starting the game on the bench, Will Swan replaced Jordan Bowery after 62 minutes.

When asked what he thought of the game from the bench, he said: “I thought we played the better football and thought we dominated the majority of the game.

“If we went 2-0 up in the first-half the game’s finished there and then.

“The goal they got gave them a massive boost [and] they got back into it a bit.

“Getting that goal late on just killed the game there and then.”

Following the final whistle, Swan was revealed the mood of the dressing room: “[We’re] buzzing, glad to be back to winning ways at home.

“I like playing here, the fans make it a fun place to play at, they never stop singing.

“It drives you on through the game when you’re tired or need a boost, it helps massively.”

Today's winner puts Swan onto four goals for the season and when asked if he was happy with that tally he said: “No, of course not.

“As a striker you’re always judged by how many goals you score and you can have a bad game, but if you score and win 1-0 nobody cares.

“I’m always trying to just score as many goals as I can to be honest.”

Swan made his first appearance this afternoon since missing last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Barrow due to illness.

“[I was] struggling a bit having been off for a number of days.

“It takes its toll on your fitness a bit but I’m working with the strength and conditioning coaches to get back to 100%.”

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Super sub Swan marks return from illness with late winner for Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Sat 15 Oct 2022

Forest loanee striker Will Swan was delighted to snatch a late victory for Mansfield Town this afternoon after coming off the bench.

Swan netted a rare header on 82 minutes to sink visiting Walsall 2-1 and mark his return from illness in style.

But he was full of praise for the superb cross from Lucas Akins that set him up.

“It is always a good feeling to come on and score a winner - especially so late in the game. But the most important thing was that we won the game,” said Swan.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/super-sub-swan-marks-return-from-illness-with-late-winner-for-mansfield-town-3881292

“The cross from Lucas was inch-perfect, just over the first man but not long enough to reach the second man. There wasn't much I had to do. I had to jump but it was right on my head, so it was easy thanks to Lucas.

“It just sat up nicely for me to just squeeze in the middle and head it home. I don't score many headers so it's an unusual feeling for me to head one in.

“It would have been frustrating to draw as I think we played the better football through the game.

“We started the season slowly but we are now seven games unbeaten and looking really good.”

On his recent illness, he said: “I am climbing back towards 100 per cent and feeling much better.

“It has been managed well. I felt better days before I actually came back. But you don't want to come in and spread something if it's contagious. So I had to meet a certain criteria before I was allowed back in.”

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Michael Flynn: Walsall didn't deserve to lose
expressandstar.com, By Jonny Drury

Michael Flynn believes his side didn't deserve to lose at Mansfield and urged players to take responsibility after shipping too soft goals.

George Lapslie put the Stags in front after 15 minutes - before Liam Bennett's rocket levelled things up at the break.

Then despite having pressure during second half spells - they conceded a soft winner.

Hayden White failed to stop a cross on the right and Will Swan found space and headed home past Owen Evans.

It prevented Walsall from extending a winning run to three games - but Flynn thought his charges were the better side and deserved at least a point.

"We've been made to pay," admitted Flynn.

"I think we deserved a draw all day long, we were far the better side in the first half but have conceded two poor goals.

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2022/10/15/michael-flynn-walsall-didnt-deserve-to-lose/

"We didn't stop the crosses and basically given them too much time to finish in the box.

"They are things people need to look at and take some responsibility because they are soft goals, we shouldn't have lost.

"I felt we were far the better side.

"The ref gave them everything today, we couldn't get much momentum, even the fourth official said how inconsistent the ref was.

"But we've lost and it wasn't the refs fault we have lost, it was our own for not stopping crosses and not marking in the box."

Flynn's men have had rotten luck with injuries so far - and were without Donervon Daniels through illness at Field Mill.

And to compound their injury misery Tom Knowles went off with a knock midway through the second period.

Flynn added: "Tom came off and it disrupted us. Donervon was missing with illness, so we are waiting for our luck to change, we haven't had any, well, we have but it has all been bad.

"Tom's looked worrying to be honest, but he was moving okay just then.

"I'm not going to say anything because the last time I did I said Conor (Wilkinson) just had a kick, and he'd done his cruciate, so I don't know."

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Michael Flynn left frustrated after Mansfield defeat
https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2022/october/michael-flynn-left-frustrated-after-mansfield-defeat/

Walsall boss Michael Flynn was disappointed to see his side fall to late defeat away to Mansfield Town and made clear his demand for improvement.

The Saddlers responded well to an early George Lapslie opener, equalising ten minutes prior to half time courtesy of Liam Bennett’s first professional goal, before being undone in the 82nd minute when Will Swan, unmarked in the box, headed home the clincher for the hosts.

It was a result that saw the Saddlers slip down to 15th in the League Two table having enjoyed a recent run of three unbeaten, but Flynn was extremely encouraged by the first half performance of his team, even if the late winner was avoidable.

“I thought we were excellent first half, by far the better team,” Flynn proclaimed.

“We gave away a sloppy goal and then the second half, okay I’d probably say that they were in control of possession more, but we looked more dangerous and likely to score, especially with the long throws.

“The goal we concede is not good enough, it’s got to stop. It’s a free header by somebody who is not even six foot in the middle of our box, and I’ve told our players what I thought about it.

“I’m not asking much, wing-backs, centre-backs, midfielders, whoever, stop the cross because that’s the difference. We had a chance at the other end towards the end with Liam Bennett on the cross who puts it straight out of play, that is the difference.”

Flynn acknowledged his side’s efforts on Saturday but struggled to hide his concerns and frustrations with the current lack of experience and availability in his side, with the club’s injury list gradually growing longer, with the sidelined Donervon Daniels the latest name limited to the stands.

“They worked hard, we were unfortunate with missing Donervon [Daniels] and with Tom [Knowles] having to come off, adding to more players out," Flynn commented.

"I’m not going to get too down, I’m just disappointed with the way we lost.

“It’s just the way the luck is going at the minute or lack of it. It’s killing us because you look at the players [Mansfield Town] are bringing on, you’ve got Hiram Boateng, John-Joe O’Toole on the bench, James Perch, they’ve got men all through the squad.

“I’m looking and we’ve got Ram [Ronan Maher], Jonas [Mukuna], Timmy [Abraham] even. I’ve got young players, that’s all we’ve got at the minute but it is it what it is and we just need to get on with it.”

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Michael Flynn told the Walsall youtube channel:
"I'm not asking much, wing-backs, centre-backs, midfielders ... stop the cross.
"That's the difference, we had the chance towards the end with Liam Bennett he has a cross and he puts it straight out of play. That's the difference."

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We deserved at least a draw - frustrated Walsall boss Michael Flynn
chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Sat 15 Oct 2022

Walsall manager Michael Flynn was left frustrated by Mansfield Town's late winner today, saying his Saddlers side deserved at least a point.

Will Swan's 82nd minute winner shot down battling Walsall after a Liam Bennett rocket had wiped out George Lapslie's 15th minute opener.

“It's frustrating as we deserved at least a draw all day long. We were by far the better team in the first half,” said Flynn.

“But we've conceded two poor goals from crosses that should have been stopped and then given them too much time to finish the chances.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/we-deserved-at-least-a-draw-frustrated-walsall-boss-michael-flynn-3881287

“People need to take some responsibility.

“The referee gave them everything today so we couldn't get much momentum built. He was so inconsistent.

“But it wasn't his fault we lost the game, it was more us not stopping the crosses and poor marking in the box.”

He added: “It was a good away performance today. We were solid and worked hard so I am disappointed as we shouldn't have lost the game. That's the problem that keeps biting us on the backside. We can't keep letting teams off.

“We're almost a good team but almost is not good enough.”

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Latest | October 2022