Archived News from April 2023
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CLOUGH AND RICHIE WELLENS REACTION
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Gaffer assesses narrow loss to Orient
mansfieldtown.net, Tues 25 April 2023 Manager Nigel Clough felt the manner of Mansfield’s slender 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient was ‘disappointing’ given the standard the team has played at in recent weeks. The injury-struck Stags’ impressive nine-game unbeaten run was ended at the hands of the League Two champions. Orient had been reduced to ten men on 62 minutes when Shadrach Alfie brought down Davis Keillor-Dunn outside the box. The midfielder had fired Stags into an early lead on ten minutes, before Charlie Kelman and Ruel Sotiriou notched for the visitors. Nigel felt Mansfield could have defended the Orient goals better. “[I] didn’t expect to concede as quickly as we did [after the first goal],” he told iFollow Stags after the match. “[It was] a bit unlucky [the way] it came off the post. They were alive, we weren’t. “We would hope to defend [the two goals] better, especially off the back of Saturday and keeping that brilliant clean sheet against Stevenage. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2023/april/gaffer-assesses-narrow-loss-to-orient/ “[It was] A poor way to lose for the first time in ten games. Having defended as well as we did on Saturday, to give away the two goals as we did [was disappointing]. We gave the ball away and we were punished twice. “Then, at the other end, we had 30 minutes against ten men and we didn’t carve out enough [opportunities]. When we did, we didn’t show that composure to get a goal.” The Stags registered 16 shots and dictated much of the play in the closing stages. Nigel hoped his side could have made more of their late chances. “[We needed] A little bit more composure in the final third when you’re playing against ten men for the last 30 minutes,” he said. “I thought Rhys Oates’ [opportunity] was the best one at the near post and his touch has just taken him away. We [also] got a good corner in and Callum Johnson has just headed it wide from seven yards out. There were a few [bodies] in there but you’d expect him to hit the target. “A couple didn’t drop for us. It was that sort of night.” The gaffer provided an injury update on the squad after Elliott Hewitt was forced off through injury in the first half: “Losing Elliott certainly doesn’t help the cause. He’s on crutches. We’re running out of crutches and knee braces down there at the moment. We’ll see how he is in the next few days but when you’re on crutches and in a knee brace it’s certainly not looking good for Saturday.” “[It] was good to get Reedy [Louis Reed] back involved. “George Maris couldn’t start today [nor could] Louis Reed, Ollie Clarke [or] Will Swan, but having them back on the pitch is bonus. “Louis Reed as soon as he comes in gives us that extra little bit of quality. Will Swan looked sharp when he came on. “We’ll need them in the last couple of games.” ---------------------- Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough unhappy with defending as unbeaten run is halted by Leyton Orient chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 25 April 2023 Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough was unhappy with his side's defending as a 2-1 home defeat by newly-crowned champions Leyton Orient rocked their promotion hopes. Stags led early on and also played the last half hour against 10 men after Shadrach Ogie was sent off as last man for bringing down Davis Keillor-Dunn. But the visitors, who had made six changes, had enough in the tank to win and leave Stags outside the play-off places on goal difference with two to play and no game in hand any more. “It was a very poor way to lose for then first time in 10 games,” said Clough. “Having defended as well as we did on Saturday, we gave away the two goals today, despite it being against the best team in the league. “We didn't defend anywhere near as well as we did on Saturday.” Stags' lengthy injury list saw the outstanding Elliott Hewitt join it after just 28 minutes. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-boss-nigel-clough-unhappy-with-defending-as-unbeaten-run-is-halted-by-leyton-orient-4119093?fbclid=IwAR3lb39XLOasAaoN9MvJPRIOkojR0-qC3_PH6LFTYgHXMVo-plKe-NDr7AU “The goals were preventable and losing Elliott Hewitt doesn't help the cause,” said Clough “He is on crutches. We are running out of knee braces and crutches at the moment. “We will see how he is in the next few days but when you're on crutches and in a knee brace it's not looking good for Saturday against Harrogate. “At the other end we had 30 minutes against 10 men and didn't carve out enough. And when we didn't show the composure needed to get a goal. “We were a bit unlucky with their equaliser as it came back off a post, but they were alive to it. We weren't. We were static. “It could have rebounded off the post anywhere but went straight to their lad which seems to be the way at the moment. “We needed a bit of composure in the final third in that last half hour against 10 men.” On the red card, he said: “I would rather he'd run through and scored than see the sending-off. Sprinting that far clear he should be getting a shot off.” ---------------------- Mansfield Town: Nigel Clough says defeat by Leyton Orient 'unbelievably poor' bbc.co.uk Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough says defeat by 10-man Leyton Orient was an "unbelievably poor way" to have their nine-game unbeaten run ended. League Two champions Orient fought back to win 2-1, despite having Shadrach Ogie sent off in the 62nd minute. Tuesday's loss leaves the Stags outside the play-off places on goal difference. "To concede the goals we did, irrespective of how good the opposition are, was incredibly disappointing," Clough BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's an unbelievably poor way to lose an unbeaten run, a first defeat in 10, after the way we defended on Saturday [in a 1-0 win against Stevenage]. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65399795 "At the other end we had 30 minutes against 10 men and didn't carve out enough. And when we did we didn't show the composure needed to get a goal." Clough said calling on Louis Reed for the second half, after the midfielder missed much of the past three months with injury, and bringing Will Swan off the bench after an equally long lay-off were "good pluses". However, Elliott Hewitt was forced off with a knee injury in the first half. The injury came just a day after the Stags confirmed Stephen McLaughlin's season was over because of a knee ligament injury. "That is another one gone off and another one leaving on crutches," Clough said. "His [Hewitt's] knee will be assessed and we will miss him." ------------------------ Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens delighted as fringe players see the champions home at Mansfield Town chad.co.uk, By John Lomas, Tues 25 April 2023 Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens paid tribute to the Mansfield Town home fans for the atmosphere in tonight's big promotion clash and to his fringe players as they came from behind to win 2-1 win 10 men. Orient, crowned champions at the weekend, made six changes and despite going behind after 10 minutes and having Shadrach Ogie red-carded on 62 minutes, had enough to take the three points and leave Stags outside the play-off spots on goal difference with two to play. “It was surreal before the game. There has been pressure on us every single week to win. So when there is suddenly no pressure it's the weirdest feeling,” he said. “But once the game kicks off the pride and winning mentality we've had all year kicks in. “It was a really good away performance and just shows we've got a good group. Because they train really well it allows them to go in and compete against a very good Mansfield side on the verge of the play-offs. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/leyton-orient-boss-richie-wellens-delighted-as-fringe-players-see-the-champions-home-at-mansfield-town-4119089 “I wanted to give people an opportunity to play tonight and we made five or six changes, though you always run the risk of people saying certain things about you. “But anyone who knows me knows that once I turn up to a football pitch the mentality of this group over the last 14 months is to win football matches. “We deserved the win - we were outstanding. “We started the game really well but suffered a blow with them scoring from their first shot on target. “But we then controlled the majority of the half and opened them up. “There was a bit of tension among their supporters, though I thought their crowd was really good and stuck with them. It was a really god atmosphere.” On the red card he added: “The sending-off changed the dynamics of the game and they put us under a bit of pressure and they could have scored a couple near the end. “I will need to see it back. I thought at the time Shadrach touched it and showed great speed to get in and touch it back to the goalkeeper. He said he touched it and he is an honest player. If he says he touched it I believe him.” ---------------------- |
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