Archived News from April 2012
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MICKY MOORE, RHEAD, JIM GANNON REACTION
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video interviews with Micky Moore and Matt Rhead http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2728859,00.html ------------------- Mansfield Town assistant manager Micky Moore told BBC Radio Nottingham http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17581494 VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Mansfield Town assistant manager Micky Moore told BBC Radio Nottingham: "All the results below us have gone for the team today. We wanted to get to 80 points, which is what we've got. We've got a foot in it now. "We know if we get three or four more points, mathematically we're near enough there. It hasn't happened today mathematically but we're still in a strong position. "We're not in control of the other teams. What we've always said is 'stay in control of your own destiny' and that's what we've done." ---------------- Stags have a foot in play-offs door, says Mansfield Town assistant boss Moore chad.co.uk MICKY Moore is happy to wait another week before Stags mathematically clinch a place in the play-offs. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-have-a-foot-in-play-offs-door-says-mansfield-town-assistant-boss-moore-1-4432490 Easter Monday's 2-1 home win over Stockport County looked to have done the trick until rivals Kidderminster and Southport netted crucial late goals to stay in the hunt, though Gateshead fell by the wayside. But Mansfield's assistant manager said: “We have got a foot in it now and know another three points and we'll be mathematically there. It just hasn't happened today. “But we are in a strong position with other teams playing catch-up. We are in control of our own destiny. We have three games left while some teams have four or five and go can go above us. But I would rather have the points in the bag. “It was a frustrating first half. We didn't get a tempo. I don't know if that was lethargy from playing two games in three days. Stockport were very organised and made it hard for us. “But we tweaked one or two things at half-time so we came out playing on the front foot. “When things are not going for us we go back to basics, keeping our framework, shape and discipline which is what we did today. “You will have games when things are not going for you, but then you just play off your shape and you are still a hard side to beat. “We looked comfortable at 2-0 up and I can't remember Alan Marriott having a save to make. But in the 90th minute they scored with a bit of help from ourselves as we became a bit sloppy. Then it became a bit nervy.” He added: “Six months ago by half-time some people would have become anxious (in the crowd) but they have been fantastic recently and stuck with us in the second half. This is becoming an intimidating place for other sides to come now.” -------------------- Stags striker Rhead delighted with full debut chad.co.uk MAN of the Match on his full Mansfield Town debut, Stags' first part-time player of the modern era Matt Rhead savoured the moment after today's 2-1 win over Stockport County. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-striker-rhead-delighted-with-full-debut-1-4432491 “That was the best game I have ever played to be fair,” said the big striker. “The atmosphere was amazing. The crowd were brilliant and, as my debut for a professional team, it was something to savour. “I want to play every minute every season and the manager knows that. But he is the one that picks the team so if I don't start and just come on for 20 minutes then I will just do my best for the team. “It was difficult conditions today, but we stuck together as a team, as we have done ever since I've been here, and got the result we needed. “I have been welcomed with open arms here by the other players. We have a laugh but then we do the business on the pitch. It's unbelievable and a great experience I am enjoying day to day. “We want to get over that barrier to be certain of the play-offs but we'll just take each game as it comes.” ------------------------------------------ Rhead getting balance right as he makes an impact with Mansfield Town Friday, April 13, 2012, Nottingham Post ALREADY, he is becoming somewhat of a cult figure among the Mansfield Town faithful. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15802604-detail/story.html Matt Rhead cuts a burly, rugged figure as he imposes himself on opposition defenders in the Blue Square Bet Premier. But it is evident why manager Paul Cox wanted to bring the striker to the club. Rhead was an integral part of the Eastwood Town success story when Cox was in charge at Coronation Park. Yet, when Cox enquired about a move with him to the Stags last summer Rhead had to turn it down. With a young family, the 27-year-old could not afford to give up the job he has had for a decade at JCB in Stoke-on-Trent. He could not afford to go from part-time to full-time footballer. It would have been a dream, but his head had to rule his heart. Fast forward a few months and Cox, still in search of that big presence up front, struck a deal to bring him from Corby in February. Until the end of the season, Rhead is combining his job with his football as a part-time player. And as he clutched the man-of-the-match bottle of champagne as he made his way out of the newly-renamed One Call Stadium on Monday, it appeared he was getting the balance right. Against Stockport, he was handed his first start in a Stags shirt. After 11 substitute appearances, culminating in his second goal with a well-taken header at Kettering on Saturday, he was chosen to lead the line with top scorer Matt Green. And he did it well, so much so that he was named the match sponsor's man-of-the-match and was given a rapturous round of applause from the home faithful when replaced in the final minutes. It proved he can be more than an impact man from the bench. He could cut it from the start at this level. Rhead, evidently so, is loving every second of playing a leading role in Mansfield's promotion push. "It was great to get my first start," he said. "To be honest, I have been happy to get 20 minutes in games to be fair, but to get that start, a full debut and the result the team needed was brilliant. "It is nice to try to help the team out. I really enjoyed it and the support the whole team has been getting is brilliant, it is helping us to win games. "It has been an unbelievable run, similar to Eastwood last season just on a much bigger scale." At Eastwood last season, under the guidance of Cox, the Badgers ended on a high with 19 games unbeaten to make the play-offs in Blue Square Bet North, only to be denied a chance to take part because their ground was not up to standard. There will be no such problems for Stags, who are third and set to seal their play-off berth at Hayes and Yeading tomorrow. A run of ten wins in 12 games has seen Mansfield reach the 80-point mark. And Rhead says the togetherness is evident, as in all Cox's teams. "The atmosphere in the changing room has been brilliant and hopefully we can take that into the play-offs," he said. "I don't know what the manager does, but he makes it so we can just churn out the results. It was difficult on Monday, the conditions were not great, but we showed what we can do. "We just have to keep winning, it does not matter how. "The main thing is he gets his squads together. It is all about mentality and belief and as soon as you get that, you can do anything. It is brilliant here. "The manager is passionate and that comes through in the players. You know what he expects of you and if you do that, you will do well. "I spoke to him at the start of the season, but I could not give up my job and I spoke to him when Corby mentioned I could go. "He took me on and hopefully we can sort something out in the summer. I am getting the best of both worlds. "Obviously you want to be training with the lads week in, week out, but it is not possible at the moment. I train with Eastwood twice a week. "I have a young family so it is getting that balance. At the minute it is excellent. I am here until the end of the season and then I will speak to the manager and go from there. "Now it is about us getting over the finishing line and then concentrating on the play-offs. "We just have to win football matches and as long as we do that, it takes care of itself." As for his ovation at the end of Monday, Rhead added: "It was an unbelievable feeling, one I will remember for a long, long time." On current form, the hope is there will be even bigger memories before the season is out -------------------- Howell backs Mansfield Town striker Rhead to continue being a menace Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Nottingham Post MATT Rhead has been backed to continue causing trouble for Blue Square Bet Premier defenders as Mansfield Town chase promotion via the play-offs. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15780719-detail/story.html After scoring twice in 11 appearances from the bench since joining from Corby, the striker was given his first start against Stockport on Monday. He was man-of-the-match as he helped the Stags to a 2-1 win and team-mate Anthony Howell believes there is more to come from the 27-year-old former Eastwood frontman. He said: "Matt is a big lad and a handful. I have played against him and he is a nightmare. "He is big, strong and great in the air. His presence is there for all to feel and you know when a ball goes up, he is going to win it." Meanwhile, Stags defender Rhys Day has announced his retirement from football at the age of 29. Day has been forced to sit out the season because of a knee injury and after suffering from a patella tendon rupture during a friendly at Rainworth in January, the Welsh centre-half has decided to quit. The club will hold a testimonial for Day on Saturday May 12 at the One Call Stadium between the Stags and an all-star Mansfield team, including Liam Lawrence, Alex John-Baptiste and Jake Buxton. --------------- Manager Paul Cox agrees new deal with Stags Nottingham Post PAUL Cox has agreed to sign a new deal to keep him as Mansfield Town boss until the end of next season. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15771117-detail/story.html Cox was appointed by chairman John Radford on a one-year contract last summer and has led the Stags to third in the Blue Square Bet Premier with three games to go. They won 2-1 against Stockport yesterday at the newly-renamed One Call Stadium and are set to make the play-offs as they look to return to the Football League via Wembley. The chairman revealed the news before kick-off yesterday, a game which attracted a 3,883-strong crowd, boosted by a kids-for-a-quid ticket offer. And chairman Radford said: "I am pleased to announce that Paul Cox has agreed to sign an extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until the end of next season." The win means Mansfield now have 80 points but their place in the top-five is not mathematically certain, despite Adam Smith and Louis Briscoe scoring yesterday to secure a tenth victory in 12 games. But Cox's assistant Micky Moore is confident that can be secured when they head to Hayes and Yeading on Saturday. He said: "We are pleased with this win and reaching 80 points. We have always said it is in our hands. If we win our games, we will finish third. "We know we have a foot in there and if we win one more game, there are a lot of teams who cannot catch us. But we go to Hayes and look to secure that place." After relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading on Saturday, Mansfield entertain Wrexham on Friday, April 20. Their final league fixture is away at Kidderminster eight days later --------------------- post match interview with Jim Gannon --> http://www.podcast.pureradio.org.uk/ I was disappointed with the way we conceded the set plays. If we switch off and give people free shots then there's not much you can do. Most of the pressure came about by us failing to clear our own lines. They had the luxury of being able to rotate and bring back some of their best players (after Saturday ... we didn't). You could see that some players were tired throughout the 90 minutes and some players were tired near the end. Fleetwood and Wrexham have more dimensions to their game than Mansfield. I wouldn't want to watch that every week. You spend 20 minutes watching their big centre half dry a ball. [Interviewer - let's hope they take their towels to Wembley maybe]. Well over two legs, I think you need to have a little bit more than they've got. I'm delighted we've got a goal near the end to give our fans something to sing about. Obviously they're (the fans) not too tired from Saturday and they're enjoying their football. On another day, when our players are fresh and we didn't have such poor officials, I think we'd have beaten Mansfield. I look forward to the time we get to play them again with a fully fit squad. transcribed by Martin Shaw ----------- |
Latest | April 2012