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Archived News from February 2014

COX, RHEAD & JOHN SHERIDAN REACTION
6th February 2014 0:21


Cox could add players on loan
mansfieldtown.net

Manager Paul Cox believes that the ability to sign players on loan during the coming weeks will act as a big boost to his squad at a crucial stage of the season.

Read more at http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-could-add-players-on-loan-1333695.aspx#0JpsXSWtdKgqPDfv.99

Our boss was speaking following today’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, which saw us denied all three points due to Lewis Alessandra’s equaliser in injury-time.

“After today’s performance and with Hutch (Ben Hutchinson) coming back from injury, the squad is getting stronger to what it was earlier in the season.

“I think you’ll see competition for places, consistency of performance and consistency of results, but I still think we probably need that fresh face in the dressing room.

“If someone is going to come in that has played at this level and has been successful, or at a level above, could add the cherry to our cake.”

Reflecting more on today’s match, Cox said: “It almost feels like we’ve lost the game and in the dressing room I’ve had to pick the players up,”

“Over the 90 minutes I thought we were the better side and deserved to win the game, but we’ve got to see through those six minutes of injury time.”

“I thought we were excellent, especially in the second half, but the result should have been out of sight before the six minutes of injury time.

“We’ve worked hard, we passed the ball excellently, created some good chances and [the equaliser] was a sickener.

“[In stoppage time] we were on top, we were keeping the ball and I feel gutted for the lads, because I thought they put in a great performance.

“There were some real positives today and we looked like a team similar to how we were at the back end of last season, but we’ve got to pick ourselves up now and go again.”

On the injury which Lee Beevers sustained in the build up to Plymouth’s equaliser, Cox added: “I think he fell awkwardly on his shoulder.

“He went straight to the medical room to have it looked at, but hopefully it won’t be so bad."

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Stags boss Cox gets go-ahead to bring in loan striker
chad.co.uk

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox may get his wish this week and finally bring in an experienced striker.

Cox was disappointed when he was told he could not bring any players in before yesterday’s transfer deadline as the club tightened its financial belt.

But the emergency loan market opens up this coming Friday and Cox has now been told he can delve into the market after all.

“I will spend the next four or five days seeing where the market is and planning accordingly,” he said.

“It’s not that the players we have are suddenly bad players. I just want someone in to galvanise us and make us stronger.

“We need that fresh face in the dressing room, someone who has been successful at this level or above who can be the cherry on the cake for us.

“I can’t do anything until Friday. I am going to try to be cute and clever with it and get someone in who will make us better if we can.

“I don’t just want someone who is going to be sat on the bench or learning their trade. I want someone our boys can learn from.”

Cox was speaking just after this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle where a 96th minute equaliser earned the home side an undeserved draw after Stags had looked home and dry for three points.

“It was a real sickener and I am absolutely gutted for the lads,” he said.

“It almost feels like we have lost and I have had to go in the dressing room and pick a few of them up.

“I thought we were excellent today, especially in the second half and we should have been out of sight by the time they scored.

“We worked hard, we passed the ball well and created some good chances.

“We were so much on top, keeping the ball well and looked to have a great shape.

“I thought the boys put on a great show and there were a lot of positives today. We looked like the team of last season.

“We looked assured at the back and our decision-making was better.

“Overall I thought we were the better team and deserved to win it. All we had to do was see the six minutes of stoppage time through.

“I just hope these two points don’t cost us later in the season. We have just got to be more ruthless. If we do that we are not a bad side.

“Lee Stevenson is feeling a bit down as he gave the ball away during the build-up to their goal, but I thought today he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch.

“The fans that came here today saw it wasn’t just a good point, but a good performance too and now we need to start replicating this away form at home as well. If we can do that we will be in a healthy position by the end of the season.”

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Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox given go-ahead to make loan signings
Nottingham Post

Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Mansfield-Town-boss-Paul-Cox-given-ahead-make/story-20548556-detail/story.html#ixzz2sFTAG2yk

MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox has been given the go-ahead to utilise the loan transfer market when it opens this week.

And an experienced striker remains at the top of his shopping list after the Stags were unable to see off Plymouth Argyle in Saturday's 1-1 draw.

The manager remains steadfast in his belief that he already has a good enough squad to survive in League Two, but admits his team need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Financial restraints meant Cox could not bring in any permanent signings before the window closed on Friday, but he hopes to now solve that problem after being told he can look at loan deals.

"I still think we need that fresh face in the dressing room, someone who's played at this level and been successful at this level or a level above who can be the cherry on the cake," he said. "We can't do anything until it opens on Friday, but we're going to try to be cute and clever and try to bring in someone, if we can, who will make us better.

"We're not going to jump in with two feet, we've got a few days now to see where the market is and plan accordingly."

"It's a waste of time bringing in someone who's just going to sit on the bench or someone who's learning the trade, I want to bring in someone who's played at this level before or higher above and can affect the players around him.

"We want someone who can help to bring on the Sam Clucas', the Matt Rheads', the Ross Dyers and the Ollie Palmers and make them better players in the long-term."

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Rhead disappointed after ‘Stags’ best away display of the season’
chad.co.uk

Stags goalscorer Matt Rhead believes yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Plymouth was Mansfield Town’s best away showing of the season so far.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/mansfield-town/rhead-disappointed-after-stags-best-away-display-of-the-season-1-6412630?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

The Stags looked completely in control as they led though Rhead’s goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time only for Argyle to steal an equaliser.

“I am disappointed as I thought we should have had all three points today,” said Rhead.

“I thought that was the best we’ve played away this season. We kept the ball well in the final third but just couldn’t get that second goal that would have killed them off, even though we had the chances.

“We looked dynamic going forward and I don’t think Plymouth really created anything. They’ve not really had a shot apart from a few long range efforts which have not really troubled Mazza (keeper Alan Marriott).

“It feels like a defeat as we thought we were home and dry with seconds to go.

“I had a chance in the first half when I was disappointed not to hit the target to be honest.

“But that’s now only one defeat in seven so confidence is high, we know we should have more points on the board than we have.”

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Matt Rhead says Mansfield Town are fearless going into rest of February fixtures
Nottingham Post

FRIGHTENING February? Not according to striker Matt Rhead, who believes Mansfield Town should be fearless going into the rest of this month's fixtures.

Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Matt-Rhead-says-Mansfield-Town-fearless-going/story-20554600-detail/story.html#ixzz2sLQUlRsU

In the next three weeks, the Stags face top-seven sides Southend United, Oxford United and Fleetwood Town as well as fellow strugglers Bury, who have enjoyed a recent upturn in form.

All games bar the Oxford clash take place at the One Call Stadium, where Paul Cox's side haven't won a game since September.

Having been pegged back to a 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle at the weekend, and with Bury and Torquay United both winning, Mansfield are now just three points above the drop zone.

Rhead, though, says they should not be fazed by this upcoming run and will approach it with confidence after a positive display at Home Park.

"They are winnable," he said of the next four matches for the Stags.

"Fleetwood lost on Saturday to York.

"I think every game is a winnable one. We've only lost one in seven now, confidence is high.

"We should have more points on the board, but it hasn't happened, so we need to make sure we start getting the points.

"It's disappointing that other teams have done well, but we've got to look after ourselves.

"We should have taken three points on Saturday. It hasn't happened, but we take it into the next game and I think we should be full of confidence after that performance."

Rhead had put the visitors ahead in the second half at Plymouth, bagging only his third goal of the season from close-range.

However, once again they were punished for not putting games to bed and taking their chances as the Pilgrims levelled deep into added time to take a point.

Rhead described it as his side's best performance on the road this term, but acknowledged they cannot keep passing up opportunities.

"We should have taken three points. I think it was the best we've played away from home this season," said the 29-year-old.

"We kept the ball well in the final third. We just couldn't get the second goal which would have killed the game off.

"I thought we were quite dynamic going forward.

"We had a few chances and are just disappointed we couldn't get the win.

"They didn't really create anything and we were quite strong.

"It was great to get a goal.

"We were just disappointed not to get the second goal, which would have sealed a victory.

"It feels like a defeat because we thought we were home and dry with 30 seconds to go. But there's a lot of positives we can take from the game and hopefully we can take them into the next game."

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Starting to Start
Read more at http://www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/starting-to-start-1333936.aspx#bFethSOMAUUC9YEz.99
Author: Chris Groves

JOHN Sheridan refused to be content with a draw, after another late Argyle equaliser salvaged a point for his team.
A dramatic 96th minute strike from Lewis Alessandra ensured a third consecutive 1-1 draw at Home Park, after Matt Rhead put visitors Mansfield Town ahead fifteen minutes from time.

Whilst being satisfied with the Pilgrims' late rally that fans are becoming accustomed to, the manager is eager for his side to be ones in the ascendancy throughout the game.

Said John: "Again, we finished the game really strongly, I wish we played like that in the first 60 or 70 minutes, and it was the same against Cheltenham.

"It's a shame really, because I'd like us to start how we finish - it would give us an advantage."

Whilst Mansfield's lead was quite possibly against the run of play, Argyle seemed to lack a killer instinct in the final third - and John knows this played a part in costing his side a win today.

"Even in the first half, I thought we got into some good positions, but it was just the wrong pass - sometimes balls behind players or to the side - that let us down," said Sheridan.

"They cost you in the end. I think the game was there for us if we wanted it.

"It's hard, and I fully understand the supporters; I keep saying after games that I want us to push on and get in the playoffs. We all want that.

"The draining thing, that frustrates us all, is not winning games at home. If we did, we could put ourselves in a really good position."

The solution to the Greens' current lack of home proficiency is simple in John's eyes: Pick up wins away from home, and bring that form with them back to Devon.

"I think we've just got to try and get points as quickly as possible. I don't want to keep saying the same thing, but to get anything back from these games, we have to go and win two away games."

John continued: "In games like this - where it gets a bit drabby - it puts everyone on a bit of a downer, but we've just got to kick on.

"We went to the final minute and showed great resilience. Now we just have to win some away games."

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John Sheridan plays down altercation between Argyle team-mates
Herald Sport
By Chris Errington Chief Football Writer @ChrisErrington1

MANAGER John Sheridan had ‘no problem’ with the altercation between Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick and defender Neal Trotman during the 1-1 draw with Mansfield Town at Home Park.

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/John-Sheridan-plays-altercation-Argyle-team-mates/story-20544342-detail/story.html#ixzz2s9c8veN7

They were both booked by Paul Bankes, in his first game as a Football League referee, after an angry confrontation in the 62nd minute.

McCormick tried to catch a cross into the Pilgrims’ penalty area and tangled with Trotman.

He could not hold onto the ball and when he dived down to collect it McCormick was kicked on his left hand by Mansfield striker Sam Clucas.

The Argyle ‘keeper suffered a dislocated finger, but that did not stop some pushing and shoving between him and Trotman.

McCormick received treatment from physio Paul Atkinson after he was yellow carded and his hand was also inspected by club doctor Paul Giles.

It was decided McCormick could not continue between the posts so he was replaced by Jake Cole.

As McCormick walked past the Mansfield dug-out on the way to the players’ tunnel, he was clearly on the receiving end of some comments.

He briefly reacted to whatever was said, before heading for the home dressing room.

Argyle’s coaching staff took exception to the comments that came from the Mansfield dug-out and there was a heated exchange.

Sheridan tried to downplay the incident involving McCormick and Trotman when he spoke to the media after the match.

The Pilgrims’ boss stated he would speak to both players about it but would not take any further action.

Sheridan said: “I don’t see nothing wrong with that, I wish it happened a few more times to tell you the truth.

“I want a bit of fight in them (the players), not with each other really.

“It’s a thing that happens all the time in football. It’s nothing. I don’t see a problem whatsoever.”

Sheridan was asked what he thought had caused the confrontation between McCormick and Trotman, but did not want to discuss it further.

He said: “I don’t want to talk about Neal and Luke. I want to talk about the match. It’s just a thing which has happened on the pitch.

“If it makes headlines, so be it, but I can’t even remember it. I don’t think it was a problem.

“They have been booked and it’s gone now. I will have a chat with them,” added the Pilgrims’ boss.

“If they were fighting with each other, I would fine them both, but they weren’t.

“They both think they were right, and that’s just part of football. People can make a big thing of it, so be it, but I haven’t got a problem with it.”

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twitter Darryl Westlake @DarrylWestlake
Gutted to concede so late on today but on the plus side it's another point. On to next week now with 2 big home games!! #stags

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