{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from December 2017

EVANS, ANGOL, RUSSELL SLADE REACTION
31st December 2017 19:52


Gaffer content with festive points tally so far
mansfieldtown.net, 26 December 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans believes his side are deserved of their tally of four points from their last two games, but insists today's display against Grimsby Town warranted a maximum return.

The Boxing Day clash at Blundell Park ended 1-1 thanks to frontman Lee Angol, who climbed off the bench to equalise for the Stags after Mitchell Rose had put the home side ahead in the first half.

Today's stalemate made it four points in three days for the Stags and although the gaffer feels his side should've won against the Mariners, he believes their points total is a fair reflection of the two games combined.

"We didn't deserve to win against Morecambe, we said that, but we've dominated for long, long spells [today]," the Stags' chief said.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/december/gaffer-content-with-festive-points-tally-so-far/

"We've dominated a game in large spells, we should've won the game [but] you're away from home so you'll take a point. Should we take three? Yes. Four out of six, is it probably what we deserve? Yeah, four out of six is what we deserve.

"I just said to the players, it's a really strange game, football. We didn't deserve to win on Saturday but we've come here today and, listen, Russell Slade will say what he says but unless he's been playing Subbuteo, he knows that they've nicked a point today and we've lost two, sadly."

The boss praised the Stags' performance against Grimsby, admitting he's never seen a more dominant performance at Blundell Park from one of his teams.

"We've been terrific today all over the pitch in long spells. We went very, very offensively to win it and we're unlucky not to have won it. Our defenders have to put a couple of blocks in when they've come on an attack.

"I don't know what the stats will show, but in terms of domination of the game territorially, it will be staggering. I've won here but I've never had an away performance that's been as dominant in terms of possession of the ball.

"We always thought the goal would come and when we equalised, a lot of teams away from home would 'shut up shop' and you saw what we did. They're going to counter attack and they're going to have some moments. We could've sat there comfortably and taken a point, but we tried to get all three."

After making an error for the Grimsby goal, right-back Hayden White was withdrawn at half-time but the manager revealed that the substitution was made because referee Darren England informed the gaffer that White was one foul away from receiving a second yellow card.

"Hayden makes an error, it happens. You see players in the Premier League every week at different stages making errors. He slipped and it's an error, he's put his hands up. We only take the kid off because he had a little foul before half-time and the referee said to him 'one more and you're away'.

"I think we were dominant with both systems - we were dominant when they scored. Every player we've got here will make mistakes and every player we play against will make mistakes, that's all the way to the top levels, the internationals."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's full post-match interview.

--------------------

Steve Evans: “Mansfield Town deserved all three points”
chad.co.uk, Tuesday 26 December 2017

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans says he is disappointed after Stags failed to claim all three points at Grimsby. Mitch Rose fired Grimsby into a 10th minute lead against his former club, before Lee Angol levelled with 10 minutes to play just two minutes after coming on as a sub. Stags did have their chances to win it late on with Danny Rose missing a great chance to claim all three points in the closing minutes..

“We have dominated for long spells,” Evans said. “We said not to be down at half-time and we would take the game to Grimsby.

“it was very quiet here apart form when they scored, our fans were great and were right behind us. “They have seen the performance and the effort from the players.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/steve-evans-mansfield-town-deserved-all-three-points-1-8927534##

“Lee angol has been working very hard in the gym to improve fitness levels and we are delighted for him. “We have been terrific all over the pitch in long spells and we went to win it, we are unlucky not to win it. “We have dominated the possession and territory. “There were some great efforts from the players but football is a strange game. We did not deserve to win against Morecambe and we did, we deserved to win here and did not. “Lee is a great finisher, we always thought the goal would come. “When we levelled we wanted to get the winner and we went for it, we did not want to take the point, we wanted all three. “I am not pleased with the point because we should have won the game.”

----------------------

Steve Evans says Blundell Park was quiet and Mansfield deserved to beat Grimsby Town
grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, By Trevor Green

Mansfield boss Steve Evans said Blundell Park was quiet yesterday - apart from his own side’s fans who 'were great'.

The Stags fought back from a goal down to take a point from the Boxing Day clash at Blundell Park.

Mariners boss Russell Slade said afterwards that his team should have won and it was two points dropped.

Evans has so often been the pantomime villain at Blundell Park after repeatedly getting himself in hot water over the years - usually for berating match officials. He had to be spoken too again yesterday - for doing precisely that.

Afterwards he insisted it was his side that deserved to win - and noted that Blundell Park was quiet. There was a gate of 5,704 for the contest, including 682 away fans.

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/steve-evans-says-blundell-park-978491

“We dominated for long spells,” Evans told the Nottingham Post.

“We said not to be down at half-time and we would take the game to Grimsby.

“It was very quiet apart form when they scored, but our fans were great and were right behind us. They have seen the performance and the effort from the players.

“Lee Angol has been working very hard in the gym to improve fitness levels and we are delighted for him.

“We have been terrific all over the pitch in long spells and we went to win it, we are unlucky not to win it. We have dominated the possession and territory.

“There were some great efforts from the players but football is a strange game. We did not deserve to win against Morecambe and we did, we deserved to win here and did not.

“Lee is a great finisher, we always thought the goal would come. When we levelled we wanted to get the winner and we went for it, we did not want to take the point, we wanted all three.

“I am not pleased with the point because we should have won the game.”

---------------------

Angol makes instant impact in Mariners draw
mansfieldtown.net, 26 December 2017

Goalscorer Lee Angol believes Stags could have earned all three points against Grimsby Town this afternoon, but admits he was pleased to make his mark so quickly after being introduced from the bench.

The former Peterborough United frontman scored Stags' equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Grimsby Town at Blundell Park less than two minutes after replacing striker Kane Hemmings.

And 23-year-old Angol was delighted to have an immediate impact on the game, scoring his first goal since the Checkatrade Trophy victory over Notts County in October.

"When you come off the bench, your aim is to obviously have an impact," Angol said.

"The impact was obviously to score that early goal to make the team lift up a bit, build momentum and to score early [after coming on] put pressure on them.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2017/december/angol-makes-instant-impact-in-mariners-draw/

"When I scored so early, I was thinking 'let me get another one to get the winner' but obviously time ran out and we took a point today."

Despite having eight more shots than their Lincolnshire counterparts, Stags couldn't find a winner but Angol believes manager Steve Evans' outfit did enough to win the game.

"I feel like we could've won the game today. When we've got patches where we're on top, I think that's where we need to put the ball in the back of the net. We're not doing that, so we're making the game turn into a fight.

"They have chances, we have chances, but there was times in this game where we could have put the game to bed when we had momentum.

"It's a step forward, getting a point, but I thought we should have had three."

Reflecting on the season so far, Angol admits he would like to have more goals to his name, but is steadfast in his belief that there is enough talent in the Stags' squad to attain a top seven finish in the second half of the season.

"I feel like for me, I could've had a lot more goals. For the rest of the team, I feel like where we are isn't where we should be. We've got a lot of talent in this team, a lot of quality and we should be higher up in the league.

"We need to learn from the first half of the season, which was throwing games away or not punishing teams and we need to take it into the second half.

"This is the final lap, so we need to stop dropping points and start gaining points, like here for example."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view Lee Angol's full post-match interview.

------------------------

Lee Angol: “Mansfield Town need to stop chucking points away”
chad.co.uk, Tuesday 26 December 2017

Goalscorer Lee Angol says Mansfield Town must stop chucking points away. Angol netted a vital late equaliser as Stags rescued a 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Grimsby. But the Stags striker feels one point was scant reward for a Mansfield side 10 of their 24 matches.

“I felt that we could have won the game,” he said. “We need to put the ball in the net when we are on top and we are not doing that right now.

“We should have put the game to bed, we took a point but know we should have had three. “We have a lot of talent in this team and we know we should be higher up in the league.

Read more at: https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/lee-angol-mansfield-town-need-to-stop-chucking-points-away-1-8927863

“We have thrown a lot of points away and hopefully we can turn that around in the second half of the season. “We have to learn from the first half of the seaosn and not throw points away, we have to punish teams when we are on top and gain points.” And Angol is also targeting more goals on a personal level as he looks to stamp his mark on the side during the rest of the season. “For me the first half of the season could have brought more goals,” he added. “I am happy with how it has gone today. When you come off the bench you want to have an impact and build momentum. “I wangted to get us back in to it and was happy to do that. The goal put pressure on them.”

--------------------

Slade Disappointed With Just A Point
grimsby-townfc.co.uk

Town boss Russell Slade was disappointed to see his side only come away with a point after being ahead for most of the game.

Speaking at the post match press conference, he said: "I thought it was two points dropped to be honest.

"I thought that we were pretty much in control. Their best spell came in the last 10 minutes after they had got themselves back in the game. The game should have been put to bed, one way or another.

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2017/december/match-reaction--mansfield/

"We had very good opportunities, Mitch came very close to getting a second, huge penalty shout - he's just pushed him (Mitch) over in the box. That's where we need to be rutheless, in tight games.

"From my point of view it is two points dropped and they will be the happier camp."

James McKeown, who limped off on 33 minutes with a suspected groin strain, is set to have a scan in the next couple of days.

On the period after the first goal

''You always want to back it up when you get a goal and reinforce your control but I thought we were in control despite not being at our best in that first period.

''Second period, I thought there were some good pieces of football and the one leading up to Rose's in particular was good and there were other opporunities that were cleared of the line too, one by our own player.

''But we have to move on and as you know, games come thick and fast now and it's another three or four days before we go to work again.''

On his substitutions

''You've got to make subs when the games are coming thick and fast.

''At one stage it looked like everyone was trying their best toget my big front man sent off and you know, I wasn't gonna allow that to happen.

''You have to trust the group if you want them to make an inmpact and contribution and we probably didn't quite get that today when so often we have this season.

''Then unfortunately we lost our keeper so that was enforced on us aswell so there was a couple that were enforced a little bit but we are changing strikers in an effort to change the dynamics of the game and to win a game of football.''

On Macca's injury

''His groin is what I think appears be the problem but Dave Moore will have a look at that and will see where we go but I don't think it looked too clever.

''It's probably likely that he'll miss Saturday but we'll have to see.

You just go game by game and he (Ben Killip) has worked hard in training and had a couple of Checkatrade games too so taking those opportunities when they come is what it's all about. ''

----------------------

Grimsby Town boss Russell Slade has his say on the Boxing Day draw with Mansfield Town
grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Russell Slade admits Grimsby Town passed up an opportunity to claim all three points on Boxing Day.

Mitch Rose opened the scoring for the Mariners against his former club Mansfield Town at Blundell Park.

But substitute Lee Angol earned the Stags a share of the spoils with a late strike in the 1-1 draw between the sides.

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-town-boss-russell-slade-977223

According to Slade, though, that leveller meant his side failed to get what they deserved from the League Two contest.

He said: “I thought it was two points dropped to be honest.

“We were pretty much in control - their best spell came in the last ten minutes, when they got themselves back in the game.

“For me, the game should have been put to bed, one way or another.

“We had good opportunities, and I mean good opportunities.

“Mitch (Rose) came very close to getting his second goal, and then were was a penalty appeal.

“In all fairness, I thought there was ample opportunity to go and grab the second.

“And that is where we need to be ruthless, at times, in tight games which you are going to get against the likes of Mansfield.

“We had opportunities to put the game beyond them.”

Slade added: “At times, we had to defend, and we defended well in the main.

“It was just the last ten minutes really - they looked more threatening when the game was more open, and of course they were buoyed by the fact they had got themselves back in the game.

“In the second period, in particular, I thought there was some good pieces of play and there were other opportunities for us.”

---------

 

Latest | December 2017