Archived News from September 2018
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FLITCROFT, MACDONALD, MATT TAYLOR REACTION
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Stags' boss laments final quality mansfieldtown.net, 15 September 2018 Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has reflected on this afternoon’s performance against Exeter City, and believes his side did not cause the Grecians enough ‘problems,’ when comparing it to recent Mansfield displays. Tyler Walker’s goal sparked a resurgence from the Stags in the second-half, yet it would not be enough, as strikes from Dean Moxey and Nicky Law granted Exeter all three points. The manager was frank in his assessment of his team’s performance, emphasising that his charges lacked quality in the final third throughout. “We had something to protect being unbeaten,” he said. “But now it’s ended and we start again. We have to make sure we get our work right and we concentrate on everything. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/september/flitcroft-post-exeter/ “I’ve said to the players about [Hiram] Boateng’s late run. You can’t track a player like that 99 percent of the time. It’s got to be 100 percent of the time. “Once he gets into those positions, he has runners like Law and [Jayden] Stockley to pick out, which he did really well. “The first goal [came] totally against the run of play. We can’t get rocked like we did. For the first 20 minutes of the first-half I thought we moved the ball really well, but didn’t hurt them enough. “He [Dean Moxey] scores a good goal. He comes inside and curls it. It’s a good finish. We just didn’t compose ourselves for the next ten minutes. “I’m disappointed with a lot of aspects of ours today. Our quality wasn’t there what it has been. We let ourselves down. “For me, football is about your last touch, the last thing you do. The last cross, your end product, your finish. We’ve got ourselves into really good wide positions and just failed on that final delivery. “[In the] second-half we had to be more forceful. We changed the way we did things. We have got a plan B. We got it forward with urgency and created a few more problems. “Again, it’s about your quality of delivery or quality of cross when Danny Rose is on the pitch. I think we gave him some scraps to feed off, but I don’t think our quality was A1. Eventually it [our goal] came from a cross where Danny has headed it down and Tyler’s got on the end of it. “We didn’t cause them enough problems, like we’ve caused other teams. They’re up there and they’re a really good team. Credit to Exeter. But we were down on our work today and that’s what disappoints me. “[We] wasted a lot of the ball today in real key areas. That’s where we need to improve and we certainly will improve.” The Stags’ boss reiterated that his players created good opportunities for themselves, yet it was just the final ball that was lacking in the display. “They [Exeter] fill the middle of the pitch so there are opportunities to get it wide, which we did first-half. We switched the ball really well in the first 20 minutes. “But again, that crossing opportunity we turned down, or that shooting opportunity. I think that the fluidity in the passing was there but there was no punch, no real drive in that last third. “Second-half, when Danny [Rose] is on, he’s a threat in the air; there’s no doubt about that. The players know that when he comes on or starts. “The quality wasn’t there today. Whoever was in that crossing position seemed to not miss the first man [or] didn’t pull it back well enough. We had a lot of opportunities to really attack and work the ball well, and we didn’t hurt them. That’s the most disappointing thing of the afternoon.” The Mansfield boss went on to speak about striker Craig Davies, who missed out on today’s fixture due to a hamstring strain, which is not thought to be serious. He also discussed how his players will pick themselves up ahead of next week’s clash away to Cambridge United. “Craig Davies gives us another option when we are probably a little bit slow in our play,” he added. “We can hit the diagonal into Davo and he can hold it up and we can work around him. “I did feel as though playing with the two number 10s, Otis [Khan] and Butch [Calum Butcher], I felt if we could retain it in that area of the pitch and get CJ [Hamilton] higher and Whitey [Hayden White] higher, then we’d hurt them in behind. “We’ll certainly dust ourselves down. We’ll walk in here Monday morning with a purpose and a real verve, to then prepare for our next game. “It’s really important now that we drive that momentum. The players are disappointed. The only way you deal with disappointment is by going to attack it. That’s what we’ll certainly do come Monday. “[We didn’t create] enough good chances. That’s part of the problem, the quality of work in that last third evaded us today. It wasn’t there, so I can’t stand here and say it was. “We threatened to, and we got in good positions, but we just fell short. We’ll keep extensively working on the training ground and we’ll keep working to improve. “[We’ll] keep making sure we get better at what we do. It’s about minimising threats and maximising what we do. We just fell short on that today.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ---------------------- Flitcroft says Mansfield Town let themselves down in Exeter defeat chad.co.uk, by STEPHEN THIRKILL, Saturday 15 September 2018 Disappointed Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft felt his side let themselves down after they were beaten 2-1 at home to Exeter City. Dean Moxey gave the Grecians a half-time lead with a well taken curling finish from the edge of the box after Stags had started strongly. Nicky Law doubled the advantage just before the hour mark with a close range header. Mansfield pulled a goal back five minutes after falling behind through Tyler Walker’s tap-in. But City stood firm against some late pressure to pick up the win and end Mansfield’s unbeaten start. And Flitcroft could not hide his frustrations at his side’s lack of quality in key areas. “Our quality and our drive was not there and we did not hurt Exeter like we have hurt other teams,” he said. “We did not have the composure that we needed for ten minutes after they scored their goal. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/flitcroft-says-mansfield-town-let-themselves-down-in-exeter-defeat-1-9351324 “We have lost our unbeaten run and now we need to start again and make sure our work is right and we concentrate 100 per cent. “The first goal was against the run of play and it rocked us. We did not hurt them enough before that goal. “I am disappointed with a lot of aspects, our quality was not there like it has been and we let ourselves down today. “We got in good wide positions but failed on our final ball and final pass. “We changed it in the second half and got it forward more with more urgency and created more chances. “We gave Danny Rose scraps when he came on. We did not cause enough problems like we have with other teams. “Credit to Exeter, they are up there and are a really good team.” The frustrated manager was also disappointed by his side’s work-rate and care of the football. “We are down on work-rate collectively and individually and that is what disappoints me. “We did not track runners at important moments, we wasted a lot of the ball in key areas and that is something we need to improve on. It is something we will improve. “We got the ball wide really well in the first 20 minutes, but again that crossing opportunity and shooting opportunity was turned down. “The fluidity of the attack was there but there was no punch or drive. You have got to work towards that and change the shape and tempo of attacks.” ------------------- Final third quality reason for defeat, says midfielder mansfieldtown.net, 15 September 2018 Mansfield midfielder Alex MacDonald cited a lack of quality in the final third as the main reason the Stags were unable to complete a second-half comeback against Exeter City. Mansfield Town’s unbeaten start to their Sky Bet League Two campaign came to an end this afternoon courtesy of goals from Dean Moxey and Nicky Law in either half. Tyler Walker halved the deficit just after the hour mark, but it proved to only be a consolation as David Flitcroft’s side were defeated 2-1 by the Grecians. Despite a flurry of well-worked chances late on, MacDonald believes it was a lack of quality in the final third that let Mansfield down. “The quality in the final third just wasn’t there today,” the midfielder acknowledged. “I think that’s the first time this season we can probably say that and ultimately that’s cost us. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2018/september/macdonald-post-exeter/ “We had a shake when Stockley hit the post in the first-half and I don’t think we recovered from that until half-time. “Second-half we were chasing the game which left us a little bit open to the counter - but overall we’re disappointed with the lack that quality in the final third.” MacDonald also recognised that the performance levels need to be better against opposition such as high-flying Exeter. “Exeter, we knew before the game, that they’re a good team that are at the right end of the table for a reason. “When teams come here, we’re a scalp for them and we have to raise our game because when others come here they certainly seem to do that. “We were finding Otis and Butch in the tens really nice, and I think that’s where we were getting our joy. But, again, it was a lack of quality throughout,” he continued. “When teams are coming here it’s going to be tough because people raise their game 20 to 25% and we’ve got to make sure that we match that.” The 28-year-old rounded off proceedings with regards to the unbeaten run which was brought to end by Matt Taylor’s visiting side. “The unbeaten run is gone now. The lads were upset and down about it in the changing room and rightly so, but we’re going to come in on Monday and work hard next week to start a new, and hopefully longer, unbeaten run.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Alex MacDonald's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------------ Alex MacDonald knows Mansfield Town paid the price for a lack of quality against Exeter City chad.co.uk, by STEPHEN THIRKILL, Saturday 15 September 2018 Midfielder Alex MacDonald says a lack of quality let Mansfield Town down on Saturday. Mansfield Town saw their unbeaten run ended after a 2-1 defeat to promotion-chasing Exeter City. Dean Moxey gave the Grecians a half-time lead with a well taken curling finish from the edge of the box. Nicky Law doubled the advantage just before the hour mark with a close range header. Mansfield pulled a goal back five minutes after falling behind through Tyler Walker’s tap-in. But City stood firm against some late pressure to pick up the win. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/alex-macdonald-knows-mansfield-town-paid-the-price-for-a-lack-of-quality-against-exeter-city-1-9351444 Maconald told the club’s official website: “The quality in the final third just wasn’t there. “I think that’s the first time this season we can probably say that and ultimately that’s cost us. “We had a shake when Jayden Stockley hit the post in the first-half and I don’t think we recovered from that until half-time. “Overall we’re disappointed with the lack that quality in the final third.” MacDonald also knows Stags need to raise their game for home matches. “When teams come here, we’re a scalp for them and we have to raise our game because when others come here they certainly seem to do that,” he said. “When teams are coming here it’s going to be tough because people raise their game 20 to 25 per cent and we’ve got to make sure that we match that.” “The unbeaten run is gone now. The lads were upset and down about it in the changing room and rightly so, but we’re going to come in on Monday and work hard next week to start a new, and hopefully longer, unbeaten run.” -------------------- Matt Taylor: "He gets fouled week in, week out." Matt Taylor calls for referees to give Jayden Stockley more protection following victory over Mansfield Town exetercityfc.co.uk, by Simon Larkins Manager Matt Taylor has called on officials to do more to protect Jayden Stockley following a tough afternoon for the Exeter City striker away at Mansfield Town. The Grecians won the match 2-1, thanks to goals from Dean Moxey and Nicky Law, but Stockley was given some rough treatment outside the box and had a shout for a penalty when he was dragged to the floor trying to get on the end of a Pierce Sweeney cross in the first half. “To be honest I am not sure what more we can do about it,” said Matt. “Jayden (Stockley) gets fouled week in, week out. “He gets beaten up outside the box and he gets manhandled inside the box. And people will say ‘oh, he is a big, tough centre-forward’, but a foul is a foul. https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/matt-taylor-post-mansfield/ “I don’t care how big Jayden Stockley is, a foul is a foul. I sound like a broken record in terms of the fourth official and the referee today, but there has got to be a certain amount of strength from them to say ‘if a foul is a foul inside the box, then it is a penalty’. “There is no two ways about it. They (the opposition teams) can’t keep wrestling him and can’t keep stopping him getting headers on goal. It is the way we play and he is a threat in the box, so just mark him. “I am disappointed with some aspects in terms of the officials but I have got to be careful what I say today because my lads were outstanding. They really well.” Indeed City were outstanding, soaking up some early pressure before Dean Moxey put them into 31st-minute lead with a superb right-foot shot that arrowed its way into the net off the inside of the post. Nicky Law then made it 2-0 in the 57th minute, with a close-range header. And, while Mansfield got back in the match through Tyler Walker’s goal, it was City who, on the balance of play, looked the more threatening throughout the game with Stockley hitting the woodwork twice in the match. “It was a good performance,” said Matt. It was a difficult, difficult game today. They (Mansfield) were excellent. “They put us under a lot of pressure, passed the ball really well and broke our lines at times. We defended our box really well and on the general scale of things, we have kept them to half chances. “When the keeper has been called upon, he has made saves. Pymy (Christy Pym) is unlucky with their goal to a certain extent and I just felt we threatened their goal a bit more than they threatened our goal, to be honest with you. “Jayden (Stockley) has hit the post on a couple of occasions and our opportunities were clearcut, as opposed to half chances for Mansfield. “So you come away from home, you play like that and you have to play seven minutes of injury time and deal with some questionable decisions throughout the game, it can only be a big three points and a big performance from us. “I have got to be careful in what I say in terms of the referee, but I don’t want it to be about the officials today. “I want it to be about the lads’ performance. They worked hard again. They had their days off last week and they kept themselves in shape and came back with an intent on Thursday and Friday in training and that was a proper three points today, it really was.” ---------------------- Exeter boss on a big three points, questionable decisions and ‘excellent’ Mansfield chad.co.uk, by STEPHEN THIRKILL, Saturday 15 September 2018 Exeter City boss Matt Taylor praised his side’s defending around the box after their 2-1 win at Mansfield. Dean Moxey gave the Grecians a half-time lead with a well taken curling finish from the edge of the box. Nicky Law doubled the advantage just before the hour mark with a close range header. Mansfield pulled a goal back five minutes after falling behind through Tyler Walker’s tap-in. But City stood firm against late pressure to pick up the win. Taylor said: “It was a good performance in a difficult game. Mansfield put us under a lot of pressure, they were excellent and passed the ball well. “They broke our lines at times but we defended our box really well and we kept them to half chances. Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/exeter-boss-on-a-big-three-points-questionable-decisions-and-excellent-mansfield-1-9351264 “We threatened them more than they threatened us and our chances were more clear cut. We hit the post twice. “Our keeper stepped up when we needed him to do as well, I thought he was unlucky with the goal to an extent. “Some of the refereeing decisions were questionable today, I have got be careful what I say and I rarely comment on referees, but I was not happy at times. If you come away from home and play like that you have got to be pleased with that. “This is a big three points and a big three points. Our defensive performance was excellent today.” --------------------- |
Latest | September 2018