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Archived News from January 2019

FLITCROFT, WALKER AND GABRIELE CIOFFI REACTION
20th January 2019 23:33


Stags showed ‘desire’ to net late winner
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Stags’ boss David Flitcroft says that the late winner against Crawley Town epitomises the ‘desire’ and ‘willingness to win’ of his charges.

Mansfield were forced to wait until the 88th minute for their match-winning goal - courtesy of frontman Tyler Walker - despite being on top for the majority of the contest.

The manager picked out the patience of his players as one of the main positives of tonight’s display.

“The good thing for us today is we stayed patient,” he said. “We have a lot of quality on the pitch. We deserved to get the points and the lads fought so hard for it.

“The one they [Crawley] had on the counter, the save from Jordan [Smith] is outstanding.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/january/gaffer-post-crawley/

“There was a spell between 20 and 35 minutes, when we just took the game to them. I felt we had to score in that moment and put that nail in the coffin early doors.

“I was really happy with the first half performance. It was tidy and there was care in our work. But to get the late winner shows you the desire and fitness of the players, and the willingness to win.”

The Stags’ chief also discussed the relationship of Walker and new loan signing Jorge Grant, while also touching on the debut of new striker Nicky Ajose.

“He [Walker] stays alert,” he added. “You can see what it means to him scoring goals for Mansfield Town and our supporters.

“Him and Jorge [Grant] are best pals. He came with him when we got Tyler and I tried to get Jorge in then.

“If Tyler hadn’t enjoyed the experience so much and really thrived here, I don’t think we’d have got Jorge.

“We’re a good draw for any new signing. We’re a good football club and we’re brilliantly run, with some unbelievable supporters.

“I love watching him [Jorge] and his movement. I love the way he moves on the ball. He’s bright and intuitive on the pitch.

“We switched to a 4-4-2 late on, and you can see him putting a shift in down the right-hand side. That’s why he’ll do brilliantly in the game.

“When you work with him, you see the quality. When you bring in that sort of quality, it lifts everyone else as well.

“Nicky Ajose, his goals speak for themselves. That chance that he had, I expected the net to bulge. But he won’t go hiding. Good goalscorers keep getting chances because missing doesn’t hurt them.”

The gaffer previewed Stags’ next clash in Sky Bet League Two, a trip to face in-form Colchester United on Saturday.

“They [Colchester] have a fantastic business model. It’s one that I looked very closely at when I was at Bury, with the way they bring the academy players and work with players.

“They have a top manager who knows his way around the game. When you get that young energy with players wanting to learn, Colchester’s success has been built off that.

“They have a thriving academy that gives youth a chance and they have a clear pathway. They’ve had a really positive season, but so have we, so it’ll be a clash of two good playing styles.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.

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Birthday celebrations extended as Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft thanks Radfords for new signings after win
CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft enjoyed watching two of his best birthday presents make impressive debuts tonight as the Stags beat Crawley 1-0 to leap back into the top three. Flitcroft had a busy birthday yesterday as he signed two more high quality players in Nicky Ajose and Jorge Grant - and tonight they played their part in a crucial and hard-earned win, finally secured by Tyler Walker’s 88th minute finish.

“I’d been trying to keep it quiet about my birthday yesterday but the two signings yesterday were a brilliant birthday present and I thanked the chairman (John Radford) and Carolyn (CEO Radford),” he smiled.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/birthday-celebrations-extended-as-mansfield-town-manager-david-flitcroft-thanks-radfords-for-new-signings-after-win-1-9539286

“The support they have given me is phenomenal, and to back up an already talented squad with two more talented players gave everyone a massive lift after Saturday.”

On the new pair’s debuts, he added: “Sometimes it’s not easy coming in, but with the fluidity the team plays with and the system we’ve got, they fitted straight in.

“To get a late winner just shows you the desire and fitness of the players and their willingness to win. “The good thing for us today was that we stayed patient with the way we want to play.

“We have some good technicians and we had a lot of quality on that pitch. We stayed true to that and kept trying to move the ball and work good angles. “We got a better quality of crosses in.

“There was spell between 20 and 35 minutes we just took the game to them and played some brilliant stuff. But you have to score and put that nail in the coffin.

“I was really happy with out first half but we just didn’t get any reward.”

On Walker’s late winner, he said: “That’s eight or nine of his last 12 goals have been late on or in the last 20 minutes. He stays alert. You can see what scoring goals for our supporters means - he loves it.”

But fellow Forest loanee Jordan Smith made two crucial saves after the break to deny Crawley.

“The save Jordan made on that counter-attack was just outstanding. If you want to keep that clean sheet it takes those moments,” said Flitcroft.

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Jorge Grant’s debut certainly has manager David Flitcroft purring over his display, saying: “I love watching Jorge and his movement. He is an elegant mover.
CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/best-of-nights-for-mansfield-town-s-best-of-friends-as-nottingham-forest-loan-duo-sparkle-1-9541236

“He has guile, football intelligence and is calm and considered in his work. “I love the way he moves on the ball. He’s bright and intuitive on the pitch.

“We switched to a 4-4-2 late on, and you can see him putting a shift in down the right-hand side. That’s why he’ll do brilliantly in the game.

“We also know there are goals in him as well after what he did at Notts

“When you work with him, you see the quality. When you bring in that sort of quality, it lifts everyone else as well.”

Flitcroft added: “Jorge came here with Tyler in the summer and at the time I tried kidnapping him and keeping him here. I’ll never forget it!

“We had a really good rappore, but then he got the Luton move which was the right move to go and play for Nathan Jones. “I kept monitoring it and didn’t think we’d get him.

“Then we saw he’d been released and the chairman phoned me and said they’d made a phone call to the owners of Nottingham Forest.

“They kept those communication lines really open. They have a really good relationship with Nottingham Forest’s owners. We were alerted to it and were really quick to do the deal.

“The biggest thing is the relationship he’s got with Tyler and how close they are. “Tyler told him about the environment here. We used Tyler to sell it, but it wasn’t a hard sell.

“Tyler has been looked after and supported. He loves it here and is really committed to being a Mansfield Town player which is important for any loan signing.”

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Mansfield Town may still bring one more player in - but not a centre half
CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Mansfield Town may bring in one more player in the January window - but it won’t be a centre half. Manager David Flitcroft had originally said he wanted more cover in the centre of defence before the window opened, but is now satisfied with what he has at his disposal and is looking elsewhere. On Monday he brought in striker Nicky Ajose and midfielder Jorge Grant and said the market was now opening up midway through the window with more and more quality players becoming available.

“I like the balance in the squad, but we might get one more,” he said.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-may-still-bring-one-more-player-in-but-not-a-centre-half-1-9540384

“I am not looking for a centre half. We have Hayden White as cover and we have got Lewis Gibbens out on loan, but he has done his 28 days now and can be called back if needed.

“We are trying to get Lewis game-ready now and he trains with every day.

“We are continuously assessing Mirf (injured centre half David Mirfin) and he got another 65 minutes in the reserve game yesterday.”

He added: “We didn’t really rush into the two new signings. We have calculated what we needed. You just never know. “The wrestle at other clubs is becoming a bit freer now and players are becoming more on our radar and it’s maybe just picking one more up.”

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Colchester United business model impresses Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft
CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft is a big admirer of the Colchester United way of doing things. But tomorrow he will be hoping to shoot them down as promotion rivals.

Flitcroft admits Colchester were a big template for his future thinking with the success of their youth policy, one he has adopted at Mansfield.

“I like the way they do things,” he said. “I love the business model and what they have done as a football club, really supporting the academy. It’s thriving and producing players.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/colchester-united-business-model-impresses-mansfield-town-boss-david-flitcroft-1-9544457

“We looked at it very closely when I was at Bury. “They have a young, dynamic team and a brilliant manager with outstanding core values. You can see that in his team. He knows his way around a game.

“They play with a young energy. They give youth a chance and it’s a clear pathway.

“They have had a really positive, consistent season, but so have we. So it’s a real clash of two good playing styles. “It’s a real head to head we are looking forward to.”

After two defeats in a row, Stags beat Crawley 1-0 on Tuesday to go back into the top three and Flitcroft said: “The win on Tuesday will give us that bounce at Colchester.

“I won’t lie - there was a disappointment over Saturday’s game because of the expectation levels playing Yeovil.

“But we got a quick chance to avenge that feeling against Crawley, which we did. “It will be two good teams coming up against each other. They were excellent when we played them at the One Call at the start of the season.”

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Grant relishes reunion with ‘best mate’ Walker
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Debutant Jorge Grant stated that it was enjoyable to link up with ‘best friend’ Tyler Walker again following Mansfield Town’s 1-0 victory over Crawley Town.

Mansfield dominated proceedings at One Call Stadium but it took Walker until the 88th minute to net the pivotal strike - his 17th goal of the season.

And all the while, Grant looked lively during his Stags bow as he worked tirelessly to try and unlock the opposition back-line.

The Stags’ no. 23 expressed his delight at playing alongside Walker once more as they secured all three points on Tuesday evening.

“It was good to link up with Ty, as always,” he began.

“I spoke to him earlier in the game - saying that he’ll get one today - and he has so I’m really pleased for him.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/january/grant-post-crawley/

“It was very enjoyable for me out there especially because we got the win in the end, and played some good football at times, too.”

The creative attacking midfielder, who penned a temporary deal from Nottingham Forest yesterday, also spoke of his desire to chalk up valuable first-team minutes.

“Obviously I’ve been waiting to get playing again and I really enjoyed it out there,” Grant continued.

“It was tough, especially on the legs, but I’m really happy to get the win.

“I thought in the first half we played some really good football. Second half turned a little scrappy but Ty [Walker] got the goal in the end.”

The 24-year-old was denied a debut goal by Reds’ ‘keeper Glenn Morris but was deservedly awarded the man of the match award for a fine display in front of the Stags’ faithful.

“It’s really nice from whoever picks the man of the match; I’m really pleased they picked me.

“There were a couple [opportunities] in the first half that I was really close to [scoring], so it was one of those where I needed it to fall my way, but Ty got it in the end which is good.

“I felt like I did well first half especially, second-half I perhaps drifted in and out of it.

“My passes were a bit loose sometimes but that happens in football when you haven’t played a lot. I felt like I fitted in well.”

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Best of nights for Mansfield Town’s best of friends as Nottingham Forest loan duo sparkle
CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Mansfield Town’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town was a night to remember for best friends Tyler Walker and Jorge Grant as Walker bagged a late winner and Grant won man of the match on his debut. The pair have grown up together since linking up at parent club Nottingham Forest at the age of 16 and now Grant has joined Walker on loan at the One Call Stadium, giving fans an early taste of his talents with last night’s silky showing.

“It was good to link up with Ty, as always,” he said. “I spoke to him earlier in the game - saying that he’ll get one today - and he has so I’m really pleased for him.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/best-of-nights-for-mansfield-town-s-best-of-friends-as-nottingham-forest-loan-duo-sparkle-1-9541236

“It was very enjoyable for me out there especially because we got the win in the end, and played some good football at times, too. “Obviously I’ve been waiting to get playing again and I really enjoyed it out there.

“It was tough, especially on the legs, but I’m really happy to get the win. “I thought in the first half we played some really good football. Second half turned a little scrappy but Ty got the goal in the end.”

He added: “It’s really nice from whoever picks the man of the match; I’m really pleased they picked me. “There were a couple of chances in the first half that I was really close to scoring, so it was one of those where I needed it to fall my way, but Ty got it in the end which is good.

“I felt like I did well first half especially, second half I perhaps drifted in and out of it. “My passes were a bit loose sometimes but that happens in football when you haven’t played a lot. I felt like I fitted in well.”

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Goalkeeper looks to maintain league’s best defensive record
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 17 January 2019

New goalkeeper Jordan Smith says he is eager to help continue the work of ‘the best defence in the league,’ after signing on loan for the Stags last week.

We announced last Thursday that the 24-year-old had made the switch from Nottingham Forest to One Call Stadium until the end of the season.

The ‘keeper says he wants to maintain Stags’ fine defensive record, which currently sits at a league-best of 20 goals conceded in 27 matches.

“I know that I’m coming in behind the best defence in the league who carry their record proudly,” he said. “It’s something I want to carry on and make even better.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/january/jordan-smith-pre-colchester/

“It’s incredible how high the standards are [in the Stags’ defence], not that I underestimated it. The tempo and the intensity that the lads work at, you can see that straight away.

“The chemistry is there between the centre-halves. Even though we had to make changes after Matt Preston’s unfortunate red card [against Yeovil], I thought we were just as solid.

“I said as soon as I joined that communication was going to be key. We all have to be disciplined and concentrate as a lot of our good play is done in the final third of the pitch.

“I have to be barking at them [defence] and making sure we’re set up for any counter-attacks. With KP [Krystian Pearce] in front of me as the skipper, he’s been brilliant.

“There have been balls that have come into the box of real quality. Crawley were unfortunate as they hit the post.

“We back our boys in midfield to go and win the scrap and take the game to them from there. The league is not without its quality, so I’m relishing the games to come.”

Reflecting on his first two appearances for the amber and blue, Smith conceded that there will be no easy games over the remainder of the Sky Bet League Two campaign.

“Usually you have to play a full season before you can say it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, but I’ve been here a week and I think I’ve had that already. Obviously we had the loss to Yeovil, then the highs of the late winner on Tuesday [against Crawley].

“It wasn’t the debut I wanted, but on Tuesday we managed to put it right and have that jubilation.

“It [loss to Yeovil] confirmed to me that there aren’t going to be any easy games in this league. The league table doesn’t lie, however, we saw a Yeovil side who had a game plan and executed it well.

“In football you don’t have much time to lick your wounds. We had to put it right, which I think we did on Tuesday.

“I don’t think I had an awful lot to do in either of the games, but the manager alluded to it in his post match press conference that you have to be alert.

“It was good for me to get a couple of decent saves in, and I’m so glad it played an important part as we managed to go on and get that winner.”

Tuesday’s victory over Crawley saw the Mansfield debut of creative attacking midfielder Jorge Grant, a player Smith knows well, with both players on loan from Nottingham Forest.

The shot-stopper says that Grant’s quality was there for all to see in the victory.

“I think it [Grant’s performance] spoke for itself. He won man of the match on the night and the fans voted him man of the match since.

“That’s exactly what we knew he was going to bring to the table and that’s why the manager fought so hard to get him.

“Anyone who wasn’t sure of his quality, his performance spoke for itself. I think he’s only going to improve from here, because at times maybe he was a bit too sharp or too quick.

“I’ve faced him first hand in training - it’s not pleasant! He just has that real quality, whether it’s that final pass or a shot.”

Smith has started both fixtures since signing for the Stags, a decision that the goalkeeper knows was not an easy one for ‘fantastic’ manager David Flitcroft to make.

“I did come for first team football. I did look, and I know that he [Conrad Logan] played the last few [before I came] and he played really well. I have massive respect for him.

“The manager has been fantastic. I don’t think he was an easy decision [to start me] and I don’t think it was one he took lightly.

“He pulled both ‘keepers in on my first morning and spoke to us and gave his reasoning behind it, which I thought he was fantastic and the best way to go about it.

“Hopefully, with the two performances that I’ve had so far, I hope I’ve affirmed that his decision was the right one.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Jordan Smith’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.

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New Mansfield Town keeper Jordan Smith surprised to be thrown straight in ahead of Conrad Logan
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 17 January 2019

Jordan Smith admitted he was surprised to go straight into the Mansfield Town side when he joined on loan from Forest last week. But he said he had every respect for Conrad Logan and knew he was ready to win his place back if Smith slips up.

“I was a little bit surprised to get in straight away,” said Smith. “I had come for first team football, but I said when I first arrived I thought there would be a bit of work involved to dislodge Conrad Logan from the team.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/new-mansfield-town-keeper-jordan-smith-surprised-to-be-thrown-straight-in-ahead-of-conrad-logan-1-9543581

“I saw he’d played the last few and played really well. I have massive respect for him. “But the manager has been fantastic with me. I don’t think it was an easy decision or taken lightly.”

Smith recalled how boss David Flitcroft dealt with the change. “He pulled us in on our first morning together and spoke to us to give his reasoning behind it which I thought was fantastic and the best way to go about it,” said Smith.

“Hopefully my performances so far have affirmed his decision was a good one. “But I got on with Conrad straight away and we have had some good conversations. He is a really good person and there is a mutual respect.

“Some of his work on the training ground is magnificent and I think he can feel a bit hard done by not keeping his place. “But that’s the world we live in and only one can play. I can’t rest on my laurels as I know for a fact that he is keeping his high standards. If I slip up and make mistakes he will be there to pick up the pieces.”

Smith knows how hard it can be as a keeper to lose your place after his disappointment at Forest after playing well at Championship level. “It was very difficult for me at Forest,” he said. “That was one of the reasons why this was easier for me to come into an environment and understand how Conrad was going to take it. I felt exactly the same.

“I think I played 44 consecutive league games and then all of a sudden I got dropped and then very quickly became the third choice goalkeeper. “But that’s football. It’s a business environment and decisions are made above you that you have to deal with and accept. We are paid to be professional about it.

“This opportunity has presented itself and I fully intend to take it with both hands.”

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Nottingham Forest keeper relishing challenge on loan with Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 17 January 2019

New Mansfield Town goalkeeper Jordan Smith believes he has experienced a whole season’s worth of emotions in just two games on loan from Nottingham Forest. The youngster, from Kirkby, suffered a 1-0 defeat in his opening game with yeovil before making two crucial saves in an important 1-0 win over Crawley.

“Usually you have to play a full season before you can use the cliché ‘a rollercoaster of emotion’,” he smiled. “But I have only been here a week now and I think I have had that already with the loss here last Saturday and then the highs of the late winner on Tuesday night which was exactly we needed.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/nottingham-forest-keeper-relishing-challenge-on-loan-with-mansfield-town-1-9544752?fbclid=IwAR1ezbqRz5Kfpt2BYL8czqKGAMVf2C5ywr2kh1YXgYrQQAoXikY1vhm2R3M

“It wasn’t the dream debut I wanted against Yeovil with going a goal down and not being able to get anything out the game.

“But on Tuesday we managed to put it right and we had that jubilation. So already I’ve had that rollercoaster which every footballer likes as a cliché. “The two games affirmed to be there are not going to be any easy games in this league. The table doesn’t lie. But we had a Yeovil side who came and fought for their lives and executed their game plan on us well.

“Fortunately we didn’t have much time to lick our wounds as we put it right on Tuesday, which was perfect with a win and a clean sheet.”

Smith had little to do on Tuesday but his two second half saves were vital. “That’s the life of a goalkeeper,” he said. “I don’t think I had an awful lot to do, but you’ve got to be alert and keep your concentration levels high.

“I know I am coming in behind the best defence in this league, who carry that record proudly, and it’s something I want to carry on and make even better.

“So it was good for me to get a couple of decent saves in and I am so glad it played an important part and we managed to go on and get that winner.”

He added: “It’s incredible how high the standards are - not that I underestimated it. With the tempo and intensity the lads work at on the training ground, you can see it straight away.

“The chemistry is there between the centre halves, who look solid. “League Two is exactly as I thought. It’s a scrapping league but its not without its quality.

“There have been balls coming into box that we’ve had to defend of real quality. So I am looking forward and relishing the games to come.”

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Stags set environment to thrive in - striker
mansfieldtown.net, Thursday 17 January 2019

Top scorer Tyler Walker says he feels as if he is continuously improving at Mansfield Town, citing the manager’s ‘belief’ and the attacking play-style of the Stags as the reasons for doing so.

It was confirmed after Tuesday night’s victory over Crawley that Walker, on loan from Nottingham Forest, will see out his season-long stay at One Call Stadium.

The striker says he is glad to complete the campaign with the Stags because of the rate he is currently developing at as a player.

“Obviously I came here on a season-long loan,” he said. “I wanted to stay here the whole time, I’m really enjoying myself and I want to help Mansfield Town get promoted.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/january/tyler-walker-pre-colchester/

“It’s a combination of things [reasons for wanting to stay] - the manager believing in me, the style of play; we play good attacking football, create a lot of chances and obviously it’s my job to put them away. Hopefully I can continue to do that.

“That’s what this season for me has been about, developing as a player and helping Mansfield Town. As every month goes by, I feel like I’m improving. [I’m] getting stronger, fitter and I’m really enjoying it.

“I feel I’m improving well - the team has obviously been getting better and better which helps. I’m really enjoying it and hopefully I can continue to get better and better from now until the end of the season.”

Walker netted his 17th goal of the season on Tuesday evening, a late winner against Crawley. The forward says the timing of the goal made it all the more special.

“It was a good win on Tuesday night. All the lads were buzzing in the dressing room afterwards. It was a big three points to put us back in the top three.

“Now today we’ve got to concentrate on the next game coming up, and another big three points.

“Getting the [winning] goal is a good thing for a striker, but when it comes in the 88th minute, it does make it a bit more special.

“It’s at the end of the game where everyone’s looking to get the three points. I’m just glad it came in the end to be fair.

“[On] Tuesday I thought everyone played well, especially Granty [Jorge Grant]. Everyone could see what a good player he is and what influence he’s going to have from now until the end of the season.”

The Stags have added to their ranks this month by bringing in goalkeeper Jordan Smith, striker Nicky Ajose and attacking midfielder Jorge Grant - three players that Walker believes will make a big difference.

“[Grant will bring] goals and assists. Everyone knows from when he was at [Notts] County how many goals he scored and the assists he got.

“He’s a really good player and I enjoy playing with him. The link up we have is good - hopefully we can both get goals and assists for the team and propel us up the table.

“We’ve had it [connection] since we were young. We played in the under-21s together for two or three years and the connection we had was really good.

“I always used to play number nine, he used to play number ten and we linked up really well.

“I didn’t really have to say a lot [to Grant before he signed]. Obviously the gaffer was talking to him, I told him that I was enjoying it and that I thought that he would enjoy it as well.

“I didn’t say too much to him, I wanted him to make his own decision really [because] obviously it’s his career.

“He’s a massive signing for us I’m really glad he did come in the end, because he’s going to make a big difference.

“The three players [brought in during January], they’re great signings for us and anyone would be lucky to have them, so the fact that we’ve got in them in our dressing room is only going to benefit us.

“Tuesday night shows you, he [Jordan Smith] has made two saves that are match-winning saves really. If we don’t have a clean sheet, we don’t win the game as obviously we only scored one goal.

“He’s a top-quality keeper who me and Granty have played with in the past, and like I say we’re lucky to have him.

“It’s like we’re back in the under-23s, but we’re grown up now and we’ve got a job to do at Mansfield Town. We want to get better, keep improving until the end of the season and hopefully get promotion.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Tyler Walker’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today.

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Mansfield Town star Tyler Walker delighted that Nottingham Forest have confirmed loan extension
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 17 January 2019

Mansfield Town top scorer Tyler Walker said he was delighted to finally have it confirmed by parent club Nottingham Forest that he will be allowed to remain at the One Call Stadium for the rest of the season. Walker, who bagged his 17th goal of the campaign to see off Crawley Town on Tuesday, knew there was a clause in the loan deal that could see him head back to the City Ground this week.

But now it has been confirmed that isn’t happening, Walker smiled: “I am buzzing to know I am staying. “I came here on a season-long loan and I wanted to stay here for the whole time.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/mansfield-town-star-tyler-walker-delighted-that-nottingham-forest-have-confirmed-loan-extension-1-9543576

“I am really enjoying myself and I want to try to help Mansfield Town get promoted. “The manager believed in me and I like the style of play here. We create a lot of chances and it’s my job to put them away.”

With fellow Forest pair Jordan Smith and Jorge Grant joining him at Mansfield and a winning goal against over Crawley, Walker admitted that for him: “The week couldn’t have gone any better really. “It was a big win to get us back into the top three. “Getting a goal is always a good thing for a striker. When it comes in the 88th minute it does make it a bit more special. I’m just glad it came in the end.”

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Nottingham Forest duo on loan at Mansfield Town excited by Martin O’Neill’s arrival at City Ground
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Thursday 17 January 2019

Martin O’Neill could be the man to lead Nottingham Forest back to their glory days, says goalkeeper Jordan Smith, who is on loan at Mansfield Town from the Reds for the rest of the season. Smith, one of three Forest players currently at the One Call Stadium, said: “Obviously all my focus is at Mansfield Town at the moment, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a look at the appointment of Martin O’Neill, which is obviously very exciting.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/nottingham-forest-duo-on-loan-at-mansfield-town-excited-by-martin-o-neill-s-arrival-at-city-ground-1-9544405

“Knowing the history of Nottingham Forest and being there for so long I think it’s one the fans should be really excited about as well. “He is someone who knows the club inside and out and he’s been there and done that as well, winning the Champions League twice.

“Going forward the club should just relish the fact they have someone in the dug-out who could be the man to take them to wherever they want to go.”

O’Neill’s appointment came after the protracted departure of Aitor Karanka which had fans bemused at times. “There’s nothing else you can say apart from that’s football,” said Smith. “A lot of the decisions are made way above my pay grade so it would be unfair to comment and I wouldn’t want to say anything out of turn. “The press have covered it all well. It’s all out there to read and people can make of it what they will.”

Fellow Forest loanee Tyler Walker added: “I bet there will be a real buzz with the new manager coming in and I have heard there’s a lot of tickets being sold. “I am sure everyone down there is buzzing, but we have got a job to do here and our focus is on that. “It is an exciting appointment. He is going to be a good manager for Forest. But we have to keep our heads down here at Mansfield Town and try to win promotion.”

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twitter
Neal Bishop @NealBish

Big 3 points! Buzzing for the main man @tylerjandrew1 , can’t wait for Saturday

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CHAD.CO.UK, BY JOHN LOMAS, Tuesday 15 January 2019

Crawley head coach Gabriele Cioffi said: “Today we deserved a point. Both sides played good football and both sides deserved a point. “But you just can’t afford to concede on 88 minutes.

Read more at: https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town/birthday-celebrations-extended-as-mansfield-town-manager-david-flitcroft-thanks-radfords-for-new-signings-after-win-1-9539286

“We gifted them the three points. After 88 minutes that ball has to be our ball. “Mansfield were the home side but for 88 minutes there didn’t seem to be much difference between the side. “We had our chances but that’s football. The goals will come with performances like that.

“I do think we need fresh blood - everyone knows this. We have missed a couple of targets already and this squad needs some support.

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Crawley Town head coach Gabriele Cioffi calls for 'fresh blood' after disappointing result at Mansfield
westsussextoday.co.uk, BY GRAHAM CARTER

Crawley Town head coach Gabriele Cioffi was understandably disappointed with Tuesday night's defeat at Mansfield which was decided by a goal by Tyler Walker with just two minutes to go. The Reds boss reckons this level of performance will in the future bring a goal and three points as it reflected a good standard of play.

Cioffi also stressed they must not mistakes at the end of matches like they did as this can cost them dear.

He told the club's website http://www.crawleytownfc.com: "In the last two games we could have got at least four points. "Today we deserved a point which would have been fair for both teams as both sides played good football.

Read more at: https://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/news/crawley-town-head-coach-gabriele-cioffi-calls-for-fresh-blood-after-disappointing-result-at-mansfield-1-8772716

"We can't afford to concede a cross in the 88th minute - after 88 minutes it has to be our ball."

The head coach has asked the board for some new recruits during the transfer window to give his squad a boost. So far in January Reds have signed former Hendon striker Ricky German and ex-Falkirk and Brighton defender Tom Dallison, who made his debut at Mansfield.

Cioffi said: "I think we need fresh blood: everyone knows this. We lost a couple of targets in the transfer window but I think this squad needs support."

He found a lot of positives from the display, which included several good chances to score while Mark Connolly hit the post.

Cioffi said: "We had our chances but that's part of football. "This performance in the future will bring a goal and three points. For 88 minutes our personality and football ideas were growing."

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Latest | January 2019