Archived News from April 2019
|
FLITCROFT, PEARCE, MELLIS, JIM BENTLEY REACTION
|
 |
|
Manager delighted with attacking prowess
mansfieldtown.net, 19 April 2019 Stags’ boss David Flitcroft says that his side attacked with ‘vigour’ and a ‘real verve’ in today’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Morecambe at One Call Stadium. Jacob Mellis, Krystian Pearce, CJ Hamilton and Mal Benning were all on target in the Good Friday fixture, securing a win that pushes the Stags up to second in the Sky Bet League Two table. The Mansfield boss says that his players ‘fully deserved’ the victory, while also discussing a meeting he had with lifelong Stags’ supporter Jerry Jenner prior to kick-off. “It was moving before the game, as I met a guy, Jerry, who has throat cancer,” he said. “We had ten minutes with him, and you realise what pressure is when you see his family, who have come here today. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/april/gaffer-post-morecambe/ “The club have supported him in giving him a fantastic day, and it moved me. It moved me to a point where you understand what people have to go through and live through. “That gave me my team talk, to go and tell the players how lucky they were to go out there and be in a position we’ve found ourselves in. “But there’s been no luck attached to what we’ve done. The lads, the staff, the chairman and Carolyn, the work that they’ve put in for us, it gives you days like this. “Courage is about getting on the ball and making angles. We didn’t do that against Northampton. But everyone wanted the ball today and were making angles for each other. “In the first-half we were brilliant, we seemed to attack them from every angle possible. We were unlucky not have more going in [at half-time]. We attacked with that vigour and a real verve. “It pleases you when you see elements of what you’ve done in the week go into the game. It was an emphatic win and one that the players and the supporters fully deserved.” The manager added his delight at seeing four different scorers for Mansfield this afternoon, emphasising the importance of finding goals from different areas of the pitch. “We have relied heavily on Ty [Walker],” he explained. “We’ve had Danny Rose and Craig Davies injured for long stages of the season. “Tyler has carried it at times. CJ has backed him up all season, and Mells, coming from midfield, he showed calmness and composure. “Mal Benning kept driving in the second-half and it’s a great finish for his, and KP [Krystian Pearce] as well. “It’s good to share the load. Once it got to three and four, it was important to take Tyler off. I didn’t want to take any chances with him, Bish [Neal Bishop] or Granty [Jorge Grant].” After seeing his side score four goals, the manager was keen to point out the work of his defensive unit, who secured their 18th clean sheet of the season this afternoon. “We’ve had to fight and be consistent all season. The bedrock is the back-three. It looked fantastic [today]. “In the back-three, I don’t know where that weakness is. We’ve seen that all season from them. “We have to keep sticking to what we’re good at, and today we were back on it. I don’t know how the other results have gone, because I am focusing on what we’re doing. “It’s important that we stick to that focus because we have stuck to what Mansfield is about today.” The Stags face a quick turnaround for their next game, as they travel to face Oldham Athletic on Easter Monday. David Flitcroft says that attentions have now fully shifted to Monday’s clash with the Latics. “From a goal difference point of view, it [win] is important. You have that to think about. “We’ve got a Sky game [live on Sky Sports] and the Oldham players will raise their potential and raise their game on Monday. “We’ve got a really tough fixture against Stevenage, too [next Saturday]. There’s still so much left to play for, and there are quite a few teams still looking to get into the play-offs. “You see how much it meant to the lads today. It was phenomenal. I told them to not go searching for the second goal, and to just be patient. “We took them apart with some really clean, precise work today. We’ll get the boys in tomorrow and focus on the recovery strategy. “We’ll put on a really good session for the lads that haven’t played the 90 minutes today. Then it’ll be recovery for the other lads. “Our focus now is on Oldham, so it will be a late one tonight for us in terms of getting our work ready. Then we have two days to prepare for Oldham.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the manager’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. --------------- David Flitcroft delighted with brilliant Mansfield Town victory over Morecambe chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Friday 19 April 2019 David Flitcroft was delighted with his Mansfield Town side’s ‘brilliant’ almost-perfect 4-0 win over Morecambe and stressed it was only achieved by a year of hard work. Stags stay in the top three with only three games to go and the Stags boss said: “We are not where we are by luck. It’s down to the work that everyone here has put in. “That gives you days like this. You don’t just fluke a win like that. We looked fit and we looked brave. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/david-flitcroft-delighted-with-brilliant-mansfield-town-victory-over-morecambe-1-9723601 “First half I thought we were brilliant. We attacked them from every angle possible. “We were unlucky not to score more in the first half. “It was an emphatic win and one that the players and supporters thoroughly deserved. It could have been five, six, seven. “I missed the third goal as I’d drunk a lot of water on a hot day and I just had to go.” Stags had four different scorers with top scorer Tyler Walker missing out on the feast. “We have relied heavily on Tyler and he’s carried it at times. So it’s good to see other players chipping in and share the load,” said Flitcroft. “From a goal difference point of view it was important today. “I told the lads not to go searching for the second goal and to just be patient as you can get anxious. We took them apart from some clean, precise work. “The back three were so strong today. They were the bedrock of the win. Every time questions have been asked this group of players have responded.” Stags now head to Oldham in 48 hours and the manager said: “All focus now is on recovery for Monday. “It’s on Sky so Oldham’s players will potentially raise their game. There is so much still to play for.” ------------------- Stags relentless in sensational win - Mellis mansfieldtown.net, 19 April 2019 Midfielder Jacob Mellis has labelled Mansfield Town’s all-round performance as ‘relentless’ following a 4-0 victory over Morecambe at One Call Stadium. Mellis opened the Stags’ account on Good Friday with half an hour on the clock courtesy of a smart strike that left goalkeeper Barry Roche rooted to the spot. CJ Hamilton, Krystian Pearce and Mal Benning added to Mansfield’s tally in the second period to ultimately place the result beyond any reasonable doubt. And the midfielder, who produced a superb individual performance, was quick to praise his teammates who never seemed to let off the gas. “We were relentless,” Mellis divulged. “I was pleased with my performance and the boys were all on it. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/april/mellis-post-morecambe/ “When we’ve got 11 players and substitutes playing like that I don’t think anyone in this league can beat us. “It was perfect weather and a perfect performance. Four goals and a clean sheet - perfect day. “We had wave after wave of attack and their ‘keeper had a great game, I know he let in four, but he’s had a great game." The 28-year-old believes that the Stags’ latest victory in Sky Bet League Two sent out a statement as they now head into their final three games bursting with confidence. “It’s a massive step. We wanted to kick this weekend off with three points, send out a statement, and that’s what we’ve done so now we go to Oldham full of confidence. “To be honest, the week we had in training was of high standard, the boys have been buzzing, and you could see this coming. “Like the gaffer says: you take what you do on the training pitch onto the field and we’ve proved that today. “You see [Krystian] Pearce going mad when he scores; it means everything. The boys in the Team of the Season, everyone’s buzzing for them, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a team where everyone’s so happy. “Nobody cares who scores or assists, we just all want to win for the club and the Chairman who’s put a lot in.” The Stags’ number 8 also revealed that he sensed he would notch his fourth goal of the season this afternoon - following a profitable week in training. “I’ve been scoring a few goals this week in training, so I had a feeling I was going to get one,” he continued. “I said to Zayn [Hakeem] before the game: ‘I’m going to score’ so I’m just happy to be on the scoresheet. “More importantly, though, it’s about the three points and we keep on going. “It was a great little cutback by Mal, I knew the defender thought I would take it across my body so I tried a little snapshot through his legs which found the bottom corner. “I know it might sound funny, but I prefer to assist. Ever since I was younger I’ve been unselfish even though Futch got onto me at the start of the season about shooting more. “I’d say the assist that boosts CJ’s numbers is good. A little turn in the middle of the pitch, and when you’ve got CJ’s pace you don’t have to be too accurate. “You can just put it in-behind and he’s done the rest with a great goal.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Mellis' interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ---------------------- Mansfield Town wanted to send out a statement against Morecambe - Jacob Mellis chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Friday 19 April 2019 Mansfield Town midfield ace Jacob Mellis said the squad is ready for the three huge games ahead after a ‘perfect’ display in a 4-0 home win over Morecambe today. “It was a massive result,” he said. “We wanted to send out a statement today by starting the weekend with three points and we’ve done that. “We are buzzing. It’s given us a great platform to go to Oldham. The games are getting bigger and we are ready for them. “It was perfect weather and a perfect performance with a clean sheet today. “It was up there with the best performances of the season. We had wave after wave of attack but their keeper had a great game, even though he let in four. We were relentless today. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-wanted-to-send-out-a-statement-against-morecambe-jacob-mellis-1-9723631 “When every one of our players is on it like today I don’t think anyone in this league can beat us.” Mellis opened the scoring after half an hour and also had an assist on CJ Hamilton’s goal. “I’d scored a few goals in training this week so I felt I might score today,” he smiled. “It was a great ball by Mal - a little cut-back. I knew the defender thought I was going to take it across my body so I just sent a little snapshot through his legs and luckily it found the bottom corner. “We set our stall out and the tempo was so high it was only a matter of time before they cracked.” ------------------- Pearce proud of league’s best defence mansfieldtown.net, 19 April 2019 Mansfield Town skipper Krystian Pearce revealed that he takes immense pride in boasting the best defensive record in Sky Bet League Two, following the Stags’ 18th clean sheet of the season. David Flitcroft’s men produced a scintillating performance in the final third to secure a deserved 4-0 victory over Morecambe on Good Friday. However, while eyes were firmly fixated on the Stags’ attacking endeavours, their defensive solidarity yielded yet another clean sheet. And centre-half Pearce drew attention to this particular statistic with evident admiration. “We think that’s number 18 for clean sheets,” the captain stated. “I’m not sure if we’re top now but we’ve definitely got the best defensive record and we take pride in that - long may it continue. https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/april/pearce-post-lincoln/ “It’s always been a target from the start of the season. I think we might just fall short [of the club record] but there’s always next season. “Keeping our focus and doing the right things have been key. Obviously, the boys in front of us work their socks off to help out the defence so it’s been a collective effort, not just the back three or five. “Both of them [Preston and Sweeney] and top footballers and we just complement each other well. I think because we’re so close off the pitch it always helps.” A peerless defensive display was ultimately coupled with his fourth goal of the campaign - a fine effort in the 70th minute. But the Stags’ stopper admitted that the victory was the most important aspect to rear its head from a superb afternoon of football. “The win was the main thing coming into the game and obviously I’m a defender so the clean sheet is more important than the goal. “I’ll always pick a clean sheet over a goal but the win is the main thing. “I keep telling the boys I’m a fox in the box - hopefully they believe me now! “I tried to show the boys how to dance as well, some of them got a bit scared but hopefully in a couple weeks’ time we’ll be doing it on the pitch together. “It’s important we keep our momentum going into the critical part of the season.” The 29-year-old also paid homage to the Stags’ faithful as 5,070 descended on One Call Stadium to witness their side’s 20th victory in Sky Bet League Two. “It’s a very close team in the dressing and the support basically means it’s a big family,” he said. “It’s a nice feeling to hear the fans chanting your name, I do appreciate it, and I think the excitement is there because we’re so close we just want to finish the job now. “Mathematically it won’t be over unless others slip up again, but we just have to focus on what we’re doing. “We’ll go to Oldham hoping to get three points and we’ll see where that takes us.” iFollow Stags subscribers can watch the interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later today. ------------------- Mansfield Town geared up to go up a division, says Morecambe boss Jim Bentley chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Friday 19 April 2019 Morecambe manager Jim Bentley is hoping Mansfield Town complete their promotion mission and holds them up as something to aspire to after his side’s 4-0 demolition today. “Mansfield are an ambitious club and they have spent a few quid,” he said. “They are geared up to go up a division and fair play to them. I like the manager and I like the assistant manager. https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-geared-up-to-go-up-a-division-says-morecambe-boss-jim-bentley-1-9723643?fbclid=IwAR3EsOuUwenRmCdKRkZ4klyJgZdfSUwf5D2FgA5Me4qBO0QFxzBfph0Km9U “Their support today was fantastic and I hope they go up. They have spent wisely and got it right. “We have to aspire to be like Mansfield were with and without the ball.” But he was unhappy with his side’s showing and had a dressing room lock-in afterwards. “I thought it was a poor performance,2 he said. “Credit where credit’s due, Mansfield are a good side and you can see why they are where they are. “But coming away from home we have to put up a better performance than that. “If you are playing at your best and you lose the game you accept you were beaten by the better side. “They are a better side than us. They have better players and in a better place. “Today they looked like they had more know-how, more running, more aggression and more desire. That goes hand in hand where they are in the position they are in. “But when you play one of the top sides away it’s an opportunity for you to test yourself and keep our little run going.” He continued: “In the last 11 games we have we’ve taken more points than Mansfield so we are in decent form. But we didn’t show enough today. We rolled over and let them tickle our bellies. “From minute one they were up and at it. The crowd were behind them and were magnificent. We didn’t manage it well or pass the ball well enough and we were lazy in our recovery runs. “If it wasn’t for Barry Roche is could have been a lot more by half-time.” Other results meant Morecambe are now safe but Bentley does not want his side to slacken off. “We are now mathematically safe, which is the minimum requirement,” he said. “But from my point of view we need to be a lot better than that as we want to get higher up the division. “There are teams in and around us that we want to get above and finish strongly. “I don’t want to accept we are mathematically safe. I don’t want any ‘already on the beach’ performances.” ------------ |
Latest | April 2019