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Archived News from December 2019

LEE GLOVER, STERLING-JAMES, JOHN ASKEY REACTION
8th December 2019 13:16


Assistant reflects on Trophy clash
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 03 December 2019

Assistant manager Lee Glover says there were plenty of ‘positives’ on show from the Stags in tonight’s Leasing.com Trophy clash with Port Vale, but urged the amber and blue to cut out ‘silly mistakes’ ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two encounter with Cheltenham.

Winger CJ Hamilton (below) put Mansfield ahead in the second-half, but strikes from Port Vale’s Rhys Browne and Jake Taylor saw the hosts ahead.

Substitute Omari Sterling-James forced a penalty shootout with a fantastic strike in added time, which the Valiants went on to win 4-2.

Speaking after the game, Glover stated his belief that Mansfield were the better side in the clash at Vale Park.

“First-half I thought was pretty even,” he told iFollow Stags. “At half-time we asked the lads to be a little more aggressive and get up the pitch.

“I thought we played quite well in the second-half, but unfortunately a little mistake gave them a way back in.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/december/glover-post-port-vale/

“We got back in the game with a late, great [Sterling-James] goal, then they took some decent penalties and we didn’t.

“Five lads put their hands up to go and be brave but on the night, we didn’t score the penalties and they did.

“I thought we deserved to win. In the second-half I thought we were in control and had some nice periods of play.

“I think we could have been a bit more ruthless in the final third. I thought we played better in large periods of the game, but it’s about turning those [spells] into goals.

“On the night I thought we were the better side, but we’re gifting people goals. Ultimately, a mistake cost us and let them get back into the game, but people will learn from it and we’ll help them with that.

“If you’re playing well and not winning, you have to look a bit deeper. Saturday [Cheltenham at home] is a massive game, but if we can play like we did in the second-half, we’ll be a threat to teams.

“We want to take the good parts of tonight and stop the silly mistakes [on Saturday]. As soon as we stop them, we have a good chance in games.”

The assistant manager spoke of the changes that were made for the encounter, while also providing updates on defenders Krystian Pearce and Kellan Gordon, who missed the game.

“We made a few changes - we’ve had some illness in the camp so the gaffer [John Dempster] wanted to freshen it up with a few changes.

“Clarkey [James Clarke, below] came in, Macca [Alex MacDonald] and Bish [Neal Bishop] came in, Otis [Khan] came back. So there were a few changes.

“Krystian Pearce should be back for Saturday - he’s got a bug. We needed to be cautious with him.

“Kellan’s [Gordon] last couple of games, he’s been playing with some back pain. He’s had a few painkillers and played through it for the club - we want people to show that type of determination but we have to be careful.

“It has come to the stage where we need someone to have a look at the problem, but that attitude he’s shown is something that we want to encourage. I think he’ll be available for Saturday.”

Glover also reflected on some of the performances that Stags’ alterations displayed this evening, while also attaining that there is still a positive spirit within the Mansfield dressing room.

“I thought Bish and Macca did well and Clarkey was great at right-back. I thought CJ [Hamilton] had one of his better games - I thought he looked dangerous.

“He got himself a goal and caused a threat. You look at the positives and there were a few.

“But we need to make sure that on Saturday we know what we need to do and to cut out these silly mistakes.

“I think you’ve seen in the performance tonight that the dressing room is fine. The performance level was fine and going 2-1 down - if there wasn’t character in the dressing room - we’d have conceded three or four.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Lee’s interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later tonight.

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Silly mistakes cost Mansfield Town dearly again in Port Vale defeat
chad.co.uk, Tuesday 03 December 2019

Mansfield Town assistant manager Lee Glover said Stags just need to cut out the silly mistakes to change their fortunes after another decent display at Port Vale saw them still exit the Leasing.com Trophy last night as their penalties hoodoo struck again.

After a battling 2-2 draw, in which Glover felt Mansfield were the best side, Stags lost a penalty shoot-out for the fifth time in 2019.

With a massive game at home to Cheltenham looming on Saturday, Glover said: “On the night I thought we were the better side, but we’re gifting people goals.

“If you’re playing well and not winning, you have to look a bit deeper. Saturday is a massive game, but if we can play like we did in the second half, we’ll be a threat to teams.

“I thought we deserved to win. In the second half I thought we were in control and had some nice periods of play.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/silly-mistakes-cost-mansfield-town-dearly-again-in-port-vale-defeat-1-10136264

“I think we could have been a bit more ruthless in the final third. I thought we played better in periods of the game, but it’s about turning those spells into goals.

“We should have got a second goal to kill the game. If we'd scored it they were dead on their legs. We were dominant at that stage and I couldn't see them scoring.

“Ultimately, a mistake cost us and let them get back into the game, but people will learn from it and we’ll help them with that. You have got to do the basics when the ball comes into your box.

The night once again ended in penalties heartbreak as CJ Hamilton and Mal Benning failed to score.

“They took some decent penalties and we didn’t,” admitted Glover.

“We do practice penalties, we work with them.

“The five lads put their hands up to go and be brave to take them, but on the night, we didn’t manage to convert the penalties and they did.”

Glover added: “I think you’ve seen in the performance tonight that the dressing room is fine.

“The performance level was fine and going 2-1 down - if there wasn’t character in the dressing room - we’d have conceded three or four.

“It's a great game on Saturday and the players will be itching to get back out there and get a result for the club.”

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Back scan for Mansfield Town wide man Kellan Gordon
chad.co.uk, Tuesday 03 December 2019

Mansfield Town defender Kellan Gordon faces a scan on a niggling back problem, but Stags still expect him and ill captain Krystian Pearce to be fit for Saturday's big home clash with high-flying Cheltenham Town.

“In Kellan’s last couple of games, he’s been playing with some back pain,” said assistant boss Lee Glover after Gordon missed the penalties defeat at Port Vale last night.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/back-scan-for-mansfield-town-wide-man-kellan-gordon-1-10136294

“He’s had a few painkillers and played through it for the club - we want people to show that sort of determination and character.

“But we have to be careful. People can't be taking tablets or painkillers to get through games. But the lad has tried for the club.

“It has come to the stage where we need someone to have a look at what are the underlying problems.

“But that attitude he’s shown since he came through the doors is something that we want to encourage. I think he’ll be available for Saturday.”

On Pearce, who also missed last night's game, he added: “Krystian Pearce should be back for Saturday - he’s got a bug. We needed to be cautious with him.”

Glover said some of the players who in last night has pushed their claims for a place against Cheltenham.

“I thought Bish (Neal Bishop) and Macca (Alex MacDonald) did well and Clarkey (James Clarke) was great at right-back. I also thought CJ (Hamilton) had one of his better games - I thought he looked dangerous.

“He got himself a goal and caused a threat. You look at the positives and there were a few.”

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I'm ready when called upon - forward
mansfieldtown.net, Tuesday 03 December 2019

Forward Omari Sterling-James stated he wants to find ‘consistency’ after a superb strike forced penalties in tonight’s Leasing.com Trophy clash at Port Vale.

Wingman CJ Hamilton’s 50th-minute finish had thrusted the Stags into the lead before frontman Rhys Browne and substitute Jake Taylor netted for the hosts.

This left the amber and blue needing a late equaliser, which arrived in the second minute of stoppage time courtesy of Sterling-James' tremendous finish.

And after notching his fourth goal of the campaign, the St Kitts and Nevis international reiterated his intentions to nail down a place in future starting line-ups.

“It’s as close as I’ve been all season [to a start],” he said to iFollow Stags.

“I’ve got to keep going, it’s just when he [John Dempster] wants to put me in. I’ve had games in and games out so I just want to find consistency and keep going.

“If I’m on the bench I’m not sulking, I’m just waiting for the go. As soon as he told me to get ready I knew what I had to do.”

The 26-year-old also felt Mansfield had the better chances on Tuesday evening, despite falling to defeat via means of a penalty shootout.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2019/december/omari-post-port-vale/

“I think it was an even contest. We both had chances and we probably had the better chances, where we could have teed up someone and put it to them.

“We went one-nil up but unfortunately they’ve scored two so we just have to go again.

“I think we’ve played alright, we’ve had chances and I’ve managed to score but we’ve just ran out of time.

“Unfortunately, in this cup there’s no extra time and it goes straight to penalties.”

The substitute then detailed his 92nd-minute equaliser from his perspective as he found the bottom corner with aplomb.

“Once I’ve got the ball from [Jacob] Mellis out wide, I can see him [the defender] back tracking and I’ve got him exactly where I want him,” Sterling-James continued.

“It’s just a case of whether I can get across him to find someone or hit the back of the net.

“I think that goal and the one [against] Everton are my favourites.”

iFollow Stags subscribers can watch Omari's interview in full by logging into mansfieldtown.net/ifollow later tonight.

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Omari Sterling-James again stakes claim for Mansfield Town start
chad.co.uk, Tuesday 03 December 2019

Mansfield Town forward Omari Sterling-James yet again staked his claim for a rare League Two start this weekend with his fourth goal of the campaign in last night's Leasing.com Trophy exit at Port Vale.

The St Kitts & Nevis international forced penalties with his late strike after again impressing when coming on as a substitute and said: “It’s as close as I’ve been to a start all season to a start.

“I’ve got to keep going, it’s just when the manager wants to put me in.

“I’ve had games in and games out so I just want to find consistency and keep going.

“If I’m on the bench I’m not sulking, I’m just waiting for the go. As soon as he told me to get ready I knew what I had to do.”

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/omari-sterling-james-again-stakes-claim-for-mansfield-town-start-1-10136500

On his goal, he added: “Once I’ve got the ball from Jacob Mellis out wide, I can see the defender back tracking and I’ve got him exactly where I want him.

“It’s just a case of whether I can get across him to find someone or hit the back of the net.

“I think that goal and the one against Everton are my favourites.”

That goal made it 2-2 and forced a penalty shoot-out which Stags lost and on the game overall, he said: “I think it was an even contest.

“We both had chances and we probably had the better chances.

“I think we’ve played alright, but we’ve just ran out of time.

“Unfortunately, in this cup there’s no extra time and it goes straight to penalties.”

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'We still need to improve' - John Askey as Port Vale's fine form continues
By Michael Baggaley, stokesentinel.co.uk

John Askey says there is still room for improvement from his squad despite seeing them extend their run of form to just two defeats in 15 with a home victory over Mansfield.

Vale are through to the last 16 of the Leasing.com Trophy after coming through an entertaining game against Mansfield 4-2 on penalties after finishing 2-2 on 90 minutes.

CJ Hamilton put the Stags ahead five minutes into the second half only for Rhys Browne and substitute Jake Taylor to fire Vale in front. Omari Sterling-James netted in stoppage time but Vale were convincing winners in the shoot out as Scott Brown saved from Hamilton and Mal Benning while Luke Joyce, Taylor, Scott Burgess and Will Atkinson all netted.

The manager said: "I thought overall we played some really good football. In the second half I was a bit annoyed that we thought we could carry on with tippy-tappy football. They were going to press us and that is how we conceded the first goal.

"But we responded really well and scored two goals so I was pleased overall."

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/we-still-need-improve-john-3606330

Askey made seven changes from the side that won 3-1 in the FA Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday, rotating his squad with this weekend's league game at home to Walsall in mind.

He said: "It is a difficult decision whether to change it or not. We want to progress in the competition but it is also important that we try to keep players match fit as well. It is an ideal game for them and one or two who came in did really well."

Vale are just two points off the play-off places, through to play Manchester City in the FA Cup third round and now three wins from Wembley in the Trophy. But the manager says he is uncomfortable with plaudits at this early stage of the season.

He said: "I always worry when I'm getting praise! You are always guarded against when people say things are going well. You are always looking over your shoulder.

"Football tends to bite you in the backside once you start to think everything is right. Everything isn't right, we still need to improve things. So, we will keep trying to do that, there is still a lot of room for improvement."

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Latest | December 2019