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An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from January 2020

COUGHLAN, OLEJNIK, MARK COOPER REACTION
17th January 2020 18:56



Result leaves me ‘heartbroken’ - manager
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 11 January 2020

Stags’ boss Graham Coughlan provided an honest assessment of this afternoon’s frustrating 4-3 defeat to Forest Green Rovers at One Call Stadium.

The amber and blue surrendered a two-goal lead to see Rovers lead 3-2, before striker Nicky Maynard fired home an equaliser just before stoppage time of the second-half.

However, the visitors struck the final blow of the contest as Aaron Collins sentenced the Stags to defeat in the 96th minute.

Graham Coughlan says the result leaves him ‘heartbroken,’ while also speaking of decisions that he believes should have gone in Mansfield’s favour before the final goal of the game.

“I’m crestfallen. I’m heartbroken. And I’m really, really annoyed to be honest,” he told iFollow Stags. “We conceded four goals at home - and the manner of which we conceded - you can’t concede four goals at home.

“You can’t take the easy option of just getting the ball and just kicking it forward. You have to be man enough to get on the ball and make us play.

“In the first-half, they did everything we asked of them, apart from in that 51st minute [of the first-half], when that free-kick came into our box.

“The game plan worked for 51 minutes. They got the goal and we go to pot, to be honest.

“Someone needs to explain the decisions made today because some of them were really poor. Nicky Maynard - I don’t know how a referee can miss or not give a penalty [at the end of the game]. It was a stonewall penalty, let’s be honest.

“Then we go over the watch late on in the second-half again. But they’re just excuses - we should have had a penalty - but that’s just me trying to make excuses for the dressing room.

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/january/gaffer-post-fgr/

“They [Forest Green] goals were very preventable. We’ve got to and we should do better. You cannot allow a six-foot centre-half to stroll into your box and get a free header.

“Sometimes in football you have to hit rock bottom before you bounce back. That, for me today, in my gut, was rock bottom.

“It wasn’t acceptable. I feel for the fans because they’ve probably had to watch this all season. I can only imagine what they’re going through.

“At a time like this, we have to stick together as one with a unity. It makes us better and stronger, and we’ll enjoy the success when it comes, because we’ve had to scrape ourselves off the ground.”

The boss says that his side’s ‘mindset’ changed after Farren Rawson’s first goal of the afternoon, which made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time.

“As soon as that ball goes into the back of the net and makes it 2-1, our legs turned to jelly. We came out with a totally different mindset and character than we displayed in the first-half.

“That’s not just a problem today - it’s been a problem all season. I don’t know why the mentality changes.

“Only hard work and new players may be able to dig us out of that mindset. We lack a leader and we lack a voice. We lack an organiser and the balls come into the box way too easily from out wide.

“It’s a problem I’ve inherited and it’s a problem that only I can sort out. I’ll need to sort it out because I’ve given these lads fair opportunity and a fair chance.”

Graham Coughlan also spoke of how he views the January transfer window.

“This window is very difficult. I’ve made a lot of assessments on the players. This window is going to be very difficult in terms of getting bodies in and getting bodies out.

“We might just have to galvanise ourselves and go along with what we’ve got from now until the end of the season.

“If we can add to that, that’s great, but I seriously think we need new recruits with a different mindset and a different mentality.

“We’re not going to go daft in the window. It’s a window where players and clubs can actually benefit massively from our desperation.

“We’ll be okay as a football club as there are plenty of players out there that want to represent Mansfield Town Football Club and play for myself and Joe Dunne. There are one or two in the changing room that can help this club.”

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

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We have hit rock bottom today admits Mansfield Town manager Graham Coughlan
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 11 January 2020

Graham Coughlan believes Mansfield Town have hit rock bottom today in the 4-3 home defeat by Forest Green Rovers.

The Stags boss vowed he would bring success in the end but admitted it may be tough to get the right squad balance in the current January window.

“I am crestfallen, I am heart-broken and I am really, really annoyed, he said on a day when Coughlan had already told Krystian Pearce and Jacob Mellis they can leave.

“That was a hammer blow today and we are at rock bottom. Sometimes in football you have to hit rock bottom to bounce back and that for me today was rock bottom.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/we-have-hit-rock-bottom-today-admits-mansfield-town-manager-graham-coughlan-1-10196402

“I feel for the fans as they have probably had to watch this all season and I can only imagine what they're going through.

“At times like this you have to stick together as one and we will enjoy the success when it comes as we've had to scrape ourselves off the ground from rock bottom.

“We will be okay as a club as there are plenty of footballers out there who want to represent Mansfield Town and play for me and Joe Dunne.”

On the transfer window ambitions, he said: “I need to sort this out now as I have given these lads fair opportunity.

“This window is very difficult getting bodies in and out. I have made a lot of assessments on the players.

“We might just have to galvanise ourselves and go with what we've got in there to the end of the season. If we can add to it that's great. We do need new recruits with a different mentality.

“We won't go daft in the window as it's a window when players and clubs can benefit massively from our desperation.”

Coughlan saw his side go 2-0 up, 3-2 down, level on 90 minutes only to lose to a 96th minute sucker punch.

“I am disappointed we conceded four goals at home, the manner in which we concede and the ease in which we concede,” he said.

“You can't concede goals we keep conceding goals, you can't sink the way we do and you can't keep taking the easy option and just kicking it forward.

“You have got to be man enough to get on the ball and make us play.

“In the first half we did everything asked apart from the 51st minute when a free kick came into our box.

“But second half when they scored we just went to pot. The game plan worked for 51 minutes before they scored. Our legs then just turned to jelly and came back out with a different mindset. That's been a problem all season.

“Why do we start going back to front when we have Nicky Maynard and Danny Rose up front against two big centre halves? It doesn't make sense.

“But I think that's where we are as a group at the moment and only hard work and maybe new players will be able to dig us out of that mindset.

“Someone needs to explain some of the decision today. Nicky Maynard had a stonewall penalty and both their first and fourth goals were over the time allotted, but that's me clutching at straws and making excuses for the dressing room.”

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We're determined to right our wrongs - goalkeeper
mansfieldtown.net, Saturday 11 January 2020

Goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik declared that Mansfield Town are ‘100 percent’ determined to right their wrongs after today’s 4-3 defeat against Forest Green Rovers.

Goals from forward CJ Hamilton and striker Danny Rose had given the Stags a deserved lead until the visitors turned the contest on its head.

And while frontman Nicky Maynard thought he had rescued a point in the 90th minute, Mark Cooper’s side stole victory with Aaron Collins’ last-gasp strike.

Olejnik, who returned to the starting line-up this afternoon, was therefore adamant that the amber and blue would be fully committed to responding at Plymouth Argyle next Saturday.

“We fully understand we aren’t giving them [the fans] what they pay for and what they deserve, but we’re 100 percent trying to put it right,” the shot-stopper told iFollow Stags.

“This season has felt a little like it [rock bottom], certainly the dressing room feels like it. We’ve just had a long chat about things and just to concede at the death like that is never nice, especially the way the game’s gone.

“We’ve been doing this for a few weeks - not necessarily soul searching but talking amongst ourselves to try and put things right.”

https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/january/bobby-post-fgr/

The Austrian then assessed the Sky Bet League Two encounter with Rovers after an action-packed encounter at One Call Stadium.

“To get back into the game against a top side and concede last minute is very frustrating. I think that sums our season up so far.

“I think there might have been a ‘let’s go again’ after we scored at the end but maybe some of the younger players can learn from such an experience.

“It wasn’t their fault, but as an older player you’ve been there a few times and you probably should take your foot off the gas.

“Maybe we got caught up with the fans a bit and it’s a lesson to be learnt, in a weird way it’s almost good to hit rock bottom because there’s nowhere else to go.”

And the 33-year old hopes manager Graham Coughlan (below) will now be able to fully implement his ideology after a hectic festive schedule.

“It’s a new manager, he’s obviously trying to implement his things and it takes time,” Olejnik continued.

“He [Graham Coughlan] came in at a time where there were a lot of games, so he didn’t have time to work on anything. Whereas having a Monday to Friday week gives you time to get things right.

“We’ve got a great squad and on paper we should be higher up. We have 100 percent bought into what he wants to do - some of the rules he’s laid down all of the lads are buying into it.

“If we’re meant to be at a meeting at quarter to, for example, we’re there at twenty-five to. We just want to do what he’s asking us to do.

“It is frustrating [the results] but with games now being Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, we will put things right by doing the work.”

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

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Mansfield Town keeper Bobby Olejnik says inexperience may have cost Stags in thrilling finale
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 11 January 2020

A little bit of inexperience might have cost Mansfield Town in Saturday’s dramatic injury-time defeat to Forest Green Rovers.

That’s the view of recalled keeper Bobby Olejnik, who said the Stags should probably have settled for a 3-3 draw after pulling level in the 90th minute through Nicky Maynard.

Instead, he said they went chasing a winner and were caught out at the other end as Aaron Collins struck a crushing blow for the visitors to deny the Stags even a point.

“To get back into the game against a top side - to score at 3-3 the way Nicky (Maynard) did - and concede last minute is very frustrating. I think that sums our season up at the moment,” he said.

“I think we managed the game quite well, but I think there might have been a bit of a, because we’ve scored, let’s try again (to get another goal).

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-keeper-bobby-olejnik-says-inexperience-may-have-cost-stags-in-thrilling-finale-1-10196880

“Perhaps there was a bit of inexperience where some of the younger players can learn from such an experience.

“I am not saying it was their fault, but as an older player you’ve been there a few times and you think we’ve just scored and we should try and probably take our foot off the gas.

“Maybe we got caught up with the fans a bit and it’s a lesson to be learnt.

“In a really weird way it’s almost nice to hit rock bottom because there’s nowhere else to go. You can only then go up.

“To concede at the death like that is never nice, especially the way the game had gone.”

The Stags had taken a 2-0 lead through CJ Hamilton and striker Danny Rose before Rovers turned it around to lead 3-2.

Olejnik added: “We did well and then had a mad 10 to 15 minutes - the five minutes before half-time and the 10 to 15 minutes afterwards.

“This season we seem to have been better playing on the back foot, which we have shown against teams like Port Vale, coming back in the last minute, and obviously we thought we had done it again.”

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Keeper Bobby Olejnik calls on fans to stick with struggling Mansfield Town
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Mansfield Town goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik has urged the fans to stick with the side as they struggle for consistency at the One Call Stadium.

The Stags have just two home wins in League Two this season - and have the worst home record in the league.

On Saturday they threw away a two-goal lead against play-off chasing Forest Green Rovers.

They then levelled in injury-time, only to concede again six minutes into stoppage time and lose 4-3.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/keeper-bobby-olejnik-calls-on-fans-to-stick-with-struggling-mansfield-town-1-10197326

“The fans are frustrated but we are probably more frustrated,” said Olejnik, who was recalled to the side.

“We are not going into the dressing room laughing and joking and saying it will be alright next week.

“We are just as frustrated as them (the fans). We don’t want to be against them, we want them on our side because we know we have got one of the best supporters, if not the best, in the league.

“We know what it is like when you are having success and how great it can be.

“At times we would like them to be on our side (more). I know it is frustrating for them because they have paid good money to come and watch us and they have a right to their opinion.

“But maybe sometimes they could get behind us when it is not going well and support us. I fully understand we are not giving them what they pay for and what they deserve, but we’re 100 per cent trying to put it right.”

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Hard work can turn this around - Mansfield Town keeper Bobby Olejnik
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS

Experienced shot-stopper Bobby Olejnik has promised that Mansfield Town’s players will work hard to turnaround their indifferent results.

The Stags remain in the bottom half of League Two, despite the arrival of new manager Graham Coughlan.

On Saturday they dramatically lost 4-3 at home to Forest Green Rovers - having led 2-0 and then equalised at 3-3 in the last minute.

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/hard-work-can-turn-this-around-mansfield-town-keeper-bobby-olejnik-1-10197330

Olejnik, recalled to the starting line-up for the match, said: “We’ve been doing this for the last few weeks - not necessarily soul searching but talking with the manager and amongst ourselves to try and get everything right.

“All the lads are honest lads. We have had success here and that is probably what is most frustrating.

“Over the last few seasons we have had really good success. The core of the squad is really the same and yet it is not happening for us and that is what is frustrating for us.

”We have obviously got to tighten up. We have conceded quite a few goals recently and it is frustrating from a personal standpoint because you want to be keeping clean sheets. As a goalkeeper that’s what you get judged on.

“Over the last three weeks, five or six games, we have not really had time to train. Now with the games being Saturday, Saturday, Saturday we will put things right by doing the work.

“It’s a new manager, he’s obviously trying to implement his things and it takes time.

“He (Graham Coughlan) came in at a time where there were a lot of games, so he didn’t have time to work on anything because you are just preparing for games. Whereas having a Monday to Friday week, you’ve got three or four days to get things right.

“We’ve got a great squad and on paper we should be higher up. We have 100 per cent bought into what he is trying to do - some of the rules he’s laid down all of the lads are buying into it.

“If we’re meant to be at a meeting at quarter to, for example, we’re there at twenty-five to. We just want to do what he’s asking us to do.”

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Forest Green boss vents spleen at section of fans but lauds his players after comeback victory
stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk, By Ashley Loveridge

FOREST GREEN manager Mark Cooper vented his spleen at a section of fans after his side edged a rollercoaster seven-goal thriller at Mansfield Town.

Cooper raged: “Sometimes you do find yourself down in the game and don't need the fans to start singing the manager out - it's embarrassing. Forest Green towards the top of League Two? Wake up and get a life!

“The majority of them are really good but a few of them are deluded and need to get behind the players.

https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/sport/18154337.forest-green-boss-vents-spleen-section-fans-lauds-players-comeback-victory/

“I have full belief in this squad of players and still want to add to it. It's about time some other people started believing in them.

“We never looked out of the game and played some great football and had some great chances and when we were 2-0 down and their goalkeeper got man-of-the- match and had some brilliant chances in the first half and I thought the least we deserved was 2-1.

“It's a good way to win as you know there's no way back for the opposition because it's that late,” said Cooper.

“We have been so strong defensively this year, then we now can't buy a clean sheet.

“But we scored four goals and three points is the main thing as we continue our quest to be the little village team trying to get into League One.”

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Mark Cooper calls Forest Green Rovers fans 'deluded' and tells them to 'get a life'
Head coach criticised away following after win at Mansfield Town in League Two
gloucestershirelive.co.uk

Mark Cooper has labelled a section of Forest Green fans that went to the 4-3 win at Mansfield Town as “deluded.”

It was a seven-goal thriller in Mansfield, with Aaron Collins firing into the roof of the net in the 96th minute to win it for Forest Green.

Nicky Maynard equalised for the Stags in the 91st minute, looking to have earned the home side a point in an extraordinary match.

Mansfield raced to an early two-goal lead through CJ Hamilton and Danny Rose, before Farrend Rawson scored a brace either side of half-time to level the game for Rovers.

Carl Winchester put Rovers 3-2 up from outside the box on the hour-mark before all of the late drama happened.

Head coach Cooper was unhappy with the fans after the game despite the crucial three points, telling some of them to “get a life” and to “grow up”.

“We’ve gone from that to scoring four goals. It’s a long season, we have to keep going. I have full belief in the squad of players, but I still want to add to it,” Cooper said in his post-match press conference.

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mark-cooper-calls-forest-green-3730688

“It’s about time some other people started believing in the players.

“We never looked out of the game. Their goalkeeper got man of the match. That tells the story. We had some brilliant chances in the first-half, and I thought the least we deserved was 2-1 down.

“Sometimes you find yourself down in a game; you don’t need the fans to start singing the manager out. It’s embarrassing. Forest Green - towards the top of League Two - wake up, get a life.

“There’s a majority of them there that are really good. There’s a few there that are absolutely deluded. They need to wake up and get behind the players. I don’t care what they think about me.”

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Forest Green boss Mark Cooper backs Graham Coughlan to sort Mansfield Town mess out
chad.co.uk, by JOHN LOMAS, Saturday 11 January 2020

Mark Cooper is backing Graham Coughlan to sort out the mess at Mansfield Town after his Forest Green side stole a late 4-3 win at the One Call Stadium today.

Stags have only won twice at home in the league all season, but the Forest Green boss said: “Mansfield have got some good players.

“Graham has come in as their new manager and I think he will do them a really good job.

“He will get them aggressive and organised and they will be really difficult to beat once he gets his own stamp on it.”

https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/forest-green-boss-mark-cooper-backs-graham-coughlan-to-sort-mansfield-town-mess-out-1-10196386

Stags let a 2-0 lead slip in a thriller and Aaron Collins sealed the win on 96 minutes.

“It's a good way to win as you know there's no way back for the opposition because it's that late,” said Cooper.

“We have been so strong defensively this year, then we now can't buy a clean sheet.

“But we scored four goals and three points is the main thing as we continue our quest to be the little village team trying to get into League One.”

Cooper was unhappy with some other chants by Rovers fans at 2-0 down.

“I have full belief in this squad of players and still want to add to it. It's about time some other people started believing in them,” he said.

“We were 2-0 down but never out of the game. We played some good football and had some great chances. Their keeper got man of the match which tells you the story.

“Sometimes you do find yourself down in the game and don't need the fans to start singing the manager out - it's embarrassing. Forest Green towards the top of League Two? Wake up and get a life!

“The majority of them are really good but a few of them are deluded and need to get behind the players.”

Stags are in 18th position and have only won two of their League two games at home all season.

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