Mansfield Town boss blasts EFL over scheduling of Carabao Cup tie with Preston North End

Mansfield Town manager Graham Couglan has let rip at the EFL.
Boss Graham Coughlan says Mansfield Town are 'nowhere near ready' for their Carabao Cup tie at Preston.Boss Graham Coughlan says Mansfield Town are 'nowhere near ready' for their Carabao Cup tie at Preston.
Boss Graham Coughlan says Mansfield Town are 'nowhere near ready' for their Carabao Cup tie at Preston.

The Stags gaffer has been angered by the EFL’s decision to schedule their Carabao Cup clash with Preston on 29th August - two weeks ahead of the opening day of the new League Two season.

He says it leaves Mansfield unprepared with a number of players not ready for action.

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“We are not ready for Preston, that is clear and obvious,” he said. “We were preparing for a 12th September fixture.

“We then get the info that the Preston fixture is on the 5th September. All of sudden the EFL in their wisdom decide to insist on us playing next Saturday.

“We are nowhere near ready, that's four of the lads today (against Rotherham) that have played 90 minutes, that is their first 90 minutes.

“I have got another 12-14 players who haven’t got anywhere near 90 minutes. It is not a nice scenario to be in.

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“You are given a date and a timeline and bringing it forward runs the risk of injury and is not ideal.

“We will get up and get on with it, we are adaptable and we will go across and give a good account of ourselves.

“We are a fit group, it is just that match sharpness that we are missing - so advantage Preston.

“Yes they are a Championship team, so I can see why the EFL want to look after them and not ourselves.”

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Coughlan was left pleased by his side’s first half display in their 3-0 defeat to Rotherham on Saturday afternoon.

Stags enjoyed a great spell as they saw a number of chances once again go begging.

“I was pleased with the first 45 minutes, I thought we were very good and had some good moments.

“We looked a threat and dangerous and had some good moments and patterns that we have been working on.

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“You are asking for that extra bit of quality to put the ball in the net.

“The second half was a non event for us. Rotherham made changes and upped the tempo.

“They cut us up at times with sharper passing and more incisive movement and then we go to pot with our discipline.

“If you start pulling people down at the edge of your own box, at this level – Championship level – you’re going to get punished.

“It was a disappointing second-half, but a really pleasing first-half.”