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Archived News from December 2003

REPORT FROM THE TIMES
6th December 2003 10:42


Report from The Times

Mansfield ensure unwanted journey for Adams
By David Alexander
Wycombe Wanderers 1 Mansfield Town 1



TONY ADAMS is still awaiting his second victory as the manager of Wycombe Wanderers after an FA Cup second-round stalemate at the Causeway Stadium last night. After an impressive 4-1 success on his managerial debut, also in the FA Cup, against Swindon Town, Adams is finding out the hard way that management is not so easy.
His side, bottom of the Nationwide League second division, did well to stay in this tie against a Mansfield Town team managed by Keith Curle, his former England colleague. “It gets frustrating,” Adams, who now faces a replay at the Field Mill Ground on Tuesday week, said. “But I'm seeing some improvement. It's a hell of a job but that's why I took it — we need to stabilise and I'm the man to do it.”



Brave words from Adams, the former Arsenal and England captain who knew nothing but success at Highbury. But in Curle, Adams came up against an opposite number who still remembered FA Cup quarter-final and semi-final defeats at the hands of Arsenal sides marshalled so expertly by Adams and it was no surprise that Mansfield, third in the third division and only two points behind Oxford United, the leaders, started strongly.

Frank Talia, Wycombe's Australian goalkeeper, was the busier early on but the home side gradually improved with Gavin Holligan setting up an easy chance for Darren Currie that was spurned.

Wycombe took the lead when, from a Mansfield attack that saw Rhys Day and Iyseden Christie hit the woodwork in quick succession, Dannie Bulman picked up the loose ball, ran forward and crossed towards the far post where Holligan scored.

The visiting side were soon on terms when Christie fired in after confusion at a corner and he could have won the tie with a late drive.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS (4-4-2): F Talia — D Senda, S Marshall, R Thomson, C Vinnicombe — D Bulman, I Simpemba, J McSporran, D Currie — C Faulconbridge, G Holligan (sub: S Roberts, 87min). Substitutes not used: S Williams, M Rogers, C Mapes, S Brown.

MANSFIELD TOWN (4-4-2): K Pilkington — B Hassell, T Vaughan, D Artell, R Day — L Lawrence, C Disley (sub: C Larkin 87), N MacKenzie, L Williamson — I Christie, J Mendes. Substitutes not used: J White, L Dimech, W Cordon, C Beardsley. Booked: Disley.

Referee: P Taylor.


 

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