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Archived News from September 2004

CURLE AND BILLY DAVIES REACTION
23rd September 2004 10:27


Keith Curle Interview on Mansfield 103.2 with Jason Harrison

Transcribed by Martin Shaw

If you give a very good team a two goal start in 8 minutes, it's going to be an uphill battle. I'm disappointed with the goals we conceded. We'll look at them and analyse it but at the end of the day we're here to get promotion.

We were down to the bare bones tonight. McNiven is ill. Buxton's got cracked ribs that he's been playing with for two weeks. Asamaoh has got a calf strain and it could have been touch and go whether we did risk him for 20 minutes, putting him on the bench, but our priority is promotion. Tait came on and went over on his ankle. Young Daniel Heron, a young lad who's got potential, came on and did well for himself.

I'm hopeful that McNiven will be recovered from his virus for Saturday. Buxton has had a cracked rib - credit to the lad for playing with it. Unfortunately he picked up a slight infection in his lung but we're hoping he's going to be available. Asamaoh is getting intensive treatment and hopefully he'll be available.
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BBC.co.uk:
Mansfield boss Keith Curle was pleased with his players' response after their terrible start to their Carling Cup first round clash with Preston.
The Stags went on to lose 4-0 after going 2-0 down in the first 10 minutes.
"At half-time all I could ask of them was to go out and restore some pride," Curle said. "I looked at their faces to see if anyone was going to hide.
"All credit to them, they went and had a go. Everyone wanted the ball and tried to play some football."
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CHAD website:
Curle waiting on injured players for big one
KEITH Curle will be hoping to get some of his missing players back in time for Saturday's table-topping battle at Scunthorpe following last night's Carling Cup exit.
Championship club Preston effectively killed off Stags' ambitions with two goals in the first nine minutes on the way to a 4-0 win.
Mansfield were without both full backs Jake Buxton (cracked ribs) and Scott McNiven (illness) along with striker Derek Asamoah (calf)..
Also they lost striker Chris Tate on the night when he hurt an ankle just six minutes after coming on as substitute for the second half.
"Hopefully Scott will have recovered from his vurus and Derek is having intensive treatment so we hope he will be available too," said manager Curle.
"Jake has been battling on for a couple of weeks with cracked ribs but he has developed an infection in hus lung which was affecting his breathing.
"Credit to him for battling on and we will have to see how he is.
"I felt sorry for Chris Tate who went over on his ankle only a few minutes after going on. But it gave young Danny Heron a chance and he acquitted himself very well.
"It's disappointing to lose. But our priority is promotion.
"We were down to the bare bones with injuries and, with the wind against us in the first half, it was difficult circumstances for us.
"When you give a very good team a two-goal start in nine minutes it's always going to be an uphill battle.
"At half-time all I could ask of the players was to go out there and restore some pride. I was looking at their faces to see if anyone was going to hide.
"All credit to them, they went out there and they had a go and restored some credibility. Everyone wanted the ball and tried to play some football.
"I was disappointed with the goals we conceded and we will analyse them."
The result will at least have boosed caretaker manager Billy Davies' claims for the job full-time and he said: "This was a difficult ground to come to and without a doubt it was a potential banana skin as Mansfield have some very good players.
"With the windy conditions as well I thought it was a very professional job and excellent performance.
"It was important to get off to a good start and we deserved it with some excellent play and two good goals.
"We knew it would be difficult with the wind in the second half but we finished with a clean sheet and a good away result so I was delighted for the fans.
"I don't think we should have had to retake the penalty. We shouldn't be punished for putting it in the net.
"As for the sending-off I was absolutely astounded. My interpretation was that Eddie Lewis crossed the ball and his momentum just took him towards the fans.
"To say he ran towards the fans is total nonsense and this decision should be looked at. Common sense has to be used."

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CURLE ADMITS STAGS HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME
Evening Post

Mansfield Town 0 v 4 Preston North End
Mansfield boss Keith Curle admitted his side did themselves no favours as they were hammered 4-0 at home to Preston in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Richard Cresswell, Graham Alexander, Omar Daley and Simon Lynch all got in on the act as Coca-Cola Championship side Preston showed little mercy against their League Two hosts.

The two teams had been set to meet last month but a hazardous chemical leak near the stadium meant the game was postponed.

And for Curle, the game was not worth the wait.

"When you give a very good team a two goal start in nine minutes it's always going to be an uphill battle.

"At half-time all I could ask of players was to go out there and restore some pride. I was looking at their faces to see if anyone was going to hide.

"All credit to them, they went out there, and they had a go and restored some credibility. Everyone wanted the ball and tried to play some football."

Without wanting to make excuses, Curle admitted his strongest side had not been available to him.

"We were down to the bare bones with injuries and with the wind against us in the first half it was difficult circumstances for us.

"I was disappointed with the goals we conceded and we will analyse them.

"But our priority is promotion and I hope we will have some if not all our injured players back for Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Preston caretaker manager Billy Davies said: "This is a difficult ground to come to and without a doubt it was potential banana skin as Mansfield have some very good players.

"With the windy conditions as well I thought it was a very professional job and excellent performance.

"It was important to get off to a good start and we deserved it with some excellent play and two good goals.

"We knew it would be difficult with the wind in the second half but we finished with a clean sheet and a good away result so I was delighted for the fans."

Alexander's strike came from the spot, as his penalty had to be re-taken.

"I don't think we should have had to retake the penalty. We shouldn't be punished for putting it in the net," said Davies.

American midfielder Eddie Lewis received his marching orders in a bizarre incident involving the crowd, and Davies was happy to give his opinion of events: "As for the sending-off, I was absolutely astounded.

"My interpretation was that Eddie Lewis crossed the ball and his momentum just took him towards the fans.

"To say he ran towards the fans is total nonsense and this decision should be looked at. Common sense has to be used."
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Preston North End Official Site
Davies: We Will Appeal
PNE boss Billy Davies has promised to appeal the sending off of Eddie Lewis after the American was given a red card to bring a disappointing ending to a succesful night for the Lilywhites.

But despite the red card Davies was pleased with his sides performance.

"It is a very difficult ground to come to and without a doubt was a potential banana skin for the players, we told them that before the game. They have good players and they have been doing very well, it was a difficult game. All in in all in the conditions I thought it was a professional and excellent performance from the players."

North End took the lead with two quick-fire goals and that almost put the game to bed in the opening 20 minutes.

"We said to the players that it was important we get off to a good start and we work extremely hard to go and get the ball in the 50-50 tackles and they have certainly done that so they deserve to go in front with some excellent play. I said to them at half time that we knew it was going to be difficult because of the wind so once again a clean sheet and a very good result, I was delighted for the fans in the end."

But the sour notes at the end with Alexander having to retake his penalty and missing the retake and the sending off of Lewis is the events that the fans will leave Field Mill talking about.

"I don't think we should be punished for that I think if the ball was saved or whatever the encroachment law should then come in but I think you are punishing us for putting the ball in the back of the net when we are the ones who are harshly done by. The second incident I am absolutely astounded by, my interpretation of that was that Eddie Lewis crossed the ball into the box, his momentum had taken him towards the fans and at that point he found himself half a yard or so away from the supporters and he has raised his hands to stop himself from going into the crowd. We will look at the video and will almost certainly appeal the decision."

 

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