Archived News from July 2005
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STAGS 0 SHEFF WED 0
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STAGS 0 SHEFF WED 0
27 July 2005 Attendence: 2356 (app 900 from Sheffield Wednesday) Mansfield: Pressman; Peers, Day (Baptiste 45), Buxton (Hjelde 45), Jelleyman (Talbot 71); Uhlenbeek (McLachan 45), Palmer (Coke 63), Dawson (Lloyd 63); Barker (Beardsley 45), Tipton (Brown 68), Birchall (Rundle 63). Sub not used: White. Sheffield Wednesday (first-half): Lucas; Simek, Coughlan, Wood, Heckingbottom; Eagles, Whelan, Rocastle, Brunt; MacLean, Peacock. Sheffield Wednesday (second-half): Adamson; Collins, Lee, Diallo, Spurr; Evans, Adams, O'Brien, Hills; Proudlock, Reet. ---------------- PALMER ENJOYS LIFE AT CENTRE OF ACTION Evening Post, 28 July 2005 Mansfield Town 0 v 0 Sheffield Wednesday Mansfield Town supporters are warming to the idea of seeing Carlton Palmer play regularly in the amber and blue this season. The 39-year-old player-manager looked assured as he continued his 100% appearance record in pre-season friendlies at Field Mill last night. And apart from the odd stray pass, his display was that of a player who could provide the solidity and discipline successful sides need. Palmer, who will be 40 in December, got used to criticism as a player and he won't mind some more this season, even if it is directed at him from Mansfield fans. The midfielder made more than 700 appearances for West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Watford and Stockport and enjoyed a run of appearances in the England side. He made more than 200 appearances during three spells with last night's opposition. The real test will come once the season is in full swing but, on last night's evidence, fitness is no problem. And there were several reasons he won the sponsors' man-of-the-match award. A great tackle set up one of a series of chances, but his contribution was also evident once he went off in the second half. The Stags lost some of the shape they kept well with him on the pitch and they missed his presence. That presence could contribute to be a good blend this season. With much younger players around him, Palmer sat in the hole between defence and midfield and orchestrated his side around him. And he played no small role in helping Mansfield to what, in cricket terms, would have been regarded as a winning draw. It was the League Two side who emerged with most credit, particularly in a first half which produced good spells of attacking play. All that was missing was a cutting edge as Stags created more opportunities. The home side used 20 players, with some of the starting 11 being replaced at half-time and others getting a rest in the second half. Only former Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman and recent signing Gavin Peers lasted 90 minutes. By contrast, Wednesday introduced all 11 substitutes at half-time, with Manchester United loanee Chris Eagles and former Arsenal defender Frank Simek playing for just the first 45 minutes on their debuts. For Stags, Stephen Dawson was excellent and front three Richie Barker, Matthew Tipton and Adam Birchall caused problems. There was a solid second-half debut for ex-Forest defender Jon-Olav Hjelde. Mansfield: Pressman, Peers, Palmer, Day, Dawson, Uhlenbeek, Barker, Tipton, Birchall, Buxton, Jelleyman. Substitutes used: John-Baptiste, Talbot, Coke, McLachlan, Lloyd, Rundle, Beardsley, Brown, Hjelde. Sub not used: White. Sheffield Wednesday: Lucas, Simek, Heckingbottom, Rocastle, Coughlan, Wood, Eagles, Whelan, MacLean, Peacock, Brunt. Subs (all introduced at half-time): Adamson, Jills, Lee, Diallo, Adams, O"Brien, Proudlock, Spurr, Reet, Evans, Collins. --------------- CHAD REPORT: Mansfield Town were good value for their 0-0 draw with Championship neighbours Sheffield Wednesday in tonight's friendly at Field Mill. Both sides had their chances, but the game will best be remembered for the ticket arrangements which saw the game deemed all-ticket twice and pay on the day three times to leave baffled fans scratching their heads. In the end it was a low key affair on an unseasonal cold and wet night. Stags will be pleased with their display against another higher division club, but still need to find their finishing boots with one goal so far in their three friendlies. But, with player-manager Palmer pulling the strings, new signing Dawson caught the eye in the first half. And after the break it was the strong assured debut of Jon Olav Hjelde that really impressed. Stags began brightly and had two good chances in the first three minutes. After just 35 seconds Tipton pulled the ball back for Birchall to shoot straight at keeper Lucas. Then Lucas was in the way of Day's firm downward header from an Uhlenbeek corner. Manchester United loanee winger Eagles fired just wide on five minutes in reply for the visitors. Dawson just beat Lucas to a low Tipton cross but his finish went over the empty goal and an offside flag was raised anyway. Uhlenbeek should have opened the scoring on 26 minutes. Pressman superbly gathered a Wednesday corner and his throw found Dawson whose perfectly flighted ball over the top set Uhlenbeek free With Lucas off his line a chip beckoned. But he took it on as Lucas backpeddled and then saw the keeper's leg keep out his attempt to curl home a low finish. Owls won a free kick a minute later which Brunt crashed against the angle from just over 20 yards. Brunt was again denied by the bar 10 minutes later when his firm cross from the left seemed to swerve in the wind, deceiving Pressman, and coming back off the woodwork. Tempers flared just before the break after Day fouled Rocastle and after players had squared up, it was Palmer who was lectured. Eventually former Stags Peacock stepped up to lash the free kick narrowly wide of the near post from 20 yards as the half ended goalless. Stags made four changes at the break with Buxton, Barker, Uhlenbeek and Day withdrawn and John-Baptiste, Hjelde, Beardsley and McLachlan on. Wednesday changed their entire XI, annoyingly with four players coming on with no numbers on their backs. Dawson tested new keeper Adamson with a low first time shot on 50 minutes from an attempted clearance which he did well to parry. Birchall's run ended with a low shot wide and, after Rundle, Lloyd and Coke had replaced Palmer, Dawson and Birchall on 62, McLachlan bundled a scruffy shot just wide. Another change on 69 saw Brown on for Tipton and on 72 Talbot replaced Jelleyman. Wednesday managed their first shot in anger of the second half on 74 when Proudlock shot straight at Pressman from 25 yards. Proudlock was off target with his next effort from distance. Brown wasted a great chance on 78 when, with Rundle and Beardsley free in the middle as he broke down the right, he delayed too long before tamely crossing straight to the keeper. Proudlock curled a 25 yard free kick wide on 83. Then Beardsley nearly snatced it on 88 when Rundle picked him out with a long cross from the left, but, with Adamson off his line, his header looped over the top. -------------- Sheffield Wed Official Site REPORT: Mansfield Town 0-0 Owls Paul Sturrock utilised virtually his entire first team squad as the Owls battled out a goalless draw with Mansfield Town. The SWFC boss named two entirely different teams, one for each half, in order to give his players match practice ahead of the weekend meeting with Premiership Manchester City. The closest Wednesday came to claiming victory was when Chris Brunt twice hit the crossbar in the first-half, while Owls fans got their first glimpse of new loan signing Chris Eagles. It was something of a reunion with Hillsborough faces of yesteryear as Stags player-boss Carlton Palmer named himself, Kevin Pressman and ex-Wednesday trainee Richie Barker in his starting line-up, while his assistant Peter Shirtliff directed proceedings from the touchline on an damp evening which bore a closer resemblance to autumn than July as rain lashed down on Field Mill. David Lucas was called into early action with a save from Adam Birchall's shot with less than a minute on the watch. The Owls keeper also gathered Rhys Day's header while Stephen Dawson fired over after good work but Matthew Tipton's cross but he had been flagged offside. Wednesday's response was a shot from the left by Eagles - who saw plenty of the ball on the right flank - which flashed wide of the left hand post. Craig Rocastle was thwarted by Gareth Jelleyman's lunging block when he lashed a low drive towards goal but the Owls were grateful to Lucas once more on the 25 minute mark as he blocked from Gus Uhlenbeek after the ex-Blade was set free by Dawson after a quick throw from Pressman set Mansfield on the attack. Within three minutes Wednesday had recovered to come within inches of breaking through as Brunt's 25-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar after Frankie Simek was set sprawling on the right of the box. The Northern Ireland international also hit the horizontal inadvertently seven minutes from the break when his left-wing centre swerved in towards goal and arced over Pressman before cannoning back off the woodwork. Lee Peacock came close against his old club with a low free-kick which curled around the Stags wall but slapped against the sidenetting, prior to a complete change of personnel from Paul Sturrock at the break in which Graeme Lee took the captain's armband from Glenn Whelan. Pressman got a rousing reception from the Owls fans massed at the away end as he took up his place in front of them for the second half and the veteran keeper acknowledged their chants of 'England's number one' and 'Super Kevin Pressman.' The Dronfielder had to get a crucial hand to the ball to divert Adam Proudlock's cross from reaching intended target Danny Reet, but that was a rare moment of goalmouth action as Wednesday second-half eleven endeavoured to settle down and Mansfield also made a number of substitutions. The Owls were glad to see Simon Brown overhit his centre when it seemed easier to pick out his teammates loitering with menace in the centre after a swift Town break and Proudlock drove a long-range free-kick wide with seven minutes remaining. Teams: Wednesday (first-half): Lucas; Simek, Coughlan, Wood, Heckingbottom; Eagles, Whelan, Rocastle, Brunt; MacLean, Peacock. Wednesday (second-half): Adamson; Collins, Lee, Diallo, Spurr; Evans, Adams, O'Brien, Hills; Proudlock, Reet. Mansfield: Pressman; Peers, Day (Baptiste 45), Buxton (Hjelde 45), Jelleyman (Talbot 71); Uhlenbeek (McLachan 45), Palmer (Coke 63), Dawson; Barker (Beardsley 45), Tipton (Brown 68), Birchall. Subs: Baptiste, White, Talbot, Coke, McLachan, Lloyd, Rundle, Beardsley, Brown, Hjelde. ------------- owlsonline.com Field Mill disappointment By Hoyland Owl Date: 28/7/2005 Wednesday had a strong starting line up with new loanee Chris Eagles making a start after agreeing a loan deal till Christmas from Man Utd. Frankie Simek shortly after signing till 2008 featured too. Wednesday and Mansfield didn't seem to be at the races at all in the opening periods with the ball being given away quite a lot as the players found conditions difficult at a very wet Field Mill. Chris Eagles was the main Owls outlet with some neat footwork and interplay with Simek down the right hand side, he got in a few crosses but they seemed to be too close to Owls legend Pressman in the Stags goal. Brunt was getting through quite a bit of work too combining with Hecks down the left. Richard Wood looked unsure alongside Coughlan at the back and he slipped at the vital moment leaving the Mansfield striker a free run in on goal but it was to be mopped up by Coughlin into row z to Wood's obvious delight! Wednesday at times played the ball around well with Whelan and Rocastle combining to put Eagles in with a good chance to cross but again Pressman was there.Mansfield deserved something for their efforts, they played some decent footy at times but it wouldn't be Carlton without a scuffle would it? Protesting at the lack of card shown minutes earlier with Wood's somewhat reckless challenge on the Mansfield winger! Maclean was hacked down with a vicious challenge around 25 yards out leaving the chance for a Brunt free kick, Brunt smashed the ball over the wall and with Pressman nowhere it smacked the bar and went over it really was a great effort. Again Wednesday threatened with Brunt and he again hit the bar when his cross was slightly misjudged by Pressman but he managed to tip onto the bar and away. In the second half a totally new Owls XI were to take to the field with Graeme Lee, Paddy Collins, Adam Proudlock amongst others being given the chance to shine. To be honest the game petered out but for one shot on target which Pressman was equal to from Proudlock. A disappointing game for the Owls in all honesty but as long as they do the stuff at the Potteries next week it doesn't really matter does it? Cheers Lucas,Simek,Wood,Coughlin,Heckingbottom,Eagles,Whelan,Rocastle,Brunt,Peacock,Maclean. Adamson,Collins,Lee,Diallo,Spurr,Evans,Adams,O Brien,Hills,Proudlock,Reet. ------------ |
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