Archived News from January 2006
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SHIRTLIFF AND CURLE REACTION
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Stags unhappy over red card
CHAD website RICHIE Barker is adamant there was no contact in his challenge to cause Chester's Ben Davies to crash to the floor and earn him a red card in last night's 2-1 home defeat. Barker's departure was the turning point at 1-1 as Chester went on to snatch victory. But Davies spent the rest of the night being booed by angry home fans and there were also angry confrontations between home fans and Chester player by the tunnel at the final whistle. More importantly, Stags had lost a crucial home game against Keith Curle's ex-Stags brigade who had lost their previous seven League games. "It was an even first half and then we got our noses in front. So I am a little disappointed with the way we lost the game," said Stags boss Peter Shirtliff. "On the sending-off I can understand why Richie Barker was booked for pushing the guy in the chest, though we were trying to take a quick free kick. "But I have spoken to him and I don't think any contact was made for the second booking. "I thought the referee lost control of the game in all honesty and that's not because we lost it. "We have lost a match we shouldn't have lost and if we had kept 11 men on the field I don't think we would have done. "At 1-0 up I thought we would go on and stamp our authority on the game which we didn't. To be fair their first goal was a good strike and the second was a bit of a freak. "We did create a few opportunities later on and might have made better use of them, though Adam Birchall was unlucky when he hit the bar." "It was three points we desperately needed," smiled the triumphant Curle, who is still locked in a legal battle against Stags over his sacking last season. "We have been playing well recently but not having that bit of luck in front of goal which we got today. "But we have kept working hard and kept our belief and we did get the rub of the green today and our keeper made some good saves. "It was always going to be a tight, scrappy game but, even after going behind, I knew we have goals in this team and I believed we could score twice. "They were two committed teams desperate for three points but I didn't see the sending-off. All I could see was my player lying on the ground. "I didn't feel under any great pressure. My chairman has been ringing me after games and asking me how he can help me or what I need and it takes a brave man to come out with statements like those." ---------- Best Stag night ever for Curle Chester Evening Leader KEITH CURLE was in a happy mood today as his side delivered their first league win in eight games last night. The Chester City boss admitted the victory had been important, but he was always confident that his team would return to winning ways. He said: “The three points were desperately needed, but we scrapped and we've performed well in certain games and we've always given ourselves a chance. “I thought we got the run of the green last night and Stephane Gillet made some fine saves. But we had that little bit of luck that had been deserting us in the past few games. “We've continued to work hard and we've kept to our beliefs. “In a lot of the games we've been playing we've played well but not had the breaks in front of goal, but that was probably down to not having fit strikers. “I thought we looked a threat last night at Mansfield. We controlled the ball well and tried to play - it was always going to be a tight and scrappy game. “I've always believed we've got goals in the team. “We always scored goals at the start of the season and if we went 1-0 down we always knew we could score two in reply. “I'm one of the biggest believers that we will be successful.” Scott McNiven and Derek Asamoah both scored their first-ever goals for the club to hand the Blues a well deserved victory at Field Mill. Curle was delighted for the two players and provided his interpretation of the contest that led to the dismissal of Mansfield striker Richard Barker 24 minutes from the end of the match. He added: “Scott McNiven has had two or three opportunities like the one he had last night and they've just come off the side of his foot. “Ryan Lowe had a similar chance in the first half that just came off the side of his foot. But as I always say, the harder you work the luckier you get. “There were two committed teams playing that were desperate to win three points. “I didn't see the sending off, all I saw was one of my players left on the ground.” Curle also provided some special praise for City's Luxembourg international goalkeeper, Stephane Gillet. He said: “Not a lot of people knew a lot about Stephane Gillet when he arrived at Chester, myself included. “I put faith in Stephane's agent who asked me to take a look at him in training - unfortunately our goalkeeping coach was away so I took a couple of sessions and he saved all my shots so he must be good!” Three City players have received permission to find other clubs. Sean Hessey, Abdou El Khoti and Craig Dove are all free to leave City. Curle said: “I've told Sean Hessey, Abdou El Khoti and Craig Dove that they are free to go. “All three are available either for long term loans or contracts at other clubs. “I'm trying to give the players a head start and offer them a chance to win a contract at another club. “There will be a host of players out of contract at the end of the season, but this is a chance for all three to go now. “All three would only be fringe players if they stayed at Chester next season so it's important that they secure themselves a deal at another club, raise their expectations as professional players, and provide themselves with an opportunity to move forward.” Curle is keen to release players out on loan or with permanent contracts at other clubs before he can make new signings. ----------- SHIRTLIFF BLASTS REF EVENING POST, 25 January 2006 Stags boss Peter Shirtliff blasted the performance of referee Keith Hill in Mansfield's home defeat to Chester. Captain Richie Barker was sent off by the Hertfordshire official after being shown two yellow cards in two minutes. Shirtliff said: "I think the referee lost control of the game, and I'm not just talking about the red card." Mansfield went in front through Danny Reet's second goal in three starts since signing from Sheffield Wednesday, but did not go on to stamp their authority on the game. "Had we had our full allocation of players for the full 90 minutes then I felt we would have won," said Shirtliff. ------------ CHESTER VERDICT EVENING POST, 25 January 2006 Chester boss Keith Curle insisted he was happier to end his side's miserable run than get one over on his old side Mansfield. The former Stags boss is still suing for alleged unfair dismissal. But he said it was not a case of exacting revenge. He was more concerned about ending City's recent slump. He said: "I think we got the rub of the green a little but it is three points we desperately needed. "It was a good performance from us and we scrapped and worked hard. I thought we showed great determination and controlled aggression." ----------- STAGS BOSS DISAPPOINTED WITH DEFEAT EVENING POST, 25 January 2006 Keith Curle was delighted to see his Chester side defeated former club Mansfield 2-1 that ended a run of seven successive defeats. Mansfield took the lead against the run of play in the 51st minute through Danny Reet but Scott McNiven equalised three minutes later with an edge of the area rocket shot. Richie Barker was sent off for two fouls in two minutes amidst furious scenes from both sets of players just after the hour mark. Ben Davies' 30-yard free kick was met by Derek Asamoah and his looping header drooped under the cross bar to give Chester victory. "It was three points we desperately needed," smiled the triumphant Curle, who is still locked in a legal battle against Stags over his sacking last season. "We have been playing well recently but not having that bit of luck in front of goal. "But we have kept working hard and kept our belief and we did get the rub of the green and our keeper made some good saves. "It was always going to be a tight, scrappy game but, even after going behind, I knew we have goals in this team and I believed we could score twice. "They were two committed teams desperate for three points but I didn't see the sending-off. All I could see was my player lying on the ground. "I didn't feel under any great pressure. My chairman has been ringing me after games and asking me how he can help me or what I need and it takes a brave man to come out with statements like those." Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff admitted to being a little disappointed with the result. He said: "It was an even first half and then we got our noses in front. So I am a little disappointed with the way we lost the game. "On the sending-off I can understand why Richie Barker was booked for pushing the guy in the chest, though we were trying to take a quick free kick. "But I have spoken to him and I don't think any contact was made for the second booking. "I thought the referee lost control of the game in all honesty and that's not because we lost it. "We have lost a match we shouldn't have lost and if we had kept 11 men on the field I don't think we would have done. "At 1-0 up I thought we would go on and stamp our authority on the game which we didn't. To be fair their first goal was a good strike and the second was a bit of a freak. "We did create a few opportunities later on and might have made better use of them, though Adam Birchall was unlucky when he hit the bar." -------------- Boss slams red card Clubcall, 25 Jan 2006 11:33 Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff was fuming after seeing Richie Barker sent off in the 2-1 defeat at home to Chester City. The Stags skipper was dismissed for a second bookable offence just past the hour mark, with the game evenly poised at 1-1. Shirtliff said: "After we got in front I was disappointed with the way we lost the game. "I can see why Richie Barker got his first yellow card, but there was no contact made for the second. The referee lost control of the game. "We've lost a match we shouldn't have lost and if we'd have been allowed to keep 11 men on the pitch, I don't think we would have lost." ---------- Audio interview with Peter Shirtliff from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2006/stags_chester_home_shirtliff.ram -------- |
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