Archived News from October 2006
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AWAY ORDERS AS STAGS FUME OVER DERBY DRAW
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Away orders as Stags fume over derby draw
CHAD, 11 October 2006 STILL furious over the two decisions by referee Dermot Gallagher that changed the course of Saturday's local derby with Notts County, Stags head for struggling Boston United this Saturday (3pm) looking for a change of fortune. Mansfield Town boss Peter Shirtliff was smarting over Danny Reet's disallowed goal and Matt Hamshaw's sending-off which, combined, sparked a Notts County reveival for a 2-2 draw that had never looked on the cards earlier on when they appeared down and out trailing 2-0. And watching a video rerun of the game on Monday only confirmed Shirtliff's inital belief that the decisions were wrong. So now Stags - without an away League win all season and without an away League goal in 399 minutes of football - go to second from bottom Boston United without three key players, with Hamshaw suspended and Michael Boulding and Simon Brown out injured. "We played really well on Saturday against Notts and just need to carry that home form into our away games," said Shirtliff. "We haven't won away in the League this season and now it's time to produce. "We are disappointed we didn't beat Notts but we have to put that behind us. Saturday presents us with a real opportunity and we have to start picking up points away from home - excuses are finished. "We have managed some good away performances without getting the points. We have to start getting points and being more resilient in our penalty box and show more authority in our defending. "I know we have played some of the more fancied teams away from home and it's been difficult. But we certainly should have done better at Torquay. "Boston will be tough. They are scrapping away and I think it will be a bit of a scrappy game. We have to be prepared to compete and come away with something." But it won't be easy without three dangermen of the calibre of Brown, Boulding and Hamshaw. Hamshaw sits out a one match suspension and Boulding is still struggling with his knee injury and is seeing another specialist for a second opinion this week as he belives he can avoid surgery. Meanwhile Brown has just had stitches out from a minor hernia operation in Leeds last week. He decided to have that while out with his current knee injury which saw him needing fluid drained from the joint. He should be back within three weeks. After a fantastic first half performance, Stags looked to be cruising to victory over neighbours Notts County last Saturday. Stags were 2-0 up, had hit the woodwork twice, missed other great chances and seen a Reet goal disallowed. But, after Hamshaw's controversial dismissal for a second yellow card, the Magpies roared back against the 10 men to steal a point with two goals in the last 19 minutes. The red card was shown by Dermot Gallagher, back in the middle for the first time after that controversial decision not to send off Ben Thatcher for his shocking elbow on Pedro Mendes. "Watching the game back again confirmed what I thought - the goal should have stood and the sending-off decision was poor," said Shirtliff. "When we had that third goal disallowed I wondered to myself if that was a defining moment and that's how it turned out. "I thought it was a perfectly good goal and so did the Notts County people. So they got away with that one and it was a bad decision in my opinion. "I was very disappointed with the sending off too as Matt Hamshaw couldn't tackle my missus. For the second booking Matt says he didn't even touch the lad and I agree with him. "If Hamshaw goes then Edwards has to go for Notts as well. "There was two feet between Hamshaw and the other lad and no contact at all. I will take his first caution - no problem. But the second disappoints me. "If we had kept 11 men on the pitch I am certain we would have won the game. It is hard to take. "Matt has gone for two minor incidents - the second being dubious at best. We have just got to rise above it." He added: "Edwards had already been booked when two of them went into a tackle which was a foul and it was Parkinson who was booked when, from his reaction, Edwards expected to be on his way. "He also thought he would go for a tackle on Reet later on. "You don't want to see players of either side sent off for niggling things. "The sending-off gave Notts a lift and they started to load the ball into our box. We put ourselves under pressure by conceding too many corners. "We have to be a bit calmer in defence and their first goal should have been dealt with while the second was just bobbling about in the air. It is a shame as I thought my players were all excellent . "We just have to stick with it and maybe our luck will change and we will start getting a few dubious things going our way!" Impressive defender Alan Sheehan's loan spell from Leicester City has been extended for a second month. Discounted Early Bird tickets for Stags' trip to Bristol Rovers on 4th November, are now on sale at Field Mill. Admission can be gained on the day but adults and concessions can save £2 on all seats and standing tickets by buying in advance. |
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