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Archived News from April 2008

HOLLAND, BOULDING AND SIMPSON REACTION
21st April 2008 15:44


audio interviews with Paul Holland and Michael Boulding from Mansfield 103.2 and Radio Nottingham, here

Paul Holland is interviewed after the game


Michael Boulding is interviewed after the game


Michael Boulding is interviewed by Sky Sports after the game


Michael Boulding is interviewed after the game


Paul Holland is interviewed after the game


Paul Holland is interviewed by Sky Sports after the game


photos by Luke Mawbey and Martin Shaw
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http://www.shrewsburytown.co.uk
Paul Simpson couldn't hide his disappointment after this afternoon's 3-1 defeat at relegation threatened Mansfield. Marc Pugh had given Town the perfect start after a goal inside two minutes but a hat-trick from ace marksman Michael Boulding gave the home side a vital three points.

"It just wasn't good enough today," said a crest-fallen Simpson. "I've learnt a lot about the players today. We got off to a great start with Pughy's goal albeit through a goalkeeping error. Marc's chanced his arm with the shot but I think their keeper would accept it was a mistake on his part. From that point we treated it like game over and thought we could just relax and unfortunately you can't do that in any game of football.

"Credit to Mansfield they stuck at it. They were determined and they battled. They've got a proper goalscorer in Boulding who stuck three away but most of what I've learned about the players today has been disappointing.

"I don't think our defending was as bad as it was at Chesterfield, but right through the team today we were a bit of a shambles in the first half and there was no real desire to want to go and affect the game. We didn't get hold of the ball and we didn't get hold of their centre-forwards. In the second half we had a bit more of a go and had two really good chances to get ourselves back into it and probably should have done. But the keeper made a great save off Madjo with his legs, although you have to take those chances when you get them. What I've seen over those 90 minutes is probably the reason why we've had to spend the later part of the season scrapping around at the foot of the table."

Shrewsbury's preparations were affected five minutes before kick-off when captain Ben Davies suffered spasms in his back and was withdrawn.

"That was unfortunate but we will never know if we would have done any better if Ben had been fit or not," said Simpson. "It is disrupting but he was very uncomfortable with it and couldn't run so we had to change it. I don't think we should use it as an excuse though. Pugh can play out wide and James Constable can play down the middle so it shouldn't have been too much of an issue. We should have made more of the situation but we haven't done that unfortunately.

"Dave Hibbert picked up a knock in the first half from a stray elbow which required five stitches in his eyelid. The amount of local anaesthetic used by the doctor at half-time made him a little groggy though, and he was having trouble seeing out of his eye as the eyelid was closing, so we took him off for his own safety even though he wanted to carry on.

"But Guy (Madjo) did well when he came on. He was a handful and looked like he wanted to go and work hard. Chris Humphrey did alright when he came on but apart from that I think I'd struggle to find any positives. We haven't lost as individuals - we've lost as a team. We got off to a great start but weren't right for the rest of the half and that's what disappoints me and like I said earlier, that's probably the reason why we're down at the bottom."

Chester are next up for Town and the Deva Stadium outfit are also perilously close to the relegation places so Simpson expects a tough game in a week's time.

"They are desperate for a result but we're at home and I want us to put on a show for our fans. We've had another fantastic following today and they stuck with us throughout even though it would have been easy to be over-critical towards the players at the end. Today we've let Mansfield off the hook; we must make sure we don't let Chester off next week."

Martin Wild

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AUDIO: Mansfield Town hat-trick hero Boulding can't celebrate yet

audio here ---> http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/AUDIO-Mansfield-Town-hattrick-hero.4000802.jp

STAR striker Micky Boulding smashed the first hat-trick of his Stags career to keep alive Mansfield Town's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Football League.
But after playing his part in the 3-1 fightback victory over Shrewsbury, he told Chad that he could not celebrate the treble - or reaching the 25-goal milestone for the season.

He said: "I can't really enjoy the hat-trick - or the fact I have now got 25 goals this season - until the team is safe. That is all that matters now.

"When we are safe, then I can look back at what I might have achieved this season in terms of goals, but not until then."

Boulding had not trained all week because of a knee injury, and paid tribute to the work of club physio Paul Madin for getting him fit enough to play.

And manager Paul Holland added: "Micky has not trained all week, but came up to me and said that he wanted to play. That just shows the spirit and attitude of the players here.

"They all want to get us out of the hole we are in. We all know we have not been good enough this season, but we all want to put it right."

Boulding had almost 3,000 Stags fans on their feet as he wiped out an early Jason White mistake with a 22nd minute equaliser and then fired the home side in front 14 minutes later - both from Matt Hamshaw crosses.

Then, three minutes from time, with the Stags nervously hanging on, he clinched victory by racing clear onto a Jefferson Louis flick-on and beating the keeper in style.

Afterwards he said: "This was a big win for us with the other teams around us losing.

"We were all up for it before the game and we knew we had to stay positive even after we lost the early goal. We knew that the other teams had tough games.

"We were on top even before Jason's mistake. It was unfortunate and I felt sorry for him, apart from that mistake he was our man of the match.

"But we kept going and the quick equaliser put us back in it.

"It was a simple goal, I just let it hit me to go in. It was a good ball from 'Hammy', as it was for the second goal.

"For the third goal, the keeper made my mind up for me. And I was quite calm, it is easier to be calm when playing than when watching from the sidelines.

"But I can't really enjoy the hat-trick - or the fact I have now got 25 goals this season - until the team is safe. That is all that matters.

"I know it is a cliche, but we have just got to take it one game at a time and we have got to repeat all this next week.

"The fans were fantastic today, stuck with us even after the early goal went against us. We need them to do the same next week."


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AUDIO: Holland hails Mansfield Town fightback heroes

audio here ---> http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/AUDIO-Holland-hails-Mansfield-Town.3991757.jp

Stags boss Paul Holland paid tribute to his gutsy side as they came from behind to beat Shrewsbury 3-1 and keep their survival hopes alive at Field Mill on Saturday afternoon.
A Jason White error gifted the Shrews a lead inside 75 seconds but a Micky Boulding hat-trick turned the game on its head.

Holland said: "The pleasing thing was we had a kick in the teeth inside the first couple of minutes but we responded well, even though I believe we can play better.

"I feel sorry for my mum as she looks at the Ceefax all the way through and she has not been well recently.

"Mickey Boulding was superb. He was not 100 per cent fit and hasn't trained for two weeks. But he ran himself into the ground and it just shows that with quality, if you leave him until the last minute and play him he will repay you.
"Jason may have been responsible for the first goal. But I have always said I have every confidence in him or I wouldn't play him and he came back and was positive and punched things.

"This was only the first game of a trilogy. We will enjoy this result - and other have gone for us for a change - but we have a lot of hard work ahead of still.

"If we had lost this game I am sure some people would have crucified me if they knew I had given the lads three days off this week as I thought they looked mentally and physically tired.

"It was even more pleasing as the whole squad dug in today with players like Dan Martin and Simon Brown coming on and throwing their bodies in the way."


Shrews boss Paul Simpson said: "What I have seen today from my players is the reason why we are scrapping around at the bottom of the table.

"I have learned a lotmore about them today and most of it is disappointing.

"We got off to a great start albeit from a goalkeeping mistake. March Pugh chanced his arm and I am sure the keeper will say it was a mistake.

"After that we relaxed and thought the game was won and you can't do that.

"All credit to Mansfield - they battled and have a proper goalscorer in Mickey Boulding who stuck three away.

"Right through the team we were a bit of a shambles in that first half. We showed no great desire to affect the game.

"We did give it a bit more of a go in the second half and had a couple of really good chances. To be fair the keeper has made one great save with his legs but you have to put away chances like that when you get them."

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Stags keeper White absolved of blame for Shrews opener
CHAD.co.uk

PAUL Holland has cleared keeper Jason White of the blame for Shrewsbury's opening goal on Saturday.
The youngster was selected ahead of the more experienced Carl Muggleton, who was fit again after a thumb injury, but conceded within 75 seconds of kick-off at his near post.

However, he went on to produce a solid performance and a crucial save and Holland said: "In the heat of the moment Jason got the blame for that first goal.

"But looking at it again on video I don't think he could be blamed as it took a deflection.

"He responded brilliantly after that and was very positive. His kicking was good too.

"Jason has not done himself any harm whatsover.

"Carl declared himself fit for last Saturday but I decided to go with Jason who I though did well at Macclesfield where he got a clean sheet. He deserved his chance again."
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