{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from October 2008

SALISBURY PREVIEWS
6th October 2008 11:06


Audio interview with former Stag Darrell Clarke here

Video interview with Nick Holmes: here

Audio interview with Jason Lee: here


----------
Clarke to take on hometown team
BBC.co.uk
Salisbury City midfielder Darrell Clarke will face his hometown team when Mansfield visit the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on Saturday.

The 30-year-old played for the Stags in the Football League for six years between 1995 and 2001.

After a midweek defeat at Woking Clarke is looking forward to taking on the club he came through the ranks at.

"I started my career at Mansfield when I was 10. I always look for their results and have a house in the town."

Clarke made more than 160 appearances for Mansfield in his time at Field Mill and scored 24 goals before joining Hartlepool.

"We were always mid-table and never quite made the play-offs. I left to go to Hartlepool for a little change of scenery."

His family still live in Mansfield and Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two teams following the Nottinghamshire side's relegation from League Two last term.

Clarke says he has noticed many changes at his home club since they joined the Blue Square Premier.

"They've just been taken over and I'm sure the fans will be looking forward to a successful time."

Salisbury go into the home fixture fourth in the division, three places and two points above their opponents.

----------
Lee: Stags must be on target for success
Friday, September 26, 2008, 08:00

JASON Lee believes Mansfield have to pass the ball with greater accuracy if they are to get back to winning ways at Salisbury City tomorrow.
The Stags are still searching for their first Blue Square Premier victory away from Field Mill after two draws and three defeats in five trips so far.
Their latest setback was a 1-0 defeat at struggling Altrincham on Tuesday night – arguably the club's most disappointing result of the campaign to date.
But Lee insists Mansfield are confident of turning things round on the road, with three points at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium firmly in their sights.
"I would say the biggest problem at the moment is we aren't passing the ball as well as we can," he said.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D355160/acc_random%3D1598180804/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"We have knocked it around quite well earlier in the season but I think we perhaps went a little bit route one-ish at Altrincham.
"We didn't put enough passes together and when we went longer it played into their hands.
"That was the most disappointing thing because we know we can cause team problems if we play to our strengths.
"We have had a talk about things when we came in yesterday.
"It was very constructive and we are positive again and looking forward to Salisbury."
The Stags are still searching for their first Blue Square Premier victory away from Field Mill after two draws and three defeats in five trips so far.
Their latest setback was a 1-0 defeat at struggling Altrincham on Tuesday night – arguably the club's most disappointing result of the campaign to date.
But Lee insists Mansfield are confident of turning things round on the road, with three points at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium firmly in their sights.
"I would say the biggest problem at the moment is we aren't passing the ball as well as we can," he said.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D355160/acc_random%3D1598180804/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"We have knocked it around quite well earlier in the season but I think we perhaps went a little bit route one-ish at Altrincham.
"We didn't put enough passes together and when we went longer it played into their hands.
"That was the most disappointing thing because we know we can cause team problems if we play to our strengths.
"We have had a talk about things when we came in yesterday.
"It was very constructive and we are positive again and looking forward to Salisbury."

The Stags are still searching for their first Blue Square Premier victory away from Field Mill after two draws and three defeats in five trips so far.
Their latest setback was a 1-0 defeat at struggling Altrincham on Tuesday night – arguably the club's most disappointing result of the campaign to date.
But Lee insists Mansfield are confident of turning things round on the road, with three points at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium firmly in their sights.
"I would say the biggest problem at the moment is we aren't passing the ball as well as we can," he said.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D355160/acc_random%3D1598180804/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"We have knocked it around quite well earlier in the season but I think we perhaps went a little bit route one-ish at Altrincham.
"We didn't put enough passes together and when we went longer it played into their hands.
"That was the most disappointing thing because we know we can cause team problems if we play to our strengths.
"We have had a talk about things when we came in yesterday.
"It was very constructive and we are positive again and looking forward to Salisbury."


---------------------

Salisbury v Mansfield
Venue: Raymond McEnhill StadiumDate: Saturday, 27 September Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Swindon & Wiltshire FM and online
Salisbury still have major injury problems with defender Djimi Sangare (hamstring) and midfielder Mike Fowler (ankle) currently struggling.

Full-back Matt Robinson (heel) could be available following an injection but Tim Bond has had an operation on his pelvic injury and will not feature.

Mansfield boss Billy McEwan again has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

One possible change could see striker Aaron O'Connor included after his recovery from a knock.

Salisbury coach Tommy Widdrington told BBC Radio Wiltshire:

"Bigger teams come to us expecting a far tougher game than they probably did last season, so it'll be tougher for us to beat them.

"Mansfield, for all that's going on there at the moment, are definitely a side you can see finishing in the top six, so they'll be tough opposition."


-------------------
Stags set to strengthen following defeat
Friday, September 26, 2008, 08:00

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-set-strengthen-following-defeat/article-355099-detail/article.html

AFTER Mansfield's 1-0 defeat at Altrincham on Tuesday, many frustrated supporters came to the conclusion that the time is now right for the squad to be strengthened.
Fortunately for their peace of mind, it is a view shared by manager Billy McEwan.
Missing the 11-second winner scored by Chris Senior as he emerged from the dressing room, he was disappointed by what he saw in the remainder of the game at Moss Lane.
That has prompted the Scot to renew the search for fresh blood he has always insisted would be undertaken when the Stags hit a sticky patch.
As always, McEwan is aiming high. He knows full well he can lure a whole catalogue of players to Field Mill with few problems.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISNOTT/AREA%3DFOOTBALL/SUBAREA%3D/ARTICLE%3D355099/acc_random%3D6901660178/pageid%3D/RS%3D10307.%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3EBut he wants to make sure they are the right players for the club at the right price.
"I spoke to two Football League managers on Wednesday with regards to bringing in a couple of players," said McEwan. "I had a phone call yesterday morning from one who said I couldn't take the player this week, but maybe next week.
"I am waiting on a call from the other one.
"We know we have got good players who have worked very hard for us, but it is a smallish squad in comparison to other teams in this league.
"I have got a good amount left from the budget that I started with. If I have to get players in, we have the finances to do it."
Whether or not there is a new face at Salisbury tomorrow, what is clear is that the Stags are desperate to get back to winning ways.
Having lost two out of their last three games, they need a positive result to get their season back on track after a flying start.
A win at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium would also get that elusive first away victory out of the way.
McEwan said: "The fact we haven't won away doesn't bother me too much – it's just another game we are trying to win.
"We have had a couple of draws on the road and not managed to win, but it's not the end of the world.
"The win from home will come eventually, I am confident of that. Luckily our home form is very good.
"I'm not used to this. At my previous club we used to win away but not so much at home."
Mansfield drew a blank for the first time at Moss Lane. In all their previous ten league games they had scored at least once.
But McEwan remains convinced they will soon hit the goal trail again because of the number of openings coming their way.
"In every game we have created chances. It is not as if we are going away and not looking like getting something.
"Away at Barrow and at Crawley we could have got something out of each game.
"We had at least four good ones the other night.
"On another night those might have gone in. But if you give goals away with silly errors as we did, you aren't going to win away games."

 

Latest | October 2008