Archived News from October 2008
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McEWAN AND SAUNDERS REACTION
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audio interview with Billy McEwan from BBC Radio Nottingham, here
------------- CHAD: McEwan hurt by Stags fans' reaction to fourth straight defeat 16 October 2008 By John Lomas MANSFIELD Town boss Billy McEwan was hurt and disappointed by some of the comments aimed at him and his players as Stags were booed off following Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Wrexham. The honeymoon is clearly over for the new manager, players and owners after a fantastic start to the season. But this fourth straight defeat, one win in eight and the four point deduction has seen Stags slide dramatically from one of the table to the other in five short weeks, "It is disappointing to lose at home again and things are difficult at the moment," said McEwan, who had made five changes from the team beaten at Burton on Monday. "We had a good spell early in the season, now we are having a bad spell and all of a sudden we are bad players and a bad manager. "You don't became a bad player overnight. But you can lose a bit of confidence. "The fans made their feelings known in no uncertain terms which is not very nice but part of the game we are in. But some of it was uncalled for. I was disappointed with one or two of the comments and if that is the way they want to build this football club they are doing it the wrong way. "Football is a rollercoaster with highs and lows and twists and turns. At the moment we are feeling it and it is hurting. This is the time when you find out who your friends are. "One or two supporters got carried away with the euphoria of it all when we were doing well. But yours truly always knew it was a difficult job from day one. "I always knew it was a long term job here. And until we stop giving soft goals away we won't get anywhere. "Things are not dropping for us in the box now as they were earlier in the season when we were doing well. "You just have to take it on the chin and sort it out on the training ground." Stags new loan striker Emile Sinclair, from Forest, scored on his debut but the other new loanee, Sam Wedgbury from Sheffield United, had to go to hospital at half time with a suspected broken leg. He limped off just before half-time following an innocuous looking tackle and was then stretchered from the dugout during the interval. "It is bad for the lad, for us and for Sheffield United," said McEwan. "But all out thoughts have to be for the boy's welfare. They think he has broken a fibula which should not be a long-term thing hopefully." Stags were also without Alan O'Hare (illness) and Aaron O'Connor, who reported to the ground with an injury this morning. New Wrexham boss Dean Saunders has now won all three of his games in charge and said: "I though Mansfield really had a go today and pressured us. They are a big side, very athletic and some of my lads have never been in a battle like that. "We conceded a goal from our own corner. There were two little mistakes on the edge of the box and then a dodgy backpass. Our fans could see it coming and their lad took it well. "But we dug in and equalised from a corner we've worked on in training which was pleasing. "Marc (Williams) scored the winner and he is on fire at the moment. "His brother Mike was suffering from a bit of concussion and had to go off. He has lost his memory a bit. But I've had a right result as I told him I'd give him £25 if he scored today and he doesn't remember it!" ---------------- Evening Pst: McEwan: Hard work will pull us through Billy McEwan believes only hard work will pull Mansfield out of their current trough in form. The Stags lost 2-1 to Wrexham at field Mill this afternoon – their fourth defeat in a row and second in succession on home turf. Loan signing Emile Sinclair put the home side in front but goals in each half from Williams brothers Mike and Marc saw the Red Dragons come out on top. But McEwan warned his side that they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves. “It is disappointing for everyone – player and fans – but it is difficult at the moment,” he said. “We had a good spell earlier on and now we are going through a difficult spell and we have to sort it out on the training ground. “We have to look forwards and work hard to put things right. The players haven't become bad overnight although they may lose confidence. “I don't like losing games but we are giving bad goals way with bad defending.” Midfielder Sam Wedgbury, another loan signing from Sheffield United, has sustained a suspected broken fibula in his leg. Sinclair off the mark for Stags Emile Sinclair admitted he was relieved to mark his first game for Mansfield Town with a goal.The tall, speedy frontman knew the pressure would be on him to impress after joining the Stags on a month's loan from Nottingham Forest. And having broken his duck with a 27th-minute strike against Wrexham, he feels he can now concentrate on playing his best football. "I'm delighted to get off the mark - that was the main thing I wanted to do from my first game, as well as putting in a decent performance," said Sinclair. "I felt the game went quite well for me and I have settled in with the rest of the lads. It is just a shame that we didn't get the points. "It is always nice to get off the mark early and hopefully that will be the first of many. We didn't get the win against Wrexham but all we can do now is focus on the next game." Sinclair pounced after an error from Silvio Spann, putting the Stags in front. It was only his second senior goal following a strike for Forest in a 4-0 win over Gillingham last season. He said: "The celebration was personal to my friends. One of them had come down from Leeds to watch me, so I just let him know I was thankful." ----------------- from Wrexham site, various post match audio including Dean Saunders interview: here -------------------- Wrexham FC boss Dean Saunders delighted with win Oct 20 2008 by Mark Currie, Daily Post http://www.dailypost.co.uk WREXHAM manager Dean Saunders praised his side's battling qualities after Saturday's 2-1 win at Mansfield maintained his 100% record since he replaced Brian Little at the Racecourse helm. The Dragons' goals came from brothers Mike and Marc Williams, senior sibling Mike having to be substituted later when he suffered a blow to the head that caused delayed concussion, but also saved his boss some money. “It was the right result for me actually,” joked Saunders. “I said I'd give him £25 if he scored today and he can't remember it, so I've got away with it. “Seriously though it was a good goal and although he got a bit of concussion he seems okay in the dressing room. “My lads had to show their battling qualities because Mansfield had a go and they really pressured us. “They are a big side, very athletic, and some of the lads have not been in a battle like that before. “I said to them that this was the other side of football, especially the midfield men Joe Allen and Levi Mackin. “The ball was bypassing them at times, they had to compete and I wanted to see if they could cope. To be fair to them they did.” The Racecourse boss was also pleased with debutant Ashley Westwood, who was solid at the back in the face of some sustained pressure from the home side. “I thought Ashley played great,” added Saunders. “He read it, he was strong and talked to all the other players out there, which makes a difference. “We have a framework there to work with and I have to try and improve the quality of the balls into the strikers, the crossing, the finishing, the timing of the runs and our passing. “We have to get better at it and that's my job. You can improve anyone who wants to be improved. “If they don't want to be improved there is no future for them with me.” But Saunders said the Marc Williams winner – the striker's fourth goal in three games – was no more than the teenager deserved. “Marc created something out of nothing but I was looking at the other end, more concerned that my defenders were ready if the ball came out at them. “I took my eye off him for a minute and when I looked again he was slotting it in the back of the net. “He's on fire at the moment and I told him if he worked hard he'd get a bit of luck. The ball dropped his way and he took it well. “(Michael) Proctor played well too. He's not played for I don't know how long and I'm asking him to do a job up front you have to be 100% fit to do properly. “He battled away and did well, so I could not have asked any more from him. “We had to hang on a bit near the end but we got there. “They put four up front to bombard us and I put Steve Evans on to try and counter the threat and he did the job for me. “I've told them if they keep putting in that effort for me I will look after them.” ---------------------- Post Match Comments - McEwan By Robinsonline - 20/10/2008 10:07 Mansfield manager Billy McEwan reacted angrily to the clubs boo boys following his sides 2-1 home loss to an impressive Wrexham at the weekend. Having taken the lead thanks to a first half strike from debutant striker Emile Sinclair, the home fans saw history in the making as Marc and Mike Williams became the first ever brothers to score in the same game for the Dragons, much to the dismay of many a Stag. "If they want to build the club, they are going about it in the wrong way. I was surprised by the reaction. They are entitled to their opinion but some of the comments were uncalled for. "Apart from the game against Woking, which was one-way traffic, that was our first defeat at home." Talking about Emiles goal and the way his side surrendered their lead, McEwan added: "Emile took his goal well. That is the reason we brought him to the club. It was definitely a cock-up from their guy but he was there and put it in the net. "We had a good spell earlier on and now we are going through a difficult spell and we have to sort it out on the training ground. "We have to look forwards and work hard to put things right. The players haven't become bad overnight although they may lose confidence. "I don't like losing games but we are giving bad goals way with bad defending. Until we stop conceding soft goals, it is going to continue to be very difficult." ---------------------- |
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