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Archived News from November 2008

McEWAN , SINCLAIR, HOLMES REACTION
24th November 2008 14:11


Billy McEwan reaction from Radio Nottingham and Nick Holmes reaction from Radio Wiltshire here

Emile Sinclair reaction from Radio Nottingham here

Sinclair deal extended, details at mansfieldtown.net here

Sinclair interview from mansfieldtown.net here

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thisiswiltshire:

SALISBURY City suffered a 3-0 reverse in this afternoon's Blue Square Premier match at Mansfield Town.

A much-changed Whites team went a goal down to an Emile Sinclair effort on 19 minutes and following Djoumin Sangare's dismissal on 35 minutes for a second yellow card, the Stags doubled their lead courtesy of Adnan Ahmed's spot kick.

The hosts, who were completing the double over City, added a third goal late on - substitute Mark Stallard netting.

Whites manager Nick Holmes said: "The lads did superbly will in terms of spirit and commitment. After going down to ten men they were a credit to themselves."

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CHAD:
McEwan 'chuffed to bits' for Stags players after vital victory
By John Lomas
DELIGHTED Stags manager Billy McEwan savoured his first League win since the end of September after a 3-0 victory over Salisbury on Saturday afternoon.
"Today was a big step forward for us. It could have been a cricket score at one stage. But I am delighted with three points and a clean sheet," he said after the vital victory.

The Stags had lost five successive BSP matches, but after a quiet start they grabbed the lead over crisis club Salisbury - who have just one striker after selling their better players this week - and then dominated when the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

McEwan added: "I am pleased we got a nice win to send the punters home happy.

"We did make things a bit difficult for ourselves at times with some of the things we were trying to do.

"The lads have worked tremendously hard on the training ground this week and I am chuffed to bits for them.

"Salisbury had us on the back foot early in the match and all credit to them. Salisbury are a good side. They have had a bit of turmoil there this week with one or two players leaving but you have got to give them respect.

"They gave us a good match and tried to play football the right way which is a credit to their manager.
"The first goal settled us down and you always need a bit of luck in football and maybe the penalty was the luck we needed. It was definitely a penalty, but maybe another referee wouldn't have given it."

McEwan was also full of praise for loanee goalscorer Emile Sinclair - who it was revealed after the match has extended his loan from Nottingham Forest to Field Mill to a second month - and hailed his pace and 'fantastic finish' for the breakthrough goal.
Salisbury boss Nick Holmes said: "The spirit of the side was excellent and I couldn't have asked any more from them than that.

"The breaks didn't go our way today. A couple of individual errors cost us two first half goals.

"But we gave as good as we got for most of the game. I could never criticise those players for what they did today. They did themselves proud.

"Unfortunately we didn't have another attacker on the bench and we will look at that situation this week. Maybe I will have to convert one or two of the centre halves!

"The lads will talk among themselves about the situation but they are a very close knit bunch and have trained well and did the club proud today.

"We should have taken the lead but that's the way. We carried on trying to play football, even at 10 v 11 and it was only the last 10-15 minutes when maybe it became a bit more evident we were a player down."
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Evening Post:
McEwan delighted with Stags victory
Billy McEwan is thrilled that Mansfield halted their losing streak with this afternoon's 3-0 home victory over Salisbury City.

Goals from Emile Sinclair, Adnan Ahmed and Mark Stallard earned the points for the Stags after a previous run of five successive league defeats. Although McEwan would like to see more improvement from his players, he was just pleased to see them get back to winning ways. “I thought it could have been a cricket score at one stage, but I'm delighted with the three points and a clean sheet,” he said. “It was nice to get a win and send the supporters home happy even though at times we made it difficult for ourselves with some of the things we tried to do. “We wanted the points to start a climb up the table – and that is what we got. “Salisbury are a good side – they finished in the top 10 last season. “They are in a little bit of turmoil with one or two players leaving the club but you have to give them respect. “They like to play football the correct way and they cause us problems, but you are not going to go through a game without having some problems.”

Stags boss McEwan agrees deal with striker
Billy McEwan is delighted he can keep Emile Sinclair for another month after watching the young hitman destroy Salisbury City.

The 20-year-old scored one and set up another to put the Stags on the road to their first victory in six matches.

Sinclair's month-long loan from Nottingham Forest was due to run out after Saturday's clash. But the player has agreed to stay and the Reds have extended his loan.

"Emile is coming on and it's nice to extend the loan and that he wants to stay for a longer period," said McEwan.

"It says a lot for Mansfield that they can entice players like him, Paddy Gamble and Adnan Ahmed to come to the club.

"Emile has come in when we have changed the system round a bit and gone with three strikers. The understanding is now coming that they have to defend at times and we saw that against Salisbury. We need people up there to run off Jason Lee and Mark Stallard, and Emile does that.

"At this level pace is a bonus and I always like to have players in my side like that.

"Emile still has a lot to learn and some of the things he does shows he is still a bit naïve but he is only young and you expect that. He is working his socks off when we haven't got the ball. We are grateful for his commitment."

After losing their previous league games to Woking and Wrexham, McEwan was pleased to see Mansfield back on winning form at Field Mill.

"We have not actually played that badly at home and the two we lost were down to a penalty and a defensive mistake. Results haven't come but the players have kept believing and kept their heads up," he said.

"The good thing is that the fans have come and seen us play some decent stuff, even though we know we are not the finished article by a long, long way. We are searching for the right recipe."

Hit-man Emile happy at Field Mill
Emile Sinclair was thrilled with his match-winning display in Mansfield's victory over Salisbury - though a little disappointed he wasn't celebrating a hat-trick.

He put the Stags in front and won the penalty from which Adnan Ahmed made it 2-0.

But the pacey hitman was denied by Whites keeper James Bittner and also missed a simple header from other good chances.

"I am pretty happy with that," said Sinclair. "It was good for the team to get some goals especially at home and to get a clean sheet was a bonus.

"Salisbury had a couple of chances before my goal but, once I'd scored, we dominated the game.

"It was definitely a penalty but I was just disappointed I didn't score. I wanted to take the penalty but Adnan was having none of it.

"It was good for him to score his first goal for the club.

"From the team, I think that is the best performance since I have been here.

"In other games we have been playing good football but not getting the goals and hopefully now we can start moving up the table."

Sinclair is looking forward to building on the understanding he has begun to struck up with his Stags team-mates with his loan spell due to be extended.

Sinclair said: "The gaffer said to me before the game to just relax and play me own game and I think now I am starting to gel with the players.

"I spoke to the gaffer in training and he asked me how I was feeling and I said I'm enjoying it and that I would be happy to stay. "I was scoring now and again for Forest reserves, but I feel a lot sharper and fitter since I have come here."

 

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