Archived News from November 2009
|
HOLDSWORTH,SPEIGHT,HECKINGBOTTOM, RAYNOR REACTION
|
 |
|
The Sunday Suppplement. Mark Stevenson with Ryan Williams --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1876139,00.html video interviews with David Holdsworth ----> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1876051,00.html? video interviews with Jake Speight and Paul Heckingbottom ----> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1876127,00.html BBC audio interviews with David Holdsworth and Paul Raynor --> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8326570.stm? -------------------- Holdsworth praises best Stags away performance of the season CHAD.co.uk, 13 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill DELIGHTED boss David Holdsworth branded Saturday's 2-0 victory at Crawley as the best Stags away performance since he become manager. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Holdsworth-praises-best-Stags-away.5824479.jp Mansfield chalked up their fifth away win of the season thanks to strikes from Jake Speight and Paul Heckingbottom to extend their unbeaten run. Stags had looked assured and solid throughout the entire game as they repelled the Crawley attacks and hit hard on the counter-attack. And, despite being reduced to 10 men after Matt Somner was harshly red-carded for showing his studs, Mansfield never looked in danger as Jones, Silk, Heckingbottom and Garner remained resolute. Stags, who were once so shakey on their travels, now sit seven points behind leaders Oxford United as David Holdsworth's men continue to push for automatic promotion. After game Holdsworth said: "We fully deserved to win. We have beaten a strong side who are good at home, this is a wonderful victory for us. "We will celebrate the points tonight, but we have other jobs ahead to focus on. "The back four were excellent today. There were three or four outstanding performances today, but it was a team effort with everyone playing their part. "We showed a real professional attitude and played right to the end of 97 minutes. It was a huge game for us and I am delighted with the quality and level of professionalism we showed." But Holdsworth was left bitterly disappointed by the red-card shown to Matt Somner, who picked up his second yellow card after 69 minutes for allegedly showing his studs. Said Holdsworth: "The referee was blindsided. It was not a sending off or a yellow, he got the ball first. I have asked the referee to look at the incident again." Mansfield now turn their attention to Tuesday night's FA Cup replay at Field Mill, where they will hope to win through to round two and an away tie against Bath City. --------------------- Heckingbottom praises perfect away display CHAD.co.uk, 13 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill EXPERIENCED Paul Heckingbottom has described Stags' victory at Crawley as the perfect away performance. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Heckingbottom-praises-perfect-away-display.5825522.jp? The former Bradford defender cracked home a 77th minute free-kick to seal all three points for Stags after they had determinedly defended a one goal lead despite being reduced to 10 men on 69 minutes. It was a stark contrast for Stags, who let a two goal lead slip at home to Stevenage earlier this season after being reduced to 10 men. And for Heckingbottom it was a text-book away victory for David Holdsworth's men. "You have to know how to play with 10 men," said Heckingbottom. "We were leading the game and didn't need to go pushing. We just had to make sure we remained solid. "It was a perfect away performance for me. This is just how you have to play to win when you travel. "They had a few chances but not many and that is credit to everybody on the pitch. We defended really well from the front and put a lot of pressure on them all over the pitch." It was a double celebration for Heckingbottom, who scored his first goal for the Field Mill club with that superb free-kick. He added: "The free-kick suited a left footer. The wall was set up well, but with the wind coming across the pitch I was able to just pass the ball in." ----------------------- Impressive Speight hopes to retain starting spot CHAD.co.uk, 13 November 2009, By Stephen Thirkill MIDFIELDER Jake Speight hopes he has done enough to win a place in Mansfield Town's next starting line-up after his impressive display against Crawley on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Impressive-Speight-hopes-to-retain.5825521.jp? Speight got Stags on their way to victory with an 11th minute goal to cap a fine performance in which he tormented the home defence with his pace and strength in wide areas. Speaking after the game Speight said: "The ball just dropped me and I smashed it home. "I am delighted to have scored and to have got a place in the starting line-up. Today will give me a lot of confidence. "We were fully focused on the game today and not the games that are coming up. We did not play well against Forest Green on Saturday, but it was a strong performance today." Speight also defended team-mate Matt Somner after he was dismissed for two bookable offences with 21 minutes of the contest remaining. "He went in to win the ball and that is what he did," added Speight. "He is very disappointed to have got a red card." Following the controversial dismissal, boss David Holdsworth has called on the referee to review the incident. ---------------------- Holdsworth praises 10-man Stags Monday, November 16, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story DAVID Holdsworth was relieved Mansfield Town were able to hold on for victory at Crawley yesterday after having a man sent off. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Holdsworth-praises-10-man-Stags/article-1515846-detail/article.html? The Stags were reduced to ten men in the 69th minute when Matt Somner saw red after collecting two bookings. When Kyle Perry was dismissed against Stevenage Borough earlier in the campaign, Mansfield surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2. But this time they held firm at the Broadfield Stadium to make it seven games unbeaten. "It was always in my mind what happened against Stevenage could happen again once we were down to ten," said manager Holdsworth. "But sometimes you have to manage the game and then we conceded just before half-time, which had a big effect. "The structure of the defence this time was spot on and the work-rate was phenomenal. We kept going until the 97th minute. "We worked together as one and the professionalism was there. I hope we continue improving." -------------------------- Holdsworth hails Stags win as best yet on the road Evening Post DAVID Holdsworth today hailed Mansfield Town's victory at Crawley Town as their best on the road since he took charge as manager. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Holdsworth-hails-Stags-win-best-road/article-1515927-detail/article.html? The Stags were deserved 2-0 winners at the Broadfield Stadium – despite having Matt Somner sent off midway through the second half. It was a third Blue Square Premier away victory in a row for Mansfield, who are now seven games unbeaten. Jake Speight opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half with his sixth of the season, while Paul Heckingbottom sealed the points with his first for the Stags in the second period. "It was without doubt my best away win," said Holdsworth. "We have had wins on the road when he have needed points badly and got them. "But we have ground them out. This match was a good performance against a very good side. "I thought we were outstanding, the better side and deserved our victory. "We could have had a penalty and maybe three or four goals, but I'm not worrying about that. "Crawley are a strong side who are very good at home and a manager in Steve Evans who has done well for them. With that in mind, it was a wonderful win. "The back four were outstanding, but everyone played their part and we played some very good football. "It's a huge game for us." ------------------------ Wide man Speight enjoying new lease of life at Stags Evening Post JAKE Speight says he is growing into his role on the right flank after beginning the campaign desperate to play up front for Mansfield Town. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Wide-man-Speight-enjoying-new-lease-life-Stags/article-1515881-detail/article.html? The former Sheffield United man scored his sixth goal of the season as he opened the scoring against Crawley. Most of those have come while playing out wide rather than through the middle and Speight admits he is thriving in that position. "At the start of the season I did prefer to play up front, but I'm enjoying playing down the right more and more now," said Speight. "It helps when we play some good football, like we did at Crawley because they didn't have a look in before Soms (Matt Somner) got sent off. "Blair Sturrock got us all playing. We were always confident we could get to grips with our away form and we have done that in our last four games. "This was a strong performance and I enjoyed playing in it. "We got the ball down and played well, especially early on." Speight was in the right place at the right time for his 11th- minute opener. He said: "I couldn't miss. "We won a corner on the right and it wasn't great defending by them. "But the ball dropped right for me and I just hit it into the back of the net. "The goal gave me confidence for the rest of the game, but we all played a part. "We looked strong and that is why we haven't been beaten in a few games now. "We needed to have a look at ourselves after our performance in the draw at Forest Green, but it was a different story in this game." ---------------------------- |
Latest | November 2009