Archived News from April 2010
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HOLDSWORTH AND LING REACTION
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Holdsworth and Martin Ling audio interviews from BBC --->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8595522.stm ------------------- Holdsworth left to rue lack of killer instinct Evening Post DAVID Holdsworth was once again left ruing his Mansfield Town side's lack of a killer instinct as they suffered a late defeat at ten-man Cambridge United. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Holdsworth-left-rue-lack-killer-instinct/article-1971004-detail/article.html The Stags looked set for at least a point and were pressing for three when Jon Challinor conceded a penalty and Danny Crow converted. Jon Shaw should have equalised as the Stags won their own spot kick, when Brian Saah clashed with Kyle Perry, only for the former Burton man to miss the target. But boss Holdsworth believes his players should have already wrapped up the game by then – and were far too sloppy at the back. "I'm disappointed to say the least. We could have claimed the three points, without doubt," he said. "The sending off was a telling factor (Dave Partridge for two bookable offences) and it was right by the letter of the law. "We got the upper hand and were dominating the game. We had the chances but, I keep saying it, we have to put teams to bed. "Individual errors have cost us again. Their first goal, a designated marker went missing and the second, Andy Nicholas got caught and is not a centre back, but I'm not here to make excuses for that. "At the end, they counter-attacked us and two players switched off, which led to their penalty. "For our penalty the lad should be sent off if he punched Kyle Perry. If he pushed him it was the right decision. We should have been level then, but football can be cruel." Mansfield are now mathematically out of the play-off race following their defeat at the Abbey Stadium and York's 2-1 victory over Altrincham. ----------------------- Holdsworth left to rue lack of killer instinct Evening Post DAVID Holdsworth was once again left ruing his Mansfield Town side's lack of a killer instinct as they suffered a late defeat at ten-man Cambridge United. The Stags looked set for at least a point and were pressing for three when Jon Challinor conceded a penalty and Danny Crow converted. Jon Shaw should have equalised as the Stags won their own spot kick, when Brian Saah clashed with Kyle Perry, only for the former Burton man to miss the target. But boss Holdsworth believes his players should have already wrapped up the game by then – and were far too sloppy at the back. "I'm disappointed to say the least. We could have claimed the three points, without doubt," he said. "The sending off was a telling factor (Dave Partridge for two bookable offences) and it was right by the letter of the law. "We got the upper hand and were dominating the game. We had the chances but, I keep saying it, we have to put teams to bed. "Individual errors have cost us again. Their first goal, a designated marker went missing and the second, Andy Nicholas got caught and is not a centre back, but I'm not here to make excuses for that. "At the end, they counter-attacked us and two players switched off, which led to their penalty. "For our penalty the lad should be sent off if he punched Kyle Perry. If he pushed him it was the right decision. We should have been level then, but football can be cruel." Mansfield are now mathematically out of the play-off race following their defeat at the Abbey Stadium and York's 2-1 victory over Altrincham. ----------------------- http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10423~2015910,00.html? Holdsworth: "Football Can Be Cruel" Mansfield manager David Holdsworth spoke to cambridgeunited.com following the U's dramatic victory over his side on Easter Monday at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. Holdsworth explained, "I'm very disappointed with the result to say the least. We had enough chances to put the game to bed. We haven't taken those chances and a refereeing decision has cost us a point, if not all three. He went on, "I can't see any complaints with the sending off. The letter of the law says it was a second yellow card and therefore he deserved to go. We then had the upper hand and were dominating the game. "Cambridge then hit us on the counter-attack, two players have switched off enabling them to take a chance that has ended up with the award of a penalty. We laid siege to their goal late on and got the penalty and if their lad has punched Kyle Perry he should have been sent off, if he has only pushed him then the referee was correct in the award of a yellow card. But football can be cruel, can't it? "Individual errors have cost us, for the first goal the scorer had a designated marker and he's gone missing. The second goal was a poor goal for us. I felt honesty was needed there. I know that Andy Nicholas is not a centre-half and we have had to re-shape things but I'm not here to make excuses. He's an experienced player and I've felt certain players effectively didn't turn up today. "Michael Brough has a severe dislocation of his shoulder, or so we are led to believe. That was a blow but I'm not here to make excuses, trust me I'm not and I won't do that. "I spoke to the referee at the interval because Kyle Perry was certainly manhandled; he was a warrior out there for us today. We witnessed the elbow from Brian Saah that left him on the floor, you've witnessed it and I'm sure many Cambridge fans have. The referee and his assistant have both not seen it, so he stays on. "I'll give Martin Ling's team credit today, they certainly showed passion for the manager, dug in well and got the result. Full credit goes to Martin and his players for that." Interview by David Gray ------------------- Midfielder's goal proves no consolation Evening Post MANSFIELD Town's Kyle Nix admitted his second goal of the season at Cambridge United in no way made up for his side's defeat. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Midfielder-s-goal-consolation/article-1970396-detail/article.html The midfielder struck a second Stags equaliser to make it 2-2 after Josh Coulson and Lee Phillips had scored for the Us and Jake Speight for the visitors. But as Danny Crow converted a late penalty – and Jon Shaw missed from the spot at the other end – Cambridge ran out dramatic, late winners to leave Nix and his team-mates deflated. "We had the chances in the second half to score three or four and I think the way we ended up losing the game just about sums up our season," he said. "It was pleasing to get back out on the pitch because I have not played too much recently after being injured for about four months. "I scored a goal and probably should have had another one myself, but it means nothing when you end up on the losing team. "For the goal I just put the ball into a good area where either someone can get a touch on it or it can go straight in, which is what happened. "We really fancied getting the win when they went down to ten men and we had the chances to kill them off, but we haven't, which is so frustrating." Nix said felt for Shaw in failing to convert from 12 yards after coming off the bench. He said: "Missing a penalty happens to the best players in the world. "I think a few lads fancied taking the penalty, including Burg (Andy Burgess), Millsy (Gary Mills) and myself. "But Jon has decided to take it, gone to blast it and just scuffed it, which has taken in wide of the post." ------------------------ Ling delight as U's banish drop fears MARTIN Ling was thrilled to see 10-man Cambridge United make certain of safety with yesterday's 3-2 victory at home to Mansfield. http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Cambridge-United/Ling-delight-as-Us-banish-drop-fears.htm? Danny Crow grabbed the winner with a late penalty after Dave Partridge had been sent off earlier in the second half. And Mansfield then missed a stoppage-time penalty of their own and with it the chance of a draw. Ling said: "There was nothing in it, but it was an exciting match that had a bit of everything. "We got our noses in front twice and threw it away quickly. You're always at your most vulnerable when you've scored a goal, and that was apparent to us yesterday (Sunday, 04 April). "The sending-off was the right decision. I think it was two cheap bookings. The penalty for us, I can't really see what happened, then their penalty was a ridiculous decision. "Their bloke pushed Brian Saah to help himself up and they got the penalty, but we scored, they missed theirs, so we take the three points and now we're mathematically safe. "But the bigger thing is I just noticed we're 11th in the league, so a top-half finish is still possible from the debris that was the first half of this season." Ling was pleased with the character shown by United, especially after losing Partridge. He said: "I just feel over the last two games at Kiddy and Gateshead, it hasn't been good enough. "But I thought we played with a purpose yesterday and all through the game we had a cutting edge to us. Even when we were down to 10 men I always thought we were a threat because Crow and (Lee) Phillips were always a thorn in their side." With safety assured, Ling said he may leave captain Paul Carden on the bench for Saturday's trip to Salisbury and begin to experiment with his side. He said: "If Paul picks up a booking on Saturday, he can't play two of the last three games. "I haven't told him yet, but I think that might make sense to make sure he's available for Oxford and the last home game. "There are a few little bits we can play about with, knowing it's impossible for us to go down." But Ling said Kevin Roberts' season is over after confirming he had damaged his ankle ligaments in the 2-0 defeat at Gateshead at the weekend. ----------------- http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10423~2015663,00.html? Ling: We Played With Purpose Posted on: Mon 05 Apr 2010 Cambridge United manager Martin Ling was understandably happy to put two poor away performances behind him as The U's recorded a thrilling victory against Mansfield Town on Monday. In a game of two penalties and a sending off for David Partridge, Ling offered his assessment of the game as a whole. "It was an exciting game which had everything really. We got our noses in front twice but threw it away very quickly. The sending off was the right decision I think, it was two bookings. Cheap bookings, but they were bookings. "Then the penalty for us I can't really see what happened, and then an absolutely ridiculous decision for their penalty. Their player pushed Brian to help himself up and Brian's trying to help himself up and then before you know it he's given a penalty." Jon Shaw missed the spotkick in the sixth minute of added time to preserve United's lead, and the result ensures that The U's are safe from relegation after their poor form around New Year. "We scored (our penalty) and they missed so we take the three points and now we're mathematically safe. I've just noticed that we're eleventh in the league so a top half finish is still possible." Ling was pleased with the overall performance from his side, despite the disappointment of conceding quick equalisers on two occasions. "Over the last two games at Kidderminster and Gateshead it hasn't been good enough, but I think that we played with a purpose today. I keep going on about passing with purpose and I feel that all through the game we had a cutting edge to us, even with ten men. The front men of Crow and Phillips were always a thorn in their side and the two wide boys in the first half were ably assisted by the full backs. To be honest I thought we edged the game all the way through it and it was nice to get the win." Josh Coulson returned to the side after being dropped for Saturday's trip to Gateshead and the defender responded with another fine performance and his second goal of the season. Ling was quick to praise the 21 year old whilst also admitting that leaving home out on Saturday didn't pay off. "Josh has got a bit of a taste for scoring goals! I left him out on Saturday and played Aiden Palmer but it didn't work so Josh came back in again today and he's done great. He's got two goals now and he's had a good back end to the season. I feel that with our back four, even without (Kevin) Roberts there, there are some equations from which I can pick and whatever we do we tend to come up with an answer, but Josh has done particularly well today." On the subject of Kevin Roberts, Ling revealed that the initial fears about the right back's injury have been confirmed and that he will not appear again during this campaign. "Kevin's going to be out for the season. It's not broken but it's a ligament problem. There's no way he'll play a part from now on, we've only got nineteen days to go so he'll be out, but I feel he's done a good job for us and we'll assess that situation in the summer." Like Coulson, Lee Phillips also doubled his tally for the season with a close range header before being replaced to a standing ovation late on. Despite not playing him on Saturday, Ling noted that he had no doubts about playing the striker today. "In my head Lee was always going to play today. I thought that Calum away from home and Lee at home was a good combination to go with. That keeps them fit and fresh and that certainly helped him get his goal, but he'd played well before then. He had a hand if everything that we did well." Asked about the opposition and their style of play, the manager revealed he was well prepared for their game plan ahead of the game. "We had a match report on Mansfield to look at before the game and they had seven players over six foot so we knew they were going to be tough and strong. Some of them went down maybe too easily for everybody's liking but that's the way it went and it's down to the referee to judge where the right decision has to be made. I think he got most of them right if I'm honest." Following two disappointing defeats last week at Kidderminster and Gateshead in which United twice failed to score, Ling was pleased to put things right with the performance against Mansfield. With safety now assured, he also revealed that some of the young professionals on the books may now get their chance to shine in the four remaining fixtures. "I didn't want to season to drift, I wanted to be sure we were safe as quickly as we could so I had the chance to play a couple of the younger ones over the last four games, if I choose to do that. The main thing is that we put a good end to the season. If you look at the ten games we went undefeated, then two (losses) and today, then over about a third of the season then with the points total we'd be up there with the best of them. If you can do it over a third of the season then why can't we do it over the whole season?" With United next in action on Saturday at Salisbury and then again on Tuesday at playoff hopefuls Oxford, Ling concluded by speaking about what changes might be expected in the closing stages of the season. "I think I'll have a look at Carden. If he picks up a booking on Saturday then he can't play two of the last three games of the season. I think it would make sense for us to make sure we've got him for Oxford and the last home game of the season. I haven't told him that yet! "There are a few little bits I can play about with now we know that we can't go down. I'd still like to make a top half finish. It won't be mass experimenting but maybe we could put one younger play in every now and then. "I think that's fair to the younger player and to the team as the younger player can express himself in the more solid team that you've got around him." Matt Ramsay ------------------- http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10423~2015957,00.html? Crow: "Nerves Didn't Come into it" Posted on: Tue 06 Apr 2010 U's leading scorer Danny Crow moved on to 21 goals for the season yesterday, as his dramatic last-gasp penalty strike earned Martin Ling's side three points against Mansfield Town at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. Speaking to cambridgeunited.com following the match, Danny reflected, "Nerves didn't come into it when taking the penalty. I'll admit I was a bit tired after the extra work I put in when we went down to ten men and didn't connect with the penalty as well as I wanted but it had enough on it to go in. "I was confident I was going to score with the form I'm in. I feel every game I play that I'm going to score. "It was nice to score in front of their fans, too. They had started giving me some stick about being an ex-Notts County player. They can of course say what they want as long as they don't mind me scoring the winner against them. It's the best way to deal with it. "I think the decision to give them that penalty in the dying seconds was a mistake, it was the worst decision that I've seen in my career. Whether he was trying to even things up, I don't know? "I asked one of their lads who Jon Shaw was and he said he's played in the Premier League, so I was thinking it was a foregone conclusion he was going to stick it away. But he hit a really bad penalty and the three points deservedly were ours." Interview by David Gray ------------------ http://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10423~2015949,00.html? Coulson: "It Was a Team Performance" U's defender Josh Coulson, who was left out of the team for Saturdays defeat at Gateshead, was recalled to the starting line up for yesterday's dramatic 3-2 victory over Mansfield Town at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. The 21-year-old scored the opening goal of the match, his second of the season, and picked up the Man of the Match trophy awarded by Match Sponsors Greene King. A delighted Josh told cambridgeunited.com following the match, "It all got a bit of exciting at the end! It looked like the ref wanted to even it up with thier penalty, but it show's the spirit we had throughout the game, especially after two really bad performances in the last week. "I think Mansfield thought they were better than us after all they were favourites to win the league at the start of the season but we really stepped up to them today. The atmosphere helped a lot. The fans were really loud from the first minute and kept that support going. That kind of atmosphere really gets you going and it played a part in the win. "I know I got the man of the match but it was a team performance out there. If one person deserves the plaudits it's Jai Reason, he has had a great game. The ball he landed on my head for the first goal couldn't have been better. He's had some stick this year but he has quality in abundance and he has proved that today, running midfield even when we were down to ten men. "I would have been happy with one goal this year but to get a second is special. I lost my marker throughout the game; he just didn't seem to be able to stay with me. If I went front post he lost me, if I stayed back he couldn't find me, so with Jai's delivery it was just a case of putting it past the keeper." "When you go down to ten men I think you just want to work harder. We have known in the past it's harder to beat a side a man down because those ten men want it more. "They went down very easily under our challenges. A lot of sides do that but today and especially their strikers did it all the time. Brian Saah was arguing with their striker all game about it. It's the old go down easy; try to get us booked game. "I actually thought the referee was dealing with it well up until the penalty. As I said at the time, I hadn't a clue what was going on when he blew up. I just looked around and Brian and their player were on the floor together and having a little scuffle, the ball was out of play but the ref has then given a penalty. "Justice was done, as their guy couldn't handle the pressure and bottled it. The fans behind the goal did their bit to put him off, too. "All credit to Danny for tucking the winner away, he has run his socks of today, as he does every game, bless him! He deserves that goal, really deserves it, for all the work he's put in and all the stick the Mansfield fans have given him during the game. The goal is not only deserved but it also gave him the chance to get his own back! "This win was for the fans that went to Kidderminster and Gateshead, we owed you that." Interview by David Gray ------------------ |
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