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Archived News from October 2002

WATKISS: WE WERE BEATEN BY A BETTER SIDE
23rd October 2002 14:12


Teamtalk.com
Mansfield Town manager Stuart Watkiss was in a philosophical mood after his side's LDV Vans Trophy exit at the hands of Crewe Alexandra.
A Rob Hulse hat-trick helped condemn the Stags to a 4-0 defeat at Field Mill, but Watkiss was first to admit that Mansfield were beaten by a much better side.
Watkiss said: "Without being too harsh on my lot, Crewe have better players than us.
"First half we were poor and deserved to be 2-0 down at half-time. Our senior players let us down. We needed to get more tackles in and get closer to the opposition but we looked like little schoolboys who were scared of the situation.
"Some harsh words were said at half-time and we were much more positive in the second half. We got into a lot of good situations and if we could have got a goal back it would have been a very different game.
"But they got a third which came from a good ball in and a very good finish. Liam Lawrence had an even easier chance for us a minute later but shot straight at the keeper and that emphasised the difference in quality between the teams.
"At least we had a go at them second half. There was a big difference in class and that is the type of team we are competing against this year and we have got to learn quickly and adapt a lot better than we are doing.''

 

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