Archived News from October 2010
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HOLDSWORTH, IAN BOGIE REACTION
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David Holdsworth audio interview --->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/9037474.stm ------------- No disciplinary issue at Stags despite third red card says Holdsworth Evening Post MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth admits he is baffled why his team continue to have players sent off. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport/disciplinary-issue-Stags-despite-red-card-says-Holdsworth/article-2714566-detail/article.html? The Stags were reduced to ten men for the third consecutive away game at Gateshead yesterday, a match they drew 1-1. Adam Smith was the latest to get his marching orders, following Steve Foster at Luton and Keigan Parker at Newport. But Holdsworth insists his side have not deserved all of those dismissals – and doesn't feel there is a disciplinary issue. "That is three away games now where we have been down to ten men and we have spoken about discipline," he said. "But when you look at it, Adam was committed and went for the ball but missed it. "Up to last week we had one of the best disciplinary records, so I can't put my finger on it. "I though the tackle on Nixy (Kyle Nix) was very similar and he left the field injured while their lad didn't. It doesn't make sense sometimes." Holdsworth was very pleased with the Mansfield goal, scored by Paul Connor, his sixth of the season. He said: "It was a training-ground move for our goal that was nice to see and I could hear people and I could hear people in the stands commenting on what a good goal it was. "It was a striker's goal where he got in front of his man at the near post. "I felt the first 10 minutes we had one or two other chances and I was delighted with the first half. "Both away games we have played some good football and I'm pleased with the way we are passing it." The Stags boss also praised the way teenager Tom Naylor acquitted himself in his first game of the season in place of the suspended Foster. "For the first hour Tom looked very composed, but he can learn a lot from when we went down to ten men," said Holdsworth. "It is a situation where you have to manage your emotions. It's a big learning curve, but I'm proud of him for the way he stepped into Fozzie's shoes." ------------- Holdsworth disappointed but not downbeat after 1-1 draw at Gateshead Evening Post DAVID Holdsworth was disappointed but not downbeat after his Mansfield Town side battled to a 1-1 draw at Gateshead. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Holdsworth-disappointed-downbeat-1-1-draw-Gateshead/article-2714816-detail/article.html? Serving a one-match touchline ban, the Stags boss viewed the action from the stands at the International Stadium. He watched the visitors take control of the game in the first half through Paul Connor's strike. But when Connor missed an easier chance early in the second period and then Adam Smith saw red, the game changed. Gateshead equalised ten minutes from time through Michael Kay and, in the end, Mansfield had to fight hard to claim a draw. "The first 60 minutes were excellent and we played some very good football," said Holdsworth. "I was delighted with our passing and we bossed the first half. "But the sending off changed the format and it gave Gateshead a lift. "I couldn't tell if it was a sending off, but it looked like both players (Smith and Kay) lifted their foot. "It was deemed reckless but the player got up ten seconds later, so I'm disappointed in that respect. "We came here against a good side and showed the right qualities when we went down to ten men. "They were going to get chances when their midfielders are gambling and making runs, but I thought the commitment the players showed was fantastic. "Luton were down to ten men and lost (the previous week) so from that point of view it's a good point." ---------------------- Connor left to rue his miss as ten-man Stags draw 1-1 Evening Post PAUL Connor admitted his second-half miss proved pivotal in Mansfield's 1-1 draw at Gateshead. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Connor-left-rue-miss-man-Stags-draw-1-1/article-2714619-detail/article.html? The Stags striker had put his team in front with a well-taken first-half strike from Louis Briscoe's centre. But then the former Lincoln man spurned a gilt-edged opening to put his side 2-0 in front. Gateshead then came back to seal a point with Michael Kay's strike ten minutes from time. "I was pleased with my goal, but I'm disappointed I didn't get a couple more," said Connor. "The goal was one we have been working on in training with our crossing and finishing. "I knew where Louis was going to try to put it and I got a good contact, which helped it in. "The one in the second half was a lot easier, but the keeper got a touch and it was one of those that just hit me. "It was a reaction and I didn't get enough on it, which is one of those things. The worst thing about it was that if that had gone in then I think it would have given us the win. "I'm pleased with six from 13 games, but you always want more and, if I'm critical of myself, I could have had a couple more when I have hit the post." Along with Connor's miss, Mansfield were left to rue the 62nd-minute red card handed out to left-winger Adam Smith. He said: "The sending off was similar to the other night (at Luton) in that it changed the momentum of the game. "I'm not saying it was Smithy's fault we didn't win because he had to go for the ball. The lads are committed and want to do well for the club. "But with ten men you are always up against it and they put us under a lot of pressure. "We have got a tough spell of games coming up, but these are the matches you want to be involved in." ----------------------- Murray says he can slot smoothly back into Stags side Evening Post ADAM Murray believes he can slot smoothly into the Mansfield side after declaring himself satisfied with his return at Gateshead. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Murray-says-slot-smoothly-Stags/article-2714638-detail/article.html? The midfielder began his third spell with the Stags, having joined on loan from Luton on Friday, with an assured display. And he believes there are even better things to come from the rest of the Mansfield midfield and himself after a 1-1 draw at the International Stadium. "I enjoyed playing in the role just off the target man and it helps when you have someone like Conns (Paul Connor) in front of you," said Murray. "I played that role at Oxford sometimes and it is something I have always enjoyed doing. "We play some good football as a team, which helps. I already seem to have clicked pretty well with Millsy (Gary Mills) and Nixy (Kyle Nix) – we seem to be on the same wavelength. "In the first half and even at the start of the second we were in control and at that point it looked like there was only going to be one winner. "But things happen and they got back into it after we went down to ten men and had to change our shape. "It was a hard slog with ten men, it was backs to the wall at times, but we still came out with a point. "I thought the boys defended well because they put a lot of balls into the box and made it hard for us. "It gives us something positive to take into the game tomorrow night against Wimbledon. "I played against them a few weeks ago and know they are a decent side, but we will be on our home patch and we always have to fancy ourselves there." ------------------ Frustrated Stags boss rues costly red card in Gateshead draw CHAD.co.uk, Sat Oct 02 2010 DAVID Holdsworth watched another controversial red card prove costly for his Mansfield Town side for the second time this week in today's 1-1 draw at Gateshead. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/frustrated_stags_boss_rues_costly_red_card_in_gateshead_draw_1_1664555 Adam Smith's 62nd minute dismissal for a high challenge sparked a Gateshead comeback in a match they looked like they would lose. Holdsworth himself had to watch the match from the stands after also being 'sent-off' along with Steve Foster at Luton and today it was the turn of Smith. “It is so frustrating,” said Holdsworth. “It was just a mistimed forward's challenge, I thought both players looked like they had raised their feet. It was deemed a reckless challenge by Adam yet their lad was up in 10 seconds. “One of their tackles on Kyle Nix was worse than that and Kyle has had to come off with a calf injury. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. “For the first hour I thought we were excellent and played some very good football. I thought we bossed it. The sending-off changed everything and gave Gateshead a lift. “Our goal was a training ground goal which was nice to see and it was a real striker's goal.” However, at 1-0 up Connor missed an open goal from four yards which was to prove costly in the final reckoning. Holdsworth said: “Paul has apologised and knows he should have scored. But I won't blame him. He was in the right position but failed to get enough contact on it. “You always need that bit of luck away from home. But I must give respect to their keeper who did really well to get back and stop the ball. “Our commitment was fantastic and our travelling fans were in fine voice. They saw a battling display and will be proud of the players tonight.” Adam Murray made an impressive third Mansfield 'debt' on loan from Luton and Holdsworth added: “It was a very exciting display from Adam and later on he had to do the dirty work which he is good at. We used him as the pivot and got the ball to him.” Murray, who came on as a midweek sub for Luton against Stags, said: “I enjoyed that though it would have been better with three points. “I am happy to be back here at Mansfield. It's a strange one as I started the season with Luton and was playing up until two weeks ago. “So it came as a shock to not be playing and when this opportunity came I didn't need to think twice. “As a club everyone is very close-knit here and speaking to the gaffer really swung it for me. He has the desire to move this club forward as does the new chairman and I want to be at a club where they want to win things. “Obviously things went really well here on first spell. The second time I had a disagreement with the new manager, we didn't see eye to eye and I had to move on though I didn't really want to go. But that's football sometimes. “Mansfield have a really good blend of footballers here and how they set up reminds me of when I was at Oxford.” Goalscorer Paul Connor said: “We put in a lot of work in training on crossing and shooting and the goal was one of those moves. I knew exactly where Louis was going to put it and I made good contact. “I know I should have scored a second. It was one of those, the keeper has got a touch on it and it's hit me and could have gone anywhere. “I had to react and get my foot up and it came off my heel and trickled along the line for what seemed ages which was agony to watch. “I am not making excuses, though, as I should have scored. I am there to score goals but you are always going to miss a few as well.” --------------- Bogie verdict on Mansfield draw 02/10/2010, by Jeff Bowron, gateshead-fc.com A late Michael Kay goal gave Gateshead a share of the spoils against Mansfield Town in an entertaining game on Tyneside. http://www.gateshead-fc.com/2981/bogie-verdict-on-mansfield-draw It was no more than Ian Bogie's side deserved and just one defeat from seven home games this season has pleased the Tynesiders boss. "It is imperative your home form is good when you play in this league and teams are now coming to the International Stadium in the knowledge they will be in for a tough game," said Bogie. "Credit to the lads, after Cambridge they have responded fantastically well and this draw keeps our good run going and we now look forward to a tough challenge at Kidderminster on Tuesday. "Mansfield fully deserved their first half lead and although we created one or two opportunities and looked dangerous at set pieces we weren't really at the races. "We got over run in midfield where they played a narrow three and dictated the play and moved the ball well. "But at 1-0 a game is never done and dusted and we said that at half-time, though we'd started growing into the game as the half progressed. "The sending off in the second half gave us a massive advantage. We took the game to Mansfield after that and were unfortunate not to get the winning goal. "The lads have dug in and it is a good point. Michael Kay had a solid debut and to come up with a goal we have to be delighted with his first game. "We have just taken four points from two big clubs in this division, Luton and Mansfield, both of whom won at Gateshead last season, and seven points from nine this week is a good effort. "Mansfield will count themselves unfortunate going down to ten men but under the circumstances I'm sure David Holdsworth will be happy with a point. "When we were one down after half an hour I looked at our lads' faces and they weren't really at the races but they dug in and showed some quality in the second half. "Kris Gate has had two great chances inside the six yard box and on another given day he would have come away with a hat-trick. "Gate has made great runs but sometimes you are too quick for your own good and he's admitted he should have taken one of the chances with his other foot. "His contact with the header when he arrived in the box was probably too good and it just wasn't his day today. "We've had good openings and on a good day we would maybe have scored four or five goals but it wasn't to be. "We never took advantage of the extra man in terms of scoring goals but we caused Mansfield a lot of problems and it was a good point." ---------------------- Kenny Burns: Money does not guarantee success but I hope takeover works out for the Stags Evening Post IT'S nine days ago since John Radford took over Mansfield Town and obviously, optimism is riding high in the town. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Burns-Money-does-guarantee-success-hope-takeover-works-Stags/article-2714672-detail/article.html? They have started the season well and just made a good signing in midfielder Adam Murray, on loan from Luton. It now looks as though, instead of having a really strict budget, there might be some money put into the coffers to help manager David Holdsworth. It is a tough league to get out of, as the Stags have found in the last two seasons. But Radford's acquisition of the club can only be a good thing for them. However, money does not guarantee success and everybody has to be aware of that. I'm sure Holdsworth will not allow anybody to get carried away and we will now have to watch and see what unfolds. Radford (pictured) is a local man, he has made his money and is a Stags fan. He only has the club's best interests at heart. That is the big plus of this takeover. I hope it proves a success for him – and the club. They need to be playing in the Football League, that is where they belong. ---------------------- |
Latest | October 2010