Archived News from November 2012
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SLOUGH REPLAY PREVIEWS
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Slough tie must be treated like final 12th November 2012 Paul Cox has insisted his players will treat tomorrow's match like an FA Cup Final. video interview with Paul Cox ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/slough-tie-must-be-treated-like-final-482914.aspx Cox's men travel to Royal Berkshire tomorrow night in an FA Cup First Round Replay – a game which Cox expects Slough Town to 'throw the kitchen sink' at his players. “We've seen how Slough can defend and how well they can play,” said Cox at this morning's press meeting. “We have to go into it with the same mindset as we have in the last two games, where we've looked a different animal. “We want to make sure we build some sort of momentum and build that through. “We'll have to go down and deal with different conditions [than the first match]. “We expect the pitch to be uneven, a hostile crowd and we expect them to throw the kitchen sink at us. It will probably be a little different from the first game but me and the boys know what to expect.” With Shane Redmond the only goalkeeper available, Cox may look to promote either Jordan Fell or Ryan Hopkins from the youth team to act as back-up 'keeper ahead of tomorrow night's game ---------------------- The Stags have a tricky away FA Cup first round replay tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Slough Town where the Evo-Stik Southern Central Division minnows are the lowest-ranked club left in the competition. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/slough-bound-stags-drawn-at-home-to-matlock-in-fa-trophy-1-5121274 “Supporters probably though the first game was a forgone conclusion, but that's why this cup is the best in the world,” said Stags boss Paul Cox. “I hope we can go down there and put in a full 90 minute shift rather than the 45 minutes we put in for the first leg. “First and foremost we are going to have to deal with different conditions. We expect the pitch to be uneven, we expect the crowd to be hostile and we expect Slough to come at us and throw the kitchen sink as us. “Slough have had a couple of good results lately and will be full of confidence. I just want us to impose our game on them and put a performance in.” The winners will be away to Walsall or Lincoln City on 1st December ------------------ Cox: Stags fans will now see the best of Meikle Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Nottingham Post MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox believes the Stags fans are now going to see the best of Lindon Meikle. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17308730-detail/story.html The winger made the step up with Cox from Eastwood in the summer of last year and had a fine debut season. He started this campaign strongly and continues to be picked for England 'C'. But, in the last couple of months, Meikle's form dipped as the club went through an indifferent period of results. Now, after a few games on the bench, he has come to life and in the last three games has produced some of his trademark lively performances. And Cox hopes the 24-year-old can be a real threat again at Slough Town in Mansfield's FA Cup first round replay tonight. He said: "Lindon is looking lively. I have had him since he was 16, I know how he ticks. "The one thing the little man does do is he wears his heart on his sleeve for this club, works ever so hard and I want people like that around me. "He is a winner, he is an honest kid and you need people like that in your dressing room." ----------------- Redmond hoping FA Cup stays kind to him against Slough Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Nottingham Post THIS season, the FA Cup has been kind to Shane Redmond. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-17308693-detail/story.html In fact, he has the famous competition to thank for getting an extended run in the team. When No.1 Alan Marriott injured his shoulder in training, forcing him out until Christmas, it gave the 23-year-old a chance between the posts. But manager Paul Cox brought in Liam Mitchell on loan from Notts County and after two games, Redmond was back on the sidelines. Mitchell kept two clean sheets against Lincoln and Forest Green before Redmond's luck changed as, unexpectedly, the Magpies refused permission for their man to play in the FA Cup. One man's loss was another man's gain as Redmond was recalled and helped the Stags to a fourth qualifying round win at Workington. But he was left gutted when, in the next league game at Dartford, he was dropped again with Mitchell recalled. However, with Slough up next in the FA Cup, Redmond was once again in and he has stayed there, with the Stags not renewing Mitchell's loan. Cox did not want a situation where he had to chop and change goalkeepers for different competitions and with the Magpies still refusing to budge on letting their man play in the cup, Redmond was once again back in favour. And with an extended run on the horizon, the Irishman is relishing his chance, after he made just one appearance in his first season with Mansfield last time out. He kept a clean sheet in the goalless draw with Slough and a shutout in the 1-0 win against Southport at the weekend, while playing in the 1-1 draw at Nuneaton in between. Tonight, he will make his seventh appearance of the season in the replay at Slough, with the Stags looking to set up a second round tie at either League One Walsall or league rivals Lincoln. And Redmond believes he will only get sharper with every game he plays. The former Nottingham Forest trainee said: "I was disappointed when I didn't stay in the team for the Dartford game but the manager picked it and I had to get on with it. "But I am in the team now, which is great. It's good to get another game under my belt and good to stay in the team. "I have needed a good run and the first two games were a little bit shaky when I came in. But it got rid of the cobwebs and I think the last few games have been good." Stags have impressed recently after manager Paul Cox chose to trim down his first-team squad to bring about a togetherness. Redmond knows it is hard for those on the sidelines. But, having been there himself, he says it is vital to stay positive as a chance could be just around the corner. "We have a good squad, we are all in it together," he said. "We have to play for each other and work hard, regardless of whether we go 1-0 down. We have to play the way we play, stick to it. "It was a big squad, he has cut it down and it can only be for the best. "It is difficult for some of the lads not involved but I was in that position last season when I was not playing. "It is difficult to stay positive as I know only too well. "But you never know when a chance is going to come, like when Mazza got injured. "You have to stay focused. My family were telling me when I was not in the team to keep my spirits up and I was like 'I know' but it was hard. "My chance has come up and I just want to take it now and stay in the team." Redmond's attention turns to Slough tonight. The Stags bossed the first game but could not find a breakthrough against their Evo-Stik Southern Division One Central opponents. But one of the clear-cut chances actually fell to Slough, with Redmond pulling off a fantastic one-handed save in the first-half to keep his side on level terms. And tonight he is hoping for another clean sheet, just with the Stags finding the goals to power them into the next round. "I made what I thought was a normal save then I spoke to a few of the lads afterwards and they all said it was a very good save," said Redmond. "I was happy with it. I thought we played well, we are getting there and we need to start scoring a few goals and then we will be shooting up the league and hopefully progress in the cup. "It has been coming and we played well in that match against Slough. We did not create much in the first half but we were back to what we are good at. "We are solid, with Dempster there and we need to build on these performances now in every game we play." And, in doing that, Redmond hopes the FA Cup will be kind to him once again tonight ----------------- EXCLUSIVE: Danny Burnell - Mansfield Town will hate Holloways Park Exclusive by Rob Stevens Published 12 Nov 2012 http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/sport/football/articles/2012/11/12/64263-exclusive-danny-burnell--mansfield-town-will-hate-holloways-park/ DANNY Burnell has expressed his delight that the FA Cup first round replay between Slough and Mansfield Town will be played at Holloways Park this Tuesday. The Rebels withstood constant pressure from Mansfield at One Call Stadium but held their higher-league opposition to a creditable goalless draw. There had been fears that the midweek replay (7.45pm ko) could be diverted from the Buckinghamshire ground when capacity issues were raised. But chairman Steve Easterbrook has worked tirelessly to ensure Holloways Park will be the venue of, potentially, one of the greatest moments in Rebels' history. And leading talisman Burnell has called for the club to take full advantage of their humble surroundings when the full-time Stags come to town. Speaking exclusively to the Observer, he said: "I am glad it has stayed at Holloways Park, Mansfield are going to hate it. "They will still expect to beat us because they had a few chances against us, and hopefully they'll take us for granted. "We are used to the pitch, which works in our favour. "And we know Mansfield will make mistakes on it, we might only get one chance but we have just got to take it." Burnell has bagged 65 goals in 109 appearances since his switch from Wealdstone in September 2010 but was devoid of chances in Nottinghamshire. He continue: "The first half was good. "We needed to grow into the game and learn to do different things, but after about 10-15 minutes we got used to it. "Ed [Smith] had a great chance but the keeper pulled off a fantastic save. "I do not remember a lot about the second half because I got head-butted when going up for a header and was concussed, which didn't really help." However, you cannot keep a quality striker quite for long and Burnell - an electrician by trade - made it 16 for the current campaign with a second-half strike against Rugby Town and hat-trick against Ashford Town (Middx) last weekend. Individual mistakes cost Slough on their return to Southern Division One Central action, though, and an impressive nine-game unbeaten run was ended with a 3-2 defeat. And Burnell, whose new on loan Metropolitan Police strike partner Smith also netted during the loss, was frustrated to leave empty handed having come from two goals down to level. He continued: "It was disappointing really. "I am gutted to be honest, we got back into the game but gave away a lead. "We were trying to push on and get the three points because we know how important the league is. It's our bread and butter at the end of the day. "At the end of the season, when we look back, we do not want to say, 'yes we had good run in the FA Cup but we didn't win the league'." The two-time Slough Town golden boot winner added: "I do not know when Ed's loan ends but we have linked up and got a good understanding. "He has come in and got a few goals so it's going quite well. "I am scoring goals because the team is playing well and we are creating chances. "Every year I have been playing senior football I've got over 20 goals so that is my target and I will take it from there. "But Sean Sonner is back from suspension and there is Ben Abbey too so there's competition up front. "Hopefully I can keep scoring goals to keep my place in the team." ** FOLLOW the FA Cup first round replay action as it happens on Twitter @Observer_sports ** ---------------- |
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