Archived News from February 2013
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DARTFORD PREVIEWS
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Cox not ruling out further signings
mansfieldtown.net 1st February 2013 Paul Cox has not ruled out signing additional players to strengthen his squad for the second half of the campaign. Paul Cox is speaking to Jason Harrison of Mansfield 103.2 at this morning's press meeting ahead of our match to Dartford http://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/article/cox-not-ruling-out-further-signings-633532.aspx Only players who are out of contract and those who could be transferred by an emergency loan can by signed from next Friday until 21 March. And Cox, speaking at this morning's press meeting, said that the next few games would dictate whether or not he needs to make further signings. Cox said: "We still have players in our sights. Whether we need them will be down to the squad of players we have here who I think have performed excellent over the last period of games. "If they take that sort of performance and mindset in the next few games then I won't need to go out and strengthen. The games coming up will tell me a story as to whether we need to go into the loan market." ---------------------- Game-starved Mansfield are facing action at last Friday, February 01, 2013, Nottingham Post IT has been a frustrating fortnight for Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-18022056-detail/story.html Just when everything appeared to be clicking into place, another enforced break from action upset the rhythm before he missed out on two of his key targets in the last 48 hours. Victories on the road at Stockport and Southport had closed the gap from nine to three points on the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs. But Wrexham's involvement in the FA Trophy last weekend saw the Stags go without a game and on Tuesday, the match at Hereford was postponed for a waterlogged pitch just as the players were boarding the team bus at the One Call Stadium. Add to that a Kidderminster victory in midweek and the gap has now opened back up to six points to fifth place, albeit Stags have four matches in hand. Tomorrow, Dartford visit Mansfield as Cox's men taste their first action in a fortnight and he wants everyone to bottle that frustration and use it to get the three points against a side that sits one place above them, on the same points, although they have played three more games. In front of the Premier Sports cameras back in October, the Stags lost in the reverse fixture on a Friday night, conceding twice in 30 seconds before the break as they lost 2-0. But Cox is hoping for a positive reaction to not only that but all the recent frustration when they take to the pitch tomorrow. He said: "We lot ourselves down badly on that Friday night in front of the television cameras and it was at a time when we were going through a bad period of away form. "It is one we want to put right but we have come a long way since then and are currently on a run of four consecutive away wins in the league. "Now we have to get back to the solid home form we were enjoying earlier in the season (after losing last two league matches on home soil) and if we can do that, there is no doubt we can start to improve our league position. "You look at the league table and with the games in hand, we can effectively go two points behind the leaders by winning them. I know that means winning them all, but that is what we have to be looking to do and that is why we need to get back playing and get the three points tomorrow." Mansfield played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Notts County last week and many first-team players got a run out in the reserves on Wednesday to keep them match sharp. But the postponement in midweek did rile Cox. "We were just getting on the bus when it was called off," he said. "I understand why they have to leave it as late as they can but given the forecast, maybe it could have been called off earlier. "It leaves you a bit in limbo but once it was off, we got changed and put on a training session for the lads." With no chance of pulling the game in this Tuesday because of an England 'C' international, the Hereford game will now take place in April, when the Stags next have an available midweek date. They are now playing Saturday and Tuesday every week until that point but Cox is looking at it as a great opportunity, rather than a problem. "If we lose another game, we will have to have at least one week where we play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and that is far from ideal. "But playing Saturday and then Tuesday, I think the lads enjoy that. It keeps the games coming thick and fast and it is about playing and recovery. "It will make for a hectic February and March but last season we had a busy month and got on a roll and if you can do that, it can be great having so many games. "There are a lot of tough games but then again, the rest of the top ten in the league all have difficult games coming up. "Ours starts with Dartford but we will just be delighted to get playing again." The Stags' away match at Forest Green Rovers, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday March 16, has been brought forward. Premier Sports will show the game live on Friday March 15 (7.45pm). A new date has been found for Mansfield's trip to Hereford after the game was called off on Tuesday. It now takes place on Tuesday April 16 (7.45pm). --------------------- Spotlight on Mansfield v Dartford Friday, February 01, 2013, Nottingham Post Mansfield (from): Marriott, Sutton, Beevers, Dempster, Jones, Meikle, Murray, Howell, Daniel, Briscoe, Stevenson, Speight. Subs: Thompson, Clements, Rhead, Wright, Redmond, Geohaghon. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-18022233-detail/story.html Team news: Mansfield stand as they did prior to the postponed trip to Hereford, with Exodus Geohaghon back from a hamstring injury and having had longer to train to get right this week. Ryan Tafazolli resumed full training on Monday but this game might come too soon. It is hoped Lindon Meikle is fit after a whack in training and he will join up with the England C squad after this game. Dartford (from): Bettinelli, Champion, Arber, Bonner, Rose, Wallis, Green, Burns, Collier, Harris, Erskine, Hayes, Noble, Rogers, Wells, Evans Team news: Jack Evans, 19, a defender from Gillingham, has been added to the Dartford squad on an initial one month's loan. Otherwise, they could freshen up their starting 11 from the midweek FA Trophy quarter-final draw with FA Halifax on Wednesday night. But they recently lost the services of midfielder Harry Crawford, who had scored 12 goals, after he joined League Two Barnet just over a week ago. Danger man: Dominic Green. The midfielder has joined on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge for a month and he is an influential player who had three years at Peterborough previously. Dangerous on the ball ----------------- |
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