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Archived News from January 2003

LAWRENCE, GANNON & CURLE REACTION
18th January 2003 19:42


Audio interview with Liam Lawrence from Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2003/mansfield_chesterfield_away_interview.ram " target="_blank"> http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2003/mansfield_chesterfield_away_interview.ram
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Liam Lawrence interview transcribed from StagsWorld:
Question: did you have a dream last night?
"No I have just had it. Scoring the winner was unbelievable. I'm so happy for the club and the fans.
After the goal I just took my shirt off and threw it down. You just don't know what to do when you score a goal as important as that. I just went crazy."
"Our fans were brilliant throughtout. We didn't do too much in the first half to get them going."
"Their penalty was jubious. Matt Gadsby couldn't believe it, he said it didn't hit his hand."
"Overall I think we deserved it. It wasn't a vintage performance but we've battled and got our reward. Ben Doane did really well. Beardsley did brilliant as well, he held the ball up well and brought players into the game."
"I didn't see the incident for the sending off but the ref told me that the linesman told him that Bradley spat in Rhys Day's face and that's why he was sent off."
Lawrence described the goal: "We got a free kick and I thought I'm just gonna gamble. It's come to Rhys Day, he's just headed it, flicked it on, I've gambled, I've closed my eyes, it's hit my head and gone in."
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“Most important goal of my career," says Stags hero Lawrence
CHAD website
Liam Lawrence described his late winner against Chesterfield today as the most important goal of his career.
Lawrence struck deep into stoppage time to snatch a thrilling derby 2-1, former Stags star Shayne Bradley was also sent off for the Spireites, and Lawrence said: "I just ripped my shirt off when the ball went in.I didn't know what to do to celebrate and my emotions went crazy.
"It was the most important goal of my career without doubt and I couldn't believe it when it went in.
"It could be the goal that keeps us up in the end. Some of our fans said they don't care if we don't win again this season after beating Chesterfield!
"After hitting the post again just before I was ecstatic to see the ball go in.
"It was particularly sweet after having coins chucked at me at the other end by the home fans. I think they were trying to give me a win bonus!
"When the ball came in the box I just gambled and when Rhys won the header I just closed my eyes and let it hit my head!
"We had a lot of players missing but we went there confident as we have played a lot of good football of late. The kids who played did well for us and deserve a lot of credit."
Delighted assistant manager John Gannon added: "We left it a bit late, but we always felt a goal was coming and we got it just in the nick of time.
"I was delighted for the supporters and the players it was an excellent result. Both our goals came at great times to score, just before half time and then in injury time at the end.
"Liam had hit the post again but persevered in the belief he could score the goal and deserved it.
"We were shocked by the penalty decision against us. It looked harsh in a game like that. The ball spun and hit Matt Gadsby on the arm he wasn't trying to gain any advantage.
"But we had a great reaction from the players who were positive and wanted to get back into the game.
"I didn't see exactly what happened with Shayne Bradley's sending off though I understand it was for spitting. If he did then he deserved to go.
"Now we have another 10-day break to try to clear up some injuries before we play again which is welcome.
"It was nice to beat Chesterfield and reverse that early season result. But it still only gave us three points and there is a lot of hard work still to be done. We still have a lot to play for."
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football.nationwide.co.uk
After the game Stags player-boss Keith Curle said: “It was a typical derby game.
It had a little bit, well actually a lot, of everything.
We started okay but we weren't as attacking as we would have liked.
The penalty decision which I thought was harsh rocked us.
But the response of the players after going a goal down was excellent.
In the past heads might have dropped but there has been a change in attitude in recent weeks.
They have got the belief back as a group of players and as a club.
'I think we definitely deserved to win. I think the harder you work the luckier you get and we'll stand toe to toe with anybody in this division and give them a match.”

 

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