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Archived News from March 2003

CURLE PREVIEWS HUDDERSFIELD GAME
18th March 2003 16:28


DEFENSIVE PAIR INSPIRE FAITH FROM BOSS CURLE
BY IAN WILKERSON, Evening Post, 18 March 2003
Mansfield manager Keith Curle is set to stick with the pairing of Rhys Day and Adam Eaton in the heart of the Stags' defence for tonight's crunch relegation clash with Huddersfield.
Stags will be looking to carry on from where they left off in Saturday's 2-1 win over Swindon, against a team that has failed to score in its last three games and hit the net just 37 times this season. However, the Terriers did beat the Stags 2-0 at Field Mill in October and Curle warned there was no room for the complacency Mansfield showed in their dismal defeat against Cheltenham last week.
He said; "I thought Adam did very well and I knew he could play in the middle because I saw him do it for Preston reserves before we signed him.
"It doesn't matter where he plays along the back four, his attitude to defending is spot-on and it was an excellent performance.
"Tonight is a massive game because both teams are fighting for their lives.
"It might not turn into a feast of football but I am determined we will put in another committed performance.
"The game at Cheltenham really set the benchmark because it was completely unacceptable.
"I told them about a few things I had noticed during the week that they seemed to be complacent over because it was Cheltenham they were playing.
"But now people have to take responsibility and tighten up."
Curle will miss the game as the second of a three-match ban following his recent red card against Oldham.
There are no fresh injury doubts following Saturday's match and the tie could signal the return of Colin Larkin, who is fighting his way back from injury.
He has not featured in the Stags side since the 0-0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers in January.
Curle said: "Colin could be making an appearance in the squad and he will be travelling up with us."
MANSFIELD (probable): Welch, Hassell, Day, Eaton, Doane, Mendes, Curtis, Disley, Corden, Lawrence, Christie. Subs: Pilkington, Williamson, Mitchell, A White, Gadsby.

JUNIOR: STAGS MUST HAVE NO FEAR
BY IAN WILKERSON, Evening Post, 18 March 2003
Stags striker Junior Mendes believes Mansfield Town have nothing to fear from a trip to Huddersfield - or a game against any other team in Division Two.
The 26-year-old scored his first goal for the Stags following nine games since his move from Scottish First Division outfit St Mirren in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Swindon Town. And having broken his duck, he is convinced they should have no fears as they head to West Yorkshire tonight.
Mendes said: "It's certainly been a long time in coming.
"In my first match at Plymouth, I managed to get round the goalkeeper but someone managed to block my shot on the line.
"I have just had a bit of bad luck. I have not gone that long without scoring before.
"I was very pleased the ball came to me because I needed that little bit of luck."
Mansfield's performances have impressed the Londoner, who has started every game since he was captured by Keith Curle in January.
And he believes they should be able to climb the table and guarantee their Division Two survival.
He added: "I have been really impressed by the performances since I came here.
"We have played some of the so-called better teams and made them look ordinary.
"I didn't know much about Mansfield before I came here but I have been very impressed.
"I think we are too good to go down but we have got to do enough during the games to get results.
"We have got nothing to fear. We were very unlucky not to get a win against QPR who are a good side.
"We have just got to go and be positive and play like we can play.
"I'm just really pleased that I managed to get off the mark and I'll be looking to add to that now."
Meanwhile, the club have parted company with chief scout Paul Molesworth.
Curle said that he would be looking for members of his footballing staff to do reports on Stags' opponents and would be checking out potential signings himself.
He said: "We have got six of us here who can go and look at games and it is going to mean a few more miles and hours for some of our football staff.
"We all know plenty of people in the game and I just didn't think we could have got enough out of Paul.
"But there certainly hasn't been a falling out and it gives him a chance to sort something out before the start of next season."
Stags reserves take on their counterparts from Notts County tomorrow at Field Mill, kick-off 2pm.


 

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