Archived News from April 2002
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GREENACRE DESPERATE TO PLAY
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CHRIS: I'LL CALL PILGRIM PALS
Evening Post ,18 April 2002 STAGS striker Chris Greenacre will be asking two former Manchester City team-mates to do him a favour on Saturday. Both Martin Phillips and Brian McGlinchey play for Plymouth - and the 28-goal hotshot is desperate his old friends do Mansfield a favour by beating third-placed Cheltenham. If the Pilgrims - already crowned Division Three champions - win and Stags take three points off Carlisle, Mansfield will finish third and be promoted automatically. Greenacre, who should be fit to play after suffering a calf injury, said: "I haven't spoken to them for a while but I will definitely be giving them a ring and telling them to do us a favour. "They are good mates and I do talk to them from time to time. "I think they could just do with reminding that they could really help us out." Greenacre believes everyone at Plymouth will be eager to play as they collect the title does not believe they will be taking it easy. He said: "I know if I was in their position, I would be desperate to play and put on a show. "There is going to be a massive crowd down there and they will be going all out to break the 100-point barrier so they still have things to play for. "Anyone in that team will go down as a Plymouth legend and they will want to go out with a bang." Stags boss Stuart Watkiss had said that Greenacre would be unlikely to feature on Saturday if Cheltenham had already guaranteed promotion. But the striker wants to play his part after enduring a nervous night in front of the television when Cheltenham only managed a 0-0 draw at Carlisle on Tuesday. He said: "I really wanted to play before Tuesday but now I am desperate. "It was a horrible night on Tuesday. My girlfriend got fed up with me keep looking at the score. "But Mansfield have now been given another chance and we have got to make sure we take it." The striker admits he thought the chance of automatic promotion had gone after Stags lost 3-1 at York last Saturday. He said: "After beating Cheltenham last week I couldn't believe it when we lost at York. "When we went a goal up, I thought we would go on and get three or four but it just didn't happen. "But we have got to learn from our mistakes and hope things go our way this Saturday. "We have to realise playing against Carlisle is always difficult because they are a very tough side to face. "But I am feeling a lot better and I am desperate to play my part." Watkiss received another boost yesterday afternoon when captain Les Robinson came through 60 minutes of a reserve game at Rochdale. He has been suffering with a calf problem but is now likely to feature in the squad on Saturday, along with others who played in the 2-1 defeat. Watkiss said: "Les came through without any problems and will have to be considered and David Jervis will also be making a push for a place in the squad. "Craig Disley also came through 70 minutes and looked a lot like his old self so there was plenty to take from the game, even though defensive errors did cost us." The ticket office at Field Mill had sold more than 7,500 tickets for the Carlisle game before it was closed yesterday afternoon. If any remain, they will not be sold after noon on Saturday. |
Latest | April 2002