Archived News from January 2004
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MOLBY REACTION
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MOLBY DISAPPOINTED WITH PENALTY RESPONSE
harriers.co.uk JAN Molby confessed he was disappointed with the attitude of some of his players for the opening 45 minutes as Harriers fell to a narrow defeat against Mansfield Town in a scrappy game at Field Mill. A 26th minute goal from defender Rhys Day was enough to condemn Harriers to an away defeat, although Molby admitted he was unhappy with the reaction of his players in the aftermath of a key incident just minutes earlier. Harriers were awarded a penalty when Lee Williamson was adjudged to have pushed Adam Murray inside the penalty area. In scene reminiscent of a similar incident at Boston two months ago, 20-year old Graham Ward appeared to be the only player willing to accept responsibility for taking the penalty, which he duly missed: “The five minutes revolving around the penalty ultimately cost us. Like at Boston, Dean Bennett was supposed to be taking the penalty but somehow our youngest player on the pitch (Ward) has ended up with it. “That just about summed up our first half performance… no-one wanted to take responsibility. “As soon as we got the penalty I've watched Dean Bennett and Scott Stamps has come over and said he wanted to take it. I've told him 'no' and that Dean is taking them. The next thing you know Graham is putting the ball on the spot.” However Molby appeared to clear Ward of any wrong doing: “I don't know whether you give Wardy credit for taking it because he's gone and missed it, but that shouldn't have happened in the first place. If Dean didn't fancy it then one of the more experienced players should have taken the responsibility on and tucked it away.” After a poor first half showing, Molby admitted he was happier with his side's second half showing: “It was completely different in the second half as soon as we started to match them for work rate. We pinned them back in their own half and I thought we were the better team.” Molby is now hoping his side can refuel their bodies ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup replay at Wolves: “It's important we get the players to rest and get their energy levels back up again as they (Wolves) will make us work hard. “I don't expect the players will need lifting for that match.” |
Latest | January 2004