Archived News from September 2004
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LDV ADMISSION SLASHED. PREVIEWS AND TEAM NEWS
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GOING UP IS TOP PRIORITY FOR STAGS
Evening Post, 28 September 2004 Rhys Day admits tonight's game is low on the list of priorities at Field Mill. The defender insists Mansfield Town will be giving their all against Darlington tonight. But he says their one primary objective remains the same - promotion. "We go out to win every match but the main priority is to get promoted," said Day. "If we have good runs in the cups it's nice, but our main focus is on getting promotion. "That is more important than anything, including tonight." Stags boss Keith Curle wants his players to use the match as an opportunity to cement their places in the first team and to maintain their league form, which has seen them notch up five games unbeaten in League Two. "We take every game seriously, but tonight is an opportunity for people to stake their claim," he said. "It's an opportunity for us to put one over on Darlington and put them on the back foot for when we play them in the league." Dave Artell has declared himself fit despite a minor calf problem which he aggravated on Saturday, while Derek Asamoah looks set to be rested. The striker played through the pain of a calf injury at Scunthorpe, but is unlikely to be asked to do the same against Darlington. Asamoah said: "I haven't been able to train on it but the adrenaline of the game got me through it. "I've been told to rest it and not do anything until tonight's game, so I'll see how it is." Chris Tate is ruled out with an ankle injury, so Joe O'Neill is in line for a start and Danny Herron could be one of a handful of youngsters to win a place on the bench. Adam Murray could get another start after an excellent performance on Saturday. "Adam Murray had the glimpses and flashes of the Adam Murray people know," said Curle. "He's been on the fringes and had to wait as the team have been playing well, but he gave a good account of himself." Striker David Reeves, who has been training with Stags, will not figure as he looks set for a move to Carlisle. Jake Buxton could start, with on-loan Craig Woodman ruled out as Bristol City do not want him cup tied. Curle said: "He's been playing with a broken rib with an infection in his lung and could only get 70% oxygen in." STAGS (from): Pilkington, McNiven, Woodman, Artell, John-Baptiste, Curtis, Murray, Neil, Corden, Larkin, O'Neill, MacKenzie, Day, Buxton, Dimech, White/Langford, Herron, Asamoah. DARLINGTON look set to be without strike duo Craig Hignett and Alun Armstrong. Hignett has a groin strain while Armstrong is suffering from blisters. "He had to come off twice in the warm-up to have them redressed," said Darlington manager David Hodgson after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Macclesfield. "We have to be sensible and bring him along properly. The league is our bread and butter." DARLINGTON: Sam Russell, Fleming, Liddle, Clarke, Gregorio , Maddison, Hughes, Close, Valentine, Wainwright, Convery, Kendrick, Craig Russell, Keltie, Thomas, Armstrong. HOOLIGAN BAN BEFORE MATCH Evening Post, 28 September 2004 Police are taking action against football hooligans before the Mansfield Town and Lincoln City game on October 2. Letters have been sent to known hooligans banning them from the match, and Mansfield town centre has been made a no-go area for anti-social behaviour. Supt Dave Wilson, match commander, said: "We are taking precautionary measures to ensure an unruly minority don't spoil the game for the majority of genuine supporters. "On the day, our officers will be on high alert for individuals involved in or associated with football-related violence." Since the start of this season, a dispersal zone has been enforced around the town centre on match days. This means the police have the power to remove anyone guilty of anti-social behaviour. Notices showing the areas covered by the dispersal order will be fixed around the town and at both Mansfield and Lincoln train stations. Supt Wilson said: "The zone will definitely benefit from a highly visible police presence. We want to ensure Mansfield town centre feels safe and welcoming to visitors." Officers have also been working with pubs in Mansfield to make sure trouble-makers are spotted and refused entry. ------ LDV admission is slashed CHAD website ADMISSION prices have been slashed for the visit of Darlington to Field Mill tomorrow night (Tuesday, 7.45pm) in the LDV Vans Trophy first round. Adults will be admitted for £10 and concessions £5 in a bid to boost interest in a competition in which the earlier rounds are generally poorly supported. "Unfortunately, the rewards of this competition always tend to come in the latter stages," said manager Keith Curle. "But what can start on a Tuesday night at home to Darlington can lead to a Millennium Stadium final, a fantastic day out for everyone,, and a chance of some silverware for this club." With such a small and injury-hit squad right now, Curle will find it hard to give too many players a rest from League action for this one. "People ask me if I will be picking a few different names from my pool of players,, but that pool looks more like a puddle to me right now," he said. "But whichever eleven I put out I am confident they will be able enough to see us through to the next round. "This game is an opportunity for this football club to carry on progressing its style of play and making sure all players are singing from the same book." On-loan Bristol City defender Craig Woodman will not be permitted to play, though Preston's Joe'Neill can take part as North End are not involved in this competiton. Jake Buxton has recovered from his lung injection and will return at left back. But Curle is waiting on Dave Artell - Saturday's goalscoring hero at Scunthorpe - who had slight knock before the weekend which he aggravated. "Dave is desperate to play but I also have Rhys Day fit and champing at the bit on the sidelines," said Curle. "And there are one or two other players with knocks and niggles. So I will leave it until tomorrow." Reserve keeper Jason White will leave hospital today after two nights in there with a foot infection. Striker Chris Tate looks set to be sidelined for up to three weeks with his ankle injury which will take him to the end of his three-month contract. Meanwhile, defender Adam Eaton will be given an injection into his troublesome hip and have it X-rayed again this Friday. Former Chesterfield striker David Reeves, who trained with Stags at the end of last week, has been told he will not be offered a deal at Field Mill and was in talks with his former club, Carlisle United, on Monday. -------- mansfieldtown.net reports that Left back Craig Woodman will not be available for Tuesday evening's LDV challenge against Darlington. But the good news is Jake Buxton is back in action and has an opportunity to re-stake his claim said stags Boss Keith Curle: "Bristol City do not want Craig to be tied in case we meet them in the second round of the competition. But this is a good opportunity for other players in this case Jake Buxton to make a bid to reclaim his place in the starting line." Said Curle. When queried as to whether he would be playing a weakened squad as some have speculated the Stags Boss said: "Categorically no, this is a good opportunity for the players to keep the momentum going and we have to remember where these can lead to. Okay a game against Darlington on a cold Tuesday night may not seem to appealing to some fans but just think it can lead all the way to the millennium stadium in later rounds and all the players realise this so they are all eager to play on Tuesday. "Some other clubs will see the first round of this competition as an opportunity 'to look into the pool' of players at the club I have done that and our 'pool' is looking more like a puddle. We know we haven't got vast amounts of players on the pay roll but the players we have got will give a good account of themselves and all of them are eager to play and keep the tempo going. Who knows we may even be meeting the likes of Bristol City in the next round hence Craig Woodman been withheld by his club." The only real doubts for this fixture are Chris Tate and Adam Eaton who will still be recovering from injury but Preston's Joe O'Neill will be available for selection along with the rest of the squad. |
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