{ the news }
 
An independent supporters' website dedicated to Mansfield Town FC
Archived News from January 2005

PALMER AND PARKIN REACTION
16th January 2005 18:15


PALMER IS PLEASED WITH STAGS
Evening Post website

Mansfield caretaker-manager Carlton Palmer was pleased with his side's recovery after a shaky start and believed his side could have even stolen all three points.

Palmer said: "It was a great point. We didn't start the game particularly well defensively but I thought we were good going forward and were always looking to cause Rochdale problems.

"I was upset with the way we started at the back but that did improve in the second half and we could well have nicked it with two or three chances in the closing stages."

The Stags chief admitted that the playing surface had a big effect on the game and praised both sides' efforts.

"The pitch was a leveller but I though we had some good chances in the second half and certainly improved," Palmer added.

"Considering the state of the surface it was a decent game and both sides tried to pass the ball.

"But the pitch did have an impact on matters insofar as you could see some tired legs on both sides by the end."

Rochdale's failure to finish off Mansfield left manager Steve Parkin fuming after the 1-1 draw at Spotland.

Paul Tait gave Dale a fourth-minute lead and the home side went on to dominate much of the first half.

But they couldn't turn chances into goals and a Richie Barker wonder-strike sent the Stags home with a point.

"Their goal really knocked us and it was a terrible one to give away," said Parkin.

"It could have been over in the first half. We scored a good goal, had one cleared off the line and created other good chances.

"But the moral of the story is once you get 1-0 ahead you stay 1-0 ahead. Everybody would like to win a game by two three or four goals, but it's not always possible."

The Dale boss was unhappy at the timing of the Mansfield equaliser as he wanted his side to push on from a position of strength in the second half.

"Once we got the goal, we had a good spell but didn't manage another, we needed to make sure everything was right," Parkin continued.

"We needed to get in at half-time and hopefully get going in the second half, but we didn't do that.

"The equaliser was a good finish from Barker but a poor one for us to concede. Once you get your noses in front you need to stay there and the players know I am not happy."

---------
BBC Nottingham online:

Quotes from Carlton Palmer:

"It's a great performance. First half we didn't start very well defensively but we were always good going forward."

"I think we've got the best central defenders in this league."

"Second half we more than matched them ... Pilky didn't have much to do."

"I was delighted with the overall attitude and performance of the players."

----------
CHAD website

Palmer: "That was a great point," he said. "Rochdale could have run away with it but I thought we showed great character.
"I thought we looked better than them going forward early on but I wasn't happy with us defensively.
"Steve Parkin knows Alex Neil is not a right back and they tried to expose him. Second half I told him to just stay in the hole and we looked much better.
"I think the game was about to run away from us when we scored. But I think we shaded the second half and had two or three chances to nick it near the end.
"Considering the state of the pitch I thought it was a decent game and both sides tried to pass the ball.
"Rochdale probably thought this was three points guaranteed. All the talk before the game was about me not wanting to play the game but all I wanted was a decent surface."

Dale boss Parkin said: "It could have been all over in the first half hour with the chances we had. But the moral of the story is once you have gone 1-0 up you stay 1-0 up.
"Everyone wants to win by two, three or four, but it's not always possible.
"We had our spell but didn't get a second and we should have gone in 1-0 up. Instead we conceded a poor goal from a goalkeeper's kick that wasn't contested properly, though it was a good finish from Barker.
"We are just not as ruthless as we were three weeks ago and the players know I am not happy. What we need is one or two new faces in the dressing room so players don't think their places are safe."

 

Latest | January 2005