Archived News from August 2005
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STOKE PREVIEWS
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All change for Stags in Carling Cup clash
CHAD website, 23 August 2005 IT will definitely be all-change for Mansfield Town when Championship side Stoke City visit Field Mill in the Carling Cup first round tonight (7.45pm). Player-manager Carlton Palmer has admitted he should have rung the changes at Peterborough on Saturday where Stags fell away in the second half to lose 2-0. Adam Rundle and Matthew Tipton both played with groin strains while Stephen Dawson and Adam Birchall played jaded after midweek internationls that meant they had played four games in 11 days. All four could be rested tonight, though Birchall could also be given a run out up front. Palmer has ruled himself out of a return from a groin injury tonight, preferring to give himself a few more days with three games in six days ahead next week. The same will go for keeper Kevin Pressman, recovering from a back spasm which caused him to miss the Peterborough trip. Jason White will again deputise. Alex John-Baptiste and Simon Brown are expected to make their first starts of the season. "Obviously promotion is our priority, but that doesn't mean we are not taking the Carling Cup seriously," said Palmer. "I have had some highs in this competition in the past and been to three finals. "We do have one eye on the weekend but in football the next game is always your most important and this is our next game. "I will be making one or two changes and that will give people the opportunity to stake a claim. "Stoke are a good side. But we played Championship clubs in pre-season and did quite well. So I believe we will acquit ourselves well." Stoke, managed by Dutchman Johan Boskamp, will have Darel Russell available after the midfielder recovered from a hamstring injury. However, Junior will miss out as he serves the final match of a three-game ban, while Bruce Dyer is still not fit. The game will be settled tonight, if needed by extra-time and penalties. ---------- PALMER READY FOR THE STOKE TEST Evening Post, 23 August 2005 Carlton Palmer today said his players will not be fazed by meeting Championship side Stoke. The Stags manager is looking for his players to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat at Peterborough when they meet Stoke in the first round of the Carling Cup at Field Mill tonight. But he said after tough workouts in pre-season against Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham from the leagues above, he is confident his side can win the game. He said: "We have played teams from higher leagues in pre-season and coped quite well so everyone is looking forward to this fixture. "It is a test and the higher up you play the less opportunities you get but the difference is when they do come along, they are usually taken. "There is no time to switch off but my lads love their football, are a young side and are relishing the challenge." After a superb 3-0 win against Torquay, Mansfield went down against Peterborough on Saturday but Palmer said he must take some of the blame. "They have picked themselves back up but I should have changed the team," he said. "I kept the same side that beat Torquay and one or two players were tired as two had played internationals in the week. "And one or two were carrying knocks so I have to accept my responsibility for that. "But the performance against Peterborough was not a bad one, it was just in the second half we lacked a bit of energy. "They played the game against us and made the grass long so it was difficult to move the ball around and for our young players they have got to learn from that." Alex John-Baptiste returned as a second-half substitute for Jake Buxton after serving his three-match ban. And Simon Brown could start tonight. Kevin Pressman is still a doubt with a back injury and Jason White will retain his place between the sticks if he does not recover. Palmer said: "We had one or two little knocks from the weekend but nothing serious. "I am working on my fitness this week and will be available for the weekend. "But it was great to Alex John-Baptiste back. It has been frustrating for him but he loves football and it is great to have him back. "We must concentrate at all times against Stoke and I'm confident the lads can give them a good game." ----------------- BBC.co.uk: Mansfield v Stoke Mansfield player-boss Carlton Palmer is set to rule himself out as he has yet to recover fully after a groin strain. Jon-Olav Hjelde is pushing for a recall after an ankle knock but hamstring problems continuing to afflict former England defender Des Walker. Stoke will have Darel Russell available after the midfielder recovered from a hamstring injury. However, Junior will miss out as he serves the final match of a three-game ban, while Bruce Dyer is still not fit. ------------------- Match Preview - Mansfield Town By The Oatcake, oatcake.co.uk Date: 22/8/2005 Match Preview | Johan Boskamp takes his team to Field Mill on Tuesday night to take on Carlton Palmer's Mansfield Town in the League Cup. It's our first visit to Mansfield in a competitive match since 1993 MANSFIELD TOWN PREVIEW Who Are They? It's League Two opposition for Stoke this Tuesday as Johan Boskamp's Potters travel to Field Mill to take on Carlton Palmer's Mansfield Town. Despite a short fling playing in Division Two a few years back the Stags have failed to make a return to a higher level and last season sank to a thirteenth placed finish in League Two. Palmer is manager these days having taken over from Keith Curle last November. The former Leeds midfielder's only other managerial reign was a disastrous three year spell at Stockport County where he lost double the amount of games won. On the opening day of the season Palmer's new side also blew a two goal lead at his old stomping ground, Edgeley Park, throwing away two points and giving County a share of the spoils. Palmer has gone for signing a mix of higher league youth players and experience with his signings this summer. Jason Talbot (Bolton Wanderers) Stephen Dawson (Leicester City) Gavin Peers (Blackburn Rovers) and Adam Birchall (Arsenal) are all unknowns to arrive through the door, while seasoned campaigners Gus Uhlenbeek, formerly of Ipswich, has come in on a free from Wycombe. Ex Stoke loanee Kevin Pressman joins from Coventry, and another ex Stoke trialist, Norwegian defender Jon Olav Hjelde, comes in from Nottingham Forest. Key Players Palmer is likely to play two former Macclesfield players in his forward line. First up is another summer signing, Matthew Tipton. The Bangor born striker began his career at Oldham Athletic but made a name for himself at the Moss Rose with fifty goals in 131 games between 2002 and 2005. Tipton has yet to find the back of the net for his new club. Alongside him is likely to be another ex Macc man, Richard Barker. The 30 year old came to Field Mill at roughly the same time as Palmer last November after leaving Rotherham United. He scored ten goals last season, but, like Tipton, has yet to find the net this season. What Have They Won? Not much to go on really bar the occasional promotion then relegation up and down between the bottom two leagues. Their best season came in 1977/78 when they finished 21st in the old Division Two. In 1987 they also won the Freight Rover Trophy, beating Bristol City 5-4 on penalties at Wembley. The competition later became the Sherpa Van Trophy, the Layland DAF Cup, the Autoglass Trophy and the Autowindscreen Shield (won twice by Stoke) The only other worthwhile point of note is they reached the League Cup quarter finals in 1976 and the FA Cup quarter finals in 1969. Us And Them Not really a club who we've had too much of a history with. On our way to the Second Division title in 1993 we did the league double over the Stags, putting eight goals past them over the course of two games with separate four-nil wins. Mark Stein (2), Paul Ware and Wayne Biggins all scored at Field Mill, while Kevin Russell, Dave Regis, Vince Overson and an own goal from Mansfield's Gray all found the back of the net at the Victoria Ground. The following year we knocked them out of the League Cup 5-3 over two legs to set up a lucrative game against Manchester United. We last met the Stags in a pre-season friendly in 2004, Darel Russell scoring the only goal of the game as we won at Field Mill. Player Connections Former England B International and utility man Tony Ford is a bit of an unusual footballing legend. Despite never featuring in the top flight during his career, he had a 26 year spell as a player stretching from 1975, when he made his debut as a 16 year old for Grimsby Town, right up until his retirement in November 2001. During this time he played for Grimsby, Sunderland, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Bradford City, Scunthorpe United, Barrow, Mansfield Town and Rochdale, making over one thousand appearances, a record bettered only by another ex Stokie, Peter Shilton, while it remains a record for an outfield player to this day. Striker Chris Greenacre made over one-hundred appearances for Mansfield Town between 1999 and 2002, scoring 58 goals. His time at Stoke wasn't as successful and these days Chris is currently rebuilding his career with Tranmere Rovers where he has made a good start after his release earlier in the summer. Useless Trivia The infamous Wayne Biggins badge kiss came at Field Mill in 1992. Bertie scored his final Stoke goal in our 4-0 romp before completing his move to Barnsley a couple of days later. To this day who doesn't remain wary of a player putting lips to fabric? ---------------- |
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