Archived News from February 2006
|
WILSON TO FINALLY JOIN WHILE KARL ROSE ON TRIAL
|
 |
|
Stags try again for Wilson
CHAD, 08 February 2006 LAURENCE Wilson will finally join up with Mansfield Town this week as they continue their tough run of February games with a trip to title-chasing Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday(3pm). Indeed, after second-placed Wycombe, Stags host a visit from third-placed Grimsby Town on Tuesday (7.45pm). Wilson, who can play left back or left midfield, was due to join Stags on loan from Everton before the January transfer window closed last week. But a delay in sorting out the paperwork saw the club miss the midnight deadline on Tuesday. That also meant they had to wait a full week before they could start all over again to sort out the loan. "Everything has been agred with Everton. The paperwork will be sorted out today and the player will arrive here to train with us tomorrow morning," said manager Peter Shirtliff. "It was an awkward situation but there was nothing we could do about it. "Things were running late and the League were very busy and the deal just didn't just go through on time. "Laurence will give us a bit more cover and, with his quality, he will improve us." The deal to bring Jonathan D'Laryea to Field Mill from Manchester City at least went through all right and Shirtliff may still move for a central defender as cover on loan as well. He also has former Barnsley striker Karl Rose, who can also play at the back, training with the club at the moment. Rose (27) once made a substitute's appearance for Stags in 1999 on loan from the Tykes. Stags turned in a decent display against fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town last Saturday, particularly in the second half. But they conceded a late goal that earned the Silkmen an undeserved point. ""This is a bit of a theme at the moment," said Shirtliff. "We are playing well but not picking up the wins. I have watched the video of Saturday and I can't remember Macclesfield having too many shots. "We just need to be a bit more clinical and precise and also have a bit more luck in the final third and around their goalmouth. "But they say you make your own luck and if we keep plugging away things will turn in our favour. "Saturday's was a good, solid performance that, in this League, will almost invariably get you three points. "It was quite reflective of what's been happening. We just can't kill teams off. "Macclesfield were not very ambitious in getting men forward and it was a bit compact in midfield. And, after last week's performance, it was perhaps understandable we were a bit hesitant. "But second half I though we played very well. They knew the game was there for the taking. "We started to get the ball out to wide areas but we lacked quality in the final third. We should have tried to get behind them at times instead of trying 25-yard shots. "Our goal was a good diagonal ball from Kyle Jacobs and a good finish from Adam Rundle. But for their equaliser I think players have got to take a bit more responsibility individually in clearing the corner." Saturday's is the first of three games against sides in the promotion frame before the month ends with a relegation six-pointer at Torquay. "It is an important month for us," said Shirtliff. "But if we perform like we can and keep the players fit then I know we can pick up points." Shirtliff's immediate worries are over Simon Brown and Alex John-Baptiste. Brown, who had only just returned from a hamstring strain, missed last Saturday's game with a stomach strain, while John-Baptiste picked up a groin strain against Macclesfield. Both will be monitored this week and John-Baptiste at least looks to have a good chance of facing Wycombe. Wanderers appeared likely to run away with the title at one time and certainly looked a good side when they won 3-2 at Field Mill back in September. However, things have been tougher for them recently and they have won just once in their last six games. Before last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Wrexham they had just drawn four on the trot. And they suffered a blow this week when Hull City recalled goalkeeper Matt Duke just a month into an agreed three-month loan. There was a good result for Mansfield again last night when Bury and Rushden, two sides below the Stags, drew 1-1. |
Latest | February 2006