Archived News from September 2006
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SHIRTLIFF AND REDKNAPP REACTION
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Strikers shine as Brown sits it out
CHAD website, 20 Sep 06 WITH Simon Brown set to be sidelined for between four and eight weeks, Stags boss Peter Shirtliff was delighted to see strikers Chris Beardsley and Danny Reet give him genuine options in last night's 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by Premiership high-flyers Portsmouth. Beardsley started the game and made a nuisance of himself, coming close on three or four occasions, while Reet came on as sub and became the first player to net against Portsmouth this season. He said: "Beardsley was excellent and I am chuffed to bits with him. He is looking fit again and now I have another centre forward. "Danny did well too and now I have some options for Saturday which is pleasing. "Simon has some blood drained from his knee and they have now immobilised it in a brace for two or three weeks minimum. Then he starts rehab so it could be a while before we get him back." On the Pompey game, he added: "In all honesty I thought the first half was pretty even though we were 2-0 down. "For the first goal we gave the ball away cheaply but it was a terrific left foot strike into the top corner - a Premiership quality finish. "For the second we went to sleep from a short corner but it was another great strike from outside the box which went through a crowd of players and could have gone anywhere but found the bottom corner. "That is what you are up against with Premiership opposition. Not many chances but two goals. "I just had to settle them down at half time. I said I didn't think there was too much in it and if we got at them a bit more we could cause them problems which we did. "I thought Chris Beardsley's effort had gone in judging by the reaction of the players. "I though Jake and Alex coped well with LuaLua and Cole. They have pace and quality and are both tricky customers. "Credit to Portsmouth. They were professional and set their stall out early, passing the ball and showing pace throughout the team. I thought they did well." Pompey boss Harry Redknapp added: "I came here in 1969 with West Ham and all the stars in the FA Cup and we got murdered 3-0. "Then I came here last year with Southampton and we lost, so it was nice to win at Mansfield at last. "I know what these games can be like, I managed at this level when Bournemouth beat Man United. "So I am pleased to get through. In the first half we did well, but we struggled after the break and ran out of steam. "But Mansfield played ever so well, they were terrific and knocked the ball around so well. If they played like that every week they would not be where they are in the table." ------------ Audio interview with Peter Shirtliff from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2007/stags_portsmouth_home_manager.ram ------------ Audio interview with Chris Beardsley from BBC Radio Nottingham (RealPlayer needed) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/realmedia/football/2007/stags_portsmouth_home_player.ram ------------ Audio interview with Harry Redknapp from BBC Radio Solent (RealPlayer needed) http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/realmedia/sport/pompey_redknapp_190906.ram ------------ SHIRTLIFF PROUD AS BRAVE STAGS STUN PREMIERSHIP POMPEY Evening Post, 20 September 2006 MATT HALFPENNY Peter Shirtliff was proud after his players gave Premiership leaders Portsmouth a run for their money. The Stags were beaten 2-1 in the Carling Cup second round but the Stags boss was delighted by the efforts of his team, particularly when Danny Reet (right) scored. "The players acquitted themselves very well against a Premiership quality team," said Shirtliff. "We deserved to go to extra-time, but that's how it's going for us at the moment. We keep missing chances but one day they'll go in. "We are going through a little iffy patch but we have the determination in the squad. If we can perform with the same drive, passion, energy and enthusiasm against Accrington on Saturday then we have every chance of getting the right result." GHOST-BUSTER HARRY SALUTES STAGS Evening Post, 20 September 2006 Harry Redknapp was delighted to finally lay the ghost of Field Mill to rest - at the third attempt - with Portsmouth last night. The Pompey boss was part of the West Ham side, that included World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, hammered 3-0 by the Stags in a 1969 FA Cup-tie. Redknapp's next visit to Mansfield while in charge of Southampton last season also ended in defeat as the Stags won 1-0 through Giles Coke's strike. But it was third time lucky for him last night as Portsmouth emerged 2-1 victors after holding off a Mansfield fightback. "I came here in '69 with West Ham when we had all the stars and they murdered us, then I came here last year with Southampton and we got beaten again, so it is nice to finally get a win," said Redknapp. "There are no easy games in the cup. I know because I was manager at Bournemouth when we beat Man United, so I'm aware what can happen. "We did well in the first half but struggled in the second and we ran out of steam." Redknapp had high praise for the Stags, who he thinks are a much better team than their current League Two position suggests. He said: "Mansfield played ever so well. They knocked it about well and played some terrific football. "If they play like that every game then they are not going to be struggling for very long." ------------ BOSS ENCOURAGED BY BATTLING STAGS Evening Post website Mansfield boss Peter Shirtliff was encouraged by his side's second-half display against Portsmouth but conceded they were "always left with a mountain to climb" if they were to stay in the Carling Cup. "Our football after half-time was excellent, and we can take a lot of encouragement from that," said Shirtliff. "But we were always going to be left with a mountain to climb after going 2-0 down against a quality team, which is what Portsmouth are. "The goals, particularly with the first coming so early, allowed them to settle, and then their class told. "With players with their kind of technique and ability, it was just too much for us to come back from." Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp was also full of praise for Mansfield. He said: "I was very impressed with them. They played some good football at times, and really put us under the cosh in the second half. "If they played like that every week, then they wouldn't be where they are in League Two and, if they continue in the same vein, then I am sure they'll have a good season. "We scored two quality goals, they were great strikes, and I'm very pleased with how we coped after the break. "We got a bit tired, but that will do those with not a lot of minutes in their legs this season no harm at all." |
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