Archived News from November 2006
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BEARDSLEY: I`LL BE BACK ON BENCH AFTER GOALS
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BROWN EYES STRIKING BERTH
Evening Post, 03 November 2006 Having watched as others have come in and done a good job for the Stags in attack, you might think fit-again Simon Brown is worried about getting back into the starting line-up. Not a bit of it. Since the diminutive striker limped off in the 4-1 home victory over Hereford in early September, he has been confined to the treatment table with hernia and knee problems. In the meantime, he has looked on as Danny Reet has grabbed the chance to partner club captain Richard Barker - scoring seven goals so far this season. Chris Beardsley showed his intent with two goals in the midweek 3-0 victory over Grimsby in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy, while Michael Boulding has also recently returned after injury. But despite the obvious competition, Brown remains confident in his own ability. "I know I can score goals at this level and I don't think that is a problem," he said. "The lads who are playing at the moment have done well to get so many goals between them and Chris did well the other night. "But I am getting sharper all the time and feeling no ill-effects from the injury. Hopefully I can get a few goals as sub and that will put me in the thoughts of the management. "It's good for the team that all the strikers at the club are capable of coming in and doing well." If Mansfield can win at Bristol Rovers tomorrow, it will be the first time under Peter Shirtliff that the team has managed three league wins on the bounce. Mansfield have almost a full strength squad to choose from for the trip. With Stephen Dawson (ankle) and Reet (dead leg) both training yesterday and Brown's return. The only doubt is Alan Sheehan. He picked up a toe injury against Grimsby and did not train yesterday. ------------- Stags' clean bill of health? CHAD website, 02 November 2006 IN-FORM Mansfield Town look set to have a clean bill of health for the first time this season when they seek to extend their five-game unbeaten run at Bristol Rovers on Saturday (3pm). The only man on the treatment table is on-loan left back Alan Sheehan with a slight toe injury after Tuesday night's 3-0 Johnstone's Paints Trophy second round win over Grimsby Town. But he is hoping to train again tomorrow. Keeper Carl Muggleton, central defender Jon Hjelde and 10-goal striker Richie Barker were rested on Tuesday while seven-goal striker Danny Reet had a dead leg. In their absence, the side kept a clean sheet and stand-in striker Chris Beardsley scored twice to give manager Peter Shirtliff selection headaches for Saturday. "It is a nice problem to have," said Shirtliff. "Danny has shaken off his dead leg, Nathan Arnold's knee problem has cleared up and Michael Boulding got 90 minutes under his belt. "The lads are fit and in good spirits and we are looking forward to Saturday. "Simon Brown has been training and seems OK. We have been taking it easy with him. But he looks to have come through his return on Tuesday without a problem." Stags are now just four points off the Play-off spots after a successful October and Shirtliff added: "We are not doing anything that different. "But we were not getting the rub of the green earlier in the season and now we are getting the breaks, we are taking advantage. "Bristol Rovers away is a tough game. It is a long trip and they are a decent side. "But Macclesfield away was a tough game last weekend with the Paul Ince factor and I thought we came through that well. "That is two successive away games we have come from behind to get something and that shows good character and fantastic spirit. "It is still early, though, and I am not making any predictions about the season.We will keep chipping away and working at it." Alan Sheehan will complete his second month on loan on Saturday and would not be available to face Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup the following weeek if Stags chose to try to extend that loan. ---------- BEARDSLEY: I'LL BE BACK ON BENCH AFTER GOALS Evening Post, 02 November 2006 by MATT HALFPENNY Chris Beardsley hammered the nails into Grimsby's coffin on Hallowe'en, then admitted: "I'll probably be dropped on Saturday." The striker was handed a rare start in Mansfield's comfortable 3-0 Johnstone's Paints Trophy second round win on Tuesday night. And he grabbed the opportunity with both hands by scoring twice in the closing ten minutes. Beardsley knows that, despite his heroics, he is almost certain to be back on the bench for the Stags' next game at Bristol Rovers. But he believes every member of the squad will need to play their part if Mansfield are to have a successful season and is prepared to be patient. He said: "I know what is going to happen but that is football I suppose. "The two lads who are in the League Two side at the moment have done nothing wrong. Richie Barker was outstanding at Macclesfield and Reety is getting the goals too. "I know I just have to wait for my time. If we are going to do something this season, I think we are going to have to use all the players in the squad." The two goals were Beardsley's first since returning after breaking his leg against Notts County last season. And he admitted that it was a relief to get off the mark in 2006-2007 after what has been a difficult period in his career. He said: "I think the last time I was given a chance against Portsmouth and Accrington came just a little bit too soon for me. I feel stronger now. "I think the injury knocked me a little bit more psychologically than I first thought, so it's nice to be back. "From a personal point of view I thought I played better in the first goal than the second. But I was happy when the goals came near the end. "It's always pleasing to score goals - and to take two chances from the four that I had is not a bad ratio." |
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