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Archived News from January 2007

DEARDEN,BUXTON,GRITTON & MARK WRIGHT REACTION
28th January 2007 11:04


BILLY FULL OF PRAISE FOR STAGS
Evening Post website

Mansfield manager Billy Dearden was full of praise for his side after they bravely held out for a share of the spoils having played the majority of their 1-1 draw with Chester with only 10 men.

The visitors lost striker Barry Conlon inside 10 minutes when he elbowed defender Phil Bolland in full view of referee Paul Melin, who had no option but to show him a straight red card.

Dearden said: "I am more than pleased.

"It was always going to be difficult with 11 men so for us to come here and get a point with 10 men is very pleasing.

"Our players gave everything when they could have gone under.

"When we were one up I started to get greedy and I thought we could hang on for the win because Chester never really created too much, apart from a few half-chances and our centre-backs played very well.

"I also thought we were dangerous on the break and we had our chances to win it at the end."

On the dismissal of Conlon, Dearden added: "I didn't see the incident but Barry has apologised at half-time.

"I will have to look at the video before I think about appealing."

Chester boss Mark Wright felt his side were a little unfortunate to claim only a point.

He said: "I though the first half was like a practice match with no passion about the play.

"For their goal we were caught out by lacking a bit of height with the likes of (Ashley) Westwood and (Paul) Linwood missing and Jon Walters having gone to Ipswich.

"In the second half we were patient and had a couple of good chances where we should have done better, especially the couple that Gregg (Blundell) had."

Wright also had words of praise for substitute Chris Holroyd who came close to snatching a winner.

He said: "I think the boy has a great future. He was unlucky with the one that that hit the post.

"He's got great feet and is one of the best finishers we have at the club."

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Audio interviews with manager Billy Dearden, captain Jake Buxton, and Martin Gritton from BBC Radio Nottingham, plus audio highlights, and some Johnny Mullins banter: here
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CHAD:
"I was very pleased with them," said manager Billy Dearden.
"To come here and play with 11 men is difficult so it was even harder with 10.
"I am not one of those managers who say they saw nothing but on this occasion I was complaining about something to the dug-out, turned round and just saw the referee giving Barry a red card.
"I don't know what he did though there is a suggestion he raised an arm. He came in and apologised to me and the team at half time.
"But I will wait until Monday, look at the video and make my mind up from there.
"He knows he left us a mountain to climb but it was a mountain I thought we were going to climb until they equalised.
"It was a good point with 10 men but when you go 1-0 up you get reedy and hope for all three points. But, to be fair, I would have taken 1-1 at 3pm.
"They gave me everything. We might have gone under but we stuck at it and worked very hard. We didn't look like we were going to get beaten, even though we spent so long with 10 men.
"I thought the only way they were going to score was from a set piece.
"That point has now set us up nicely for two home games though both will be difficult matches."
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