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Archived News from February 2007

PREVIEWS, PLUS MULLINS AND M.BOULDING INTERVIEWS
1st February 2007 20:01


Mullins back in Stags defence
CHAD website, 01 February 2007

JOHN Mullins returns to the Stags' defence for Saturday's visit of Shrewsbury Town (3pm).
With Jake Buxton suspended for one game, Mullins returns from his ankle injury with Alex John-Baptiste moving back across to his customary central defensive role.
John-Baptiste did pick up a slight hamstring strain in Tuesday's night's impressive 5-0 thrashing of bottom club Torquay United but manager Billy Dearden said today that he should be fine for Saturday.
Shrewsbury were knocked out of the Johnstone's Paints Trophy 1-0 at home by Bristol Rovers this week.
But, although they are on the same number of points as Mansfield, the Shrews have had some impressive results recently. Away from home they won 2-0 at Darlington and drew 1-1 at Lincoln while at home they beat Stockport 4-2 and drew 1-1 with Hartlepool.
In midweek Torquay posed little threat to Stags and stodd off to alow them to play football. However, Dearden warned the Shrews would be a very different proposition.
"I saw them about three weeks ago though they've not played much since due to the weather," he said.
"But they are a bit direct and a big physical side, though when they do get the ball down they have one or two lads who can play.
"This will be a very hard game for us but we go into it full of confidence, though not over-confident. We need to get started a lot brighter than we did against Torquay."
Barry Conlon sits out the second match of his three game ban so Michael Boulding will continue up front.
Shrewsbury add loan signing, Boston defender Lee Canoville to their squad.
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Boulding happy back up front
CHAD website, 01 February 2007

MICHAEL Boulding is looking forward to another game as a striker for Mansfield Town on Saturday with Barry Conlon still suspended for the game against Shrewsbury Town at Field Mill.
Boulding has made few appearances in his preferred frontman role since returning to the club this season, previous manager Peter Shirtliff choosing to play him wide.
But Boulding was back up front on Tuesday and marked the occasion with the first of Mansfield's five goals against Torquay.
"I don't mind playing on the wing but I was always pestering Peter Shirtliff every week about a game up front," he said.
"Playing on the wing really helped me with my fitness but it's not my best position.
"I was hoping for a chance when Richie Barker left. Then suddenly Billy brought Martin Gritton and Barry Conlon in. But they have done well and you can't argue with it.
"You just have to bide your time and do your best when you get the chance."
He added: "Billy brought me here in 1999 and gave me my first chance in football whch I am grateful for. He has an eye for a player as he has showed with Martin and Barry and I hope he will get us more success.
"There is a new atmosphere in the dressing room though new captain Jake Buxton and Paul Holland must take some credit too.
"It has taken half the season for me to get my fitness back to where it was after my year out.
"I feel I am now starting to hit the form I had when I was playing in the Championship which is good for me. I feel just as quick now as I was back then.
"But that is from a personal view and the most important thing is the team picking up points."
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Set pieces the key, says Mullins
CHAD website, 01 February 2007

JOHN Mullins is back in the Stags starting line-up on Saturday and reckons defending Shrewsbury set pieces will be the key to a Mansfield Town success on Saturday.
"Shrewsbury are a big physical side who are especially dangerous from set pieces," he said.
"If we can cope with those then I think we can get a result.
"Down there, both their goals came from set pieces.
"We are now much stronger in the air with players like Jon Hjelde, Martin Gritton and Barry Conlon. We have a physical presence ourselves with those players.
"No one is talking about Play-offs. But we arestarting to put a run together and we need to get ourselves into the top half of the table and you never know what could happen from there.
"There is no better springboard than a 5-0 win to breed confidence and kickstart the season.
"First we need to move away from the bottom. If you take your eye off the ball for two games you get dragged back into it."

 

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