Archived News from September 2009
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HAYES & YEADING PREVIEWS
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Mansfield 103.2 Sport on Friday podcast --->
http://www.mansfield103.co.uk/shows.php?s=11 Central defender Luke Jones reflects on a luckless week that saw his own goal result in defeat at Rushden & Diamonds and how a freak training incident saw him miss the biggest game of the season in midweek. Chairman Andrew Perry talks about how the club are having to manage their finances very carefully. Assistant boss Gareth Holmes previews tomorrow's clash with Hayes & Yeading at Field Mill. We uncover the man under the Sammy The Stag suit. -------------------- Gareth Holmes video interview ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1808471,00.html Kyle Nix video interview ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1808205,00.html Luke Jones video interview ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1807177,00.html ----------------- Stags boss: Make yourselves impossible to drop Evening Post, September 25, 2009 MANSFIELD boss David Holdsworth today urged recalled trio Jake Speight, Luke Graham and Kyle Nix to make themselves impossible to drop. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-boss-Make-impossible-drop/article-1368911-detail/article.html All three played key roles in the Stags' 2-1 win over leaders Oxford as they replaced Blair Sturrock, Luke Jones and Gary Mills. Holdsworth was delighted with their contributions and wants to see them produce that form consistently, starting as Stags play their second home game in five days against Hayes and Yeading tomorrow. "Jake is a bundle of pace and aggression and he showed in midweek why I brought him to the club," said Holdsworth. "Luke struck up a very good partnership with Scott Garner and that's something we've worked very hard on. "Kyle combined very well with Matt Somner in midfield and I thought he was outstanding. "What it has highlighted is that if we do have players who fall to injuries and bans, then we have got a good complement of players to come in and do a job. "Now it's up to them to show me they deserve to keep their place in the team and can keep those they have replaced out." Holdsworth says Mansfield earned a reward against Oxford for sticking to their beliefs, even though results had not been going their way. ------------------- Canham ready for Stags test Evening Post, September 25, 2009 SEAN Canham is hoping to mark his return to Nottinghamshire by leading Hayes and Yeading United to a shock victory at Field Mill. http://www.thisisnottscounty.co.uk/news/Canham-ready-Stags-test/article-1367087-detail/article.html The Notts County striker has been loaned out for three months to the West London club after struggling to break into the first team on a regular basis at Meadow Lane. The former Exeter City man has responded with two goals in his first four games – including a consolation in United's 3-1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday night. Canham is looking forward to taking on a Mansfield side who became the first team to defeat leaders Oxford United in midweek. "We lost 3-1 to Eastbourne in the end but we were playing well until we gave away a sloppy goal just before half-time," said Canham. "We have passed the ball well and had a few chances in the games I have played so I'm sure we can turn it around. "We know it is going to be tough at Mansfield, especially after they have turned over Oxford, who were unbeaten. "But just as Mansfield beat Oxford, so we can beat them. We will go there and play positively and give it our best shot." Canham is relishing the prospect of facing Matt Somner and Gary Silk, with whom he has become friends through Magpies defender Stephen Hunt. He said: "I played against Adam Tann last week against Histon and I'm sure I'll have a battle against those two. "I have some friends up here and some of them are coming to watch. "I scored at Field Mill last season in a reserve game for Notts, so I'm hoping I can do it again." -------------------- Kyle Nix: 'I've got more to come' CHAD.co.uk, 25 September 2009, By Stephen Thirkill MIDFIELDER Kyle Nix believes he can use his display in Stags' superb victory over Oxford United to further improve his performances. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Kyle-Nix-39I39ve-got-more.5680051.jp The former Bradford City player has made nine starts for Stags this season and played an instrumental role in the 2-1 win over Oxford after replacing suspended captain Gary Mills. But despite starting the first seven games Nix, who began his footballing career at Sheffield United, has fallen out of contention in recent weeks and played just two of Stags' last five matches. Said Nix: "I am my worst critic at times and I still think I can play better than how I have been playing. "I started the first seven games and we went on a good run, but from a personal point of view I don't think I have played to my full potential. "There is a lot of competition for places in this squad and I am always looking to improve. "We played really well against Oxford and it is very hard to change a winning team and I hope I have done enough to earn a start on Saturday." Despite Hayes and Yeading's lowly league placed Nix, who made just two substitute appearances for Sheffield United before moving to Valley Parade, believes the game may not be as easy as people expect. "You would expect Hayes and Yeading to be a different type of game to Oxford,"said Nix. "Oxford came for the win and to play football, whereas Hayes are more likely to put men behind the ball. "We have to treat them with respect. They may come here to have a go at us and we will have to wait and see what formation they employ." ---------------------- Luke Jones to go under the knife later this week CHAD.co.uk, 25 September 2009, By Stephen Thirkill INJURED Stags defender Luke Jones is set to have an operation on his ankle later this week. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Luke-Jones-to-go-under.5679993.jp Jones, who has been an instrumental part of the Stags backline this season, picked up a freak ankle injury in training earlier this week when he went over on a pothole. The former Shrewsbury and Kidderminster defender, who has played 11 times for Stags this season alongside Scott Garner, is expected to be out for between six and eight weeks. First team coach Gareth Holmes said: "The injury is disappointing for Luke because he has made a really good start for Mansfield Town. "He is a tremendous player to have at the club. He is a very positive player who knows what he wants to achieve and he has already formed a great partnership with the Scott Garner." ---------------------- Stags must now build on Oxford victory, says Holmes CHAD.co.uk, 25 September 2009, By Stephen Thirkill FIRST team coach Gareth Holmes says Stags must build on their Oxford win with three points against Hayes and Yeading on Saturday. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-must-now-build-on.5679890.jp Stags turned in one of their best displays of the season to defeat the Blue Square leaders 2-1 at Field Mill on Tuesday night. And they will be looking to keep up winning ways and put the bad run of results behind them when they host lowly Hayes and Yeading tomorrow. Said Holmes: "Oxford was a tremendous result for us. It was important that we bounced back from recent results. "The players showed a lot of heart in character to beat Oxford and it gives the whole club a lift. "We have never doubted ourselves and are confident that we approach things in the right way. "Kyle Nix and Luke Graham turned in excellent performances when they stepped in against Oxford and that shows the quality of squad strength we have at the club. We have got excellent competition for places." And Stags will now be firm favourites to pick up another three points against a Hayes side who are without a win in their last five outings. "We need to be consistent and do well against the lower teams as well as the teams at the top end of the table,"said Holmes. "We want to be up there at the end of the season and these are the games we have to win. "It is important we put in another good performance and if we do that then we will get the result." Stags could welcome back reserve goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe as he recovers from a pulled quad muscle --------------------- England man Garner full of belief at Stags Evening Post, September 25, 2009 SCOTT Garner has never been short on confidence, even though he is only just out of his teenage years. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/England-man-Garner-belief-Stags/article-1367099-detail/article.html So it came as no surprise that, far from being anxious over the prospect making his England C debut, he relished it. Garner travelled to Hungary last week to make his debut for the nation's non-league under-23 side. And the occasion in Budapest was rendered all the more special as the Coventry-born player was named captain of the side for the night. It is a scenario that could have unnerved many players, but Garner, who turned 20 on Sunday, revelled in the moment. The central defender was widely applauded for his performance as England C claimed a creditable 1-1 draw in the Sostoi Stadium. In fact, Garner showed the same kind of assuredness as when he made his Mansfield debut and faced the imposing figure of Crawley's Steve Fletcher. Having been given the chance to impress manager Paul Fairclough, the youngster is now hoping he has done enough to earn another opportunity to wear the Three Lions shirt. "It was a very good result for us and something I enjoyed a lot," said Garner. "They put out what was their national under-20 side and it was strong. They had a striker from Werder Bremen, a keeper from Italy and a couple playing in Italy as well. "I travelled with Leicester youth team to Dallas once, but it was never like this trip. "The hotel and facilities were fantastic – we trained at the Hungarian FA's main centre. "Paul Fairclough has a different style to the gaffer, but he was very knowledgeable and good to work with. "I would like to play for them again if I get the opportunity in the next couple of months. "I was happy enough with my own performance and to lead the side out was an honour I enjoyed." Hungary took a lead midway through the first half, but it was the Stags' own Louis Briscoe who levelled with a widely acclaimed 'wonder goal' just before the break. Garner is wondering if he will ever hear the end of it from his team-mate, who beat two players before curling home. He said: "It was a 'worldie' finish, ripping it into the top corner – and he has reminded me about it. "But he has been trying to do it again in training since but I have not seen it happen yet! "It was back to the league by the Saturday, though, and it was so disappointing how we lost at Rushden, both with the timing and the bad luck that brought it about. "I could see from where I was that the deflected header was going to loop in and there was nothing I could do about it. "But I didn't find it too hard to settle back in. In fact, I like it when the games just keep coming." Crucially, Garner recognises the most important thing is his club football and performing week in, week out, for the Stags. True to form, the ex-Ilkeston man is bullish about Mansfield's chances, especially after midweek victory against league leaders Oxford United following their recent struggles. "We have not lost our belief that we can make it into the play-offs or better at all," said Garner. "We have a decent run of games now where we can look to put some points on the board. "There are no easy games at this level but I was looking at the fixture list with Duffers (Rob Duffy) the other day and we have five or six winnable games now. "We then have Luton, which will be tough, and we will be looking for a little bit of revenge after what happened at their place (Mansfield lost 4-1). "After that there is another run of games where we can look to go unbeaten and get ourselves right up there." ---------------------- |
Latest | September 2009