Archived News from November 2009
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EASTBOURNE PREVIEWS
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Stags' Speight could miss three weeks
Evening Post, November 20, 2009 JAKE Speight is set to be ruled out for 'two to three weeks' with a twisted knee, boss David Holdsworth revealed today. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-Speight-miss-weeks/article-1532155-detail/article.html?The winger-cum-striker has scored six goals so far this season despite sometimes being confined to the bench. But he picked up the injury in Tuesday's FA Cup defeat to Forest Green, which has halted his progress. "It is a case of rest and rehab now for Jake, but I know he will work his socks off," said Holdsworth. "It is a shame for him because he scored at Crawley last Saturday and he has been playing well. It is a setback for the lad." Gary Mills will also miss tomorrow's game with a hamstring strain but he should be back in contention before long. Michael Brough and Scott Gardner are vying for the right-back slot vacated by the suspended Gary Silk. ------------------- Stags boss has midfield targets Evening Post, November 20, 2009 MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth is determined to bring in a loan midfielder ahead of tomorrow's visit of Eastbourne Borough. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-boss-midfield-targets/article-1531326-detail/article.html? He has been hampered in his preparations for the important Blue Square Premier clash at Field Mill by the possible absences of Jake Speight and Gary Mills. Speight is a serious doubt with a knee injury, while Gary Mills has a hamstring problem. But Holdsworth feels the Stags need a fresh face in the centre of the park, especially because Kyle Nix is set to be out until the New Year. "Our midfield is an area we need to strengthen, especially as we could lose two players for Eastbourne," he said. "Kyle is an England C international and I think anyone is going to miss a player like him. "With respect to the others in that position, we haven't got anyone else who can give balance is with a good left foot. "I think in terms of creativity too, he is different and he can also get you a few goals. "I have got a couple of targets in mind and hopefully one will come off." ------------------- Williams: Stags must put missed opportunity to bed Evening Post, November 20, 2009 RYAN Williams has needed no reminding Mansfield Town have missed an opportunity in this season's FA Cup – it has been constantly pointed out to him since Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Williams-Stags-missed-opportunity-bed/article-1529754-detail/article.html? Among his friends and family or down the gym, the local lad has struggled to escape disconsolate Stags fans bemoaning what might have been. It is a situation that Williams has not been allowed to forget, even if he has wanted to. But the 31-year-old – back at the club where he broke through as a promising teenage trainee – understands their frustrations. He and the rest of the Mansfield squad feel them too, only too painfully. But, at the same time, Williams insists the time for thinking what might have been has now gone. Mansfield, he says, must now continue to strengthen their fourth place in the Blue Square Premier table – starting against Eastbourne Borough tomorrow. "It is gutting to lose in the FA Cup and the defeat on Tuesday night was hard to take," he said. "It has been hard this week as well because everyone has kept reminding me. People I know or have seen who support the club, that we might never get a better chance to make the third round. "The most disappointing thing was that we didn't play anything like we know we can. "In the first half, we were nowhere near good enough and we probably paid the price for that in the end. "In the second half we came out of the traps and did quite well. "We also have to give Forest Green credit – they are a good side and knocked it about very well. They have gone through and we can't complain, because they have come out on top over two ties. "Sometimes you have to hold your hands up – and we wish them all the best in the next round now. "But we can't afford to worry about what has gone, because we have another big game on Saturday. "Everyone was down in the dressing room, but it is about moving on and that is what we intend to do this weekend." Mansfield's defeat to Dave Hockaday's side was something of a surprise given the Stags' home form under David Holdsworth. They had previously lost just once during their boss' tenure after he took over just before the turn of the year. Williams added: "We 100 per cent want to put it right against Eastbourne because this is our patch and we are proud of our record at home. "It was only the second time we have lost here in a long time and we don't want a repeat of that. "We know we owe a performance – not just for the fans, but for ourselves. "It is all about going into the (Eastbourne) game in a positive manner." Williams is happy that the players have been well supported by their manager over the last few days. "The gaffer said to us that he knows we are better and the key thing is how we respond. He was really good about it, " he said. "He told us there is no point looking back, we have to look forward now. "People say we have to take the positives out of the Forest Green experience and you could look on it that we can concentrate on the league. "We won't have to catch up league games when we are playing in the cup and it gives us the opportunity to get points on the board." Williams was delighted to figure in Mansfield's 2-0 league win at Crawley last weekend after being largely confined to the bench for recent away trips. He said: "It's nice to play every game, but, as I have said before, I have no complaints about being left out of the side in our bid to get results. "At Crawley, I thought the whole team were a different class and it was good to be part of that. "I have always been confident that I can do a job either way, whether at home or away. "But maybe I proved last week that I can help on the defensive side of the game as well as attacking and, hopefully, I will get the chance to show that again." ------------------------- Three Stags struggling ahead of Eastbourne game Evening Post, November 19, 2009 MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth has a selection headache ahead of Saturday's clash with Eastbourne with the possibility of three senior players being unavailable. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Undefined-Headline/article-1528923-detail/article.html? Right-back Gary Silk is definitely out after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the FA Cup defeat to Forest Green on Tuesday. Right winger Jake Speight is a major doubt after picking up a knee injury against Rovers. Central midfielder Gary Mills is also struggling with a hamstring injury. "Once again we are down to the bare bones," said manager Holdsworth. "I have a couple of targets and I am hoping to bring in one, another midfield player, before the weekend." Silk's absence could see a recall for Scott Gardner, who has not started since Mansfield's 3-1 defeat at Kidderminster in early September. --------------- Sturrock: Stags well-equipped for promotion tilt Evening Post, November 19, 2009 BLAIR Sturrock insists Mansfield Town's squad is just as strong as Torquay United's which won promotion in May – if not stronger. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Sturrock-Stags-equipped-promotion-tilt/article-1527036-detail/article.html? The striker spent the latter part of last season on loan at the Gulls and helped them climb back into the Football League with a play-off victory over Cambridge United. The Scot scored two goals – including one in a 1-1 draw with Mansfield in March – in six starts and one substitute appearance. During that spell he saw first-hand what it takes to get out of the Blue Square Premier. And Sturrock feels the current Stags squad assembled by boss David Holdsworth compares favourably. "When I went in at Torquay, there was only a few games of the season left," he said. "At that point, things were getting a little bit stretched and after playing some good football earlier in the season, they started to launch the ball at times. "It was a different way of playing and they had to grind things out to get the results they needed. "I think this Mansfield side is more equipped than that Torquay one to take it on. "There are different options there and it is up to the manager to manage that. We have got a good amount of bodies at the club – which is important. "But it bodes well that players can do different jobs and we can play in different ways even if, at one point, the manager will probably find the team to get him points more often than not." After Tuesday's FA Cup defeat against Forest Green, Mansfield will look to bounce back when they host Eastbourne Borough at Field Mill on Saturday. It is the type of game Stags fans will consider a must-win to boost their play-off ambitions, but Sturrock knows it will be no walk-over – as Tuesday demonstrated. He said: "Any team in this league can turn another side over. "Teams who are at the bottom or in the middle of the league are there because they are inconsistent. "But we can't just assume because we beat Eastbourne away we are going to do it again. We have to treat them with the same respect as if we were playing Oxford." |
Latest | November 2009