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Archived News from March 2010

LUTON PREVIEWS, HOLDSWORTH ON HAYLOCK COMMENTS
7th March 2010 21:56




Holdsworth unhappy at Haylock rant
mansfieldtown.net, Mon 01 Mar 2010
Manager David Holdsworth has hit back at Hayes & Yeading manager Gary Haylock for criticisms made in his post-match comments on Saturday.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1980678,00.html

Speaking after our 1-1 draw at Church Road, Haylock claimed that: "When teams stand up to them, they (Stags) have a problem because they have no plan B.

"We had them watched against Gateshead and today they played exactly how we knew they would."

Holdsworth has responded to this by rubbishing Haylock's knowledge of our style of play and pointing out that we infact played with two different formations against Gateshead and then Hayes & Yeading at the weekend.

He added: "After reading Gary Haylock's comments from the weekend, about knowing how we would play and about having us watched against Gateshead, he must have been watching a different game because we played 4-4-2 then and 4-3-3 on Saturday.

"Unless his scout has one eye, I find his comments strange.

"I will always behave in a professional manner and reserve my judgement on other manager's comments."

He also said that Gateshead manager Ian Bogie made comments that he had similarly taken exception to following our 2-0 defeat to the Tynesiders in our last home game here at Field Mill three weeks ago.

He added: "Also Ian Bogie spoke about how well they nullified our attack. He also said that their goalkeeper made the best performance of his career and the save of his life.

"That is strange as we must have had at least one shot and it's contradictive."

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Huge game ahead for Stags
CHAD.co.uk, 01 March 2010, By John Lomas
WHATEVER happens with Chester City, Stags know how big tomorrow night's game at home to play-off rivals Luton Town is (7.45pm)

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Huge-game-ahead-for-Stags.6112967.jp

Conference clubs voted to throw crisis club Chester out of the BSP on Friday which would see Stags lose the six points they gained against them and Luton only two.

But the Seals have until Friday to appeal against the original crisis meeting with the league. So most newspapers and web sites still have Stags only two points behind Luton in the final play-off spot and anything could still happen.

Boss David Holdsworth said: "We are in a tremendous position if the table stays like it is. We have worked very hard and shown a lot of character to get there.

"There are a lot of equations right now and it is bound to upset fans and give them the hump that they don't know where we stand.

"We just have to manage the situation. We are working very hard and will deal with whatever comes up. We will concentrate on each game and fight for the fractions and do our best for the club.

"I don't feel we have had the rub of the green from outside influences that affect us. But we have to stand up and be counted and fight our corner."

Stags v Luton games have often been full-blooded thrillers and he added: "I think midfield is where we need to be stern and solid to match up to their quality players Luton have there.

"We have to be calculated and use our brains. It's no use going gung-ho at them as they can counter with pace and quality.

"There were high expectation Luton would go straight back up but it is a hard task for them.

"But there was no disgrace in them losing at Crawley on Saturday. Crawley is a tough place to go and win and a lot of teams will go there and get beaten.

"Hopefully the fans will turn out and get behind us like they have done and the players have the responsibility once they cross that white line to give them something to cheer."

Mansfield lost 4-1 at Luton in the second game of the season in a game in which the score did not do justice to Stags' efforts.

But Holdsworth said that result was now irrelevant.

"It is different personnel now and they have a different manager. If we had gone in one up at half time it might have been a different second half, but their goal gave them confidence," he said.

Defender Luke Jones is available again tomorrow after suspension though Andy Burgess is ineligible to play against his former club and is also ill.

Holdsworth was annoyed by comments from Hayes and Yeading boss Garry Haylock after the 1-1 draw on Saturday when Haylock said Stags had no Plan B.

"I read his comments and he said he had us watched us against Gateshead and knew what team we would put out," said Holdsworth.
"Well he must have watched a different game as we played 4-4-2 against Gateshead and 4-3-3 on Saturday.

"Unless his scout only has one eye I found his comments very strange and rather hoped Mr Haylock contacted me regarding a plan B!

"I don't know where Gary played but I would like to thank him for his comments about us being organised, disciplined and committed.

"I will always act in a professional manner and reserve my comments on other manager's teams."

Although Mansfield were not at their best on Saturday, he pointed out:"You have to be fairly pleased with four points from two away games though Saturday was an horrendous game.

"We did show a bit of rustiness in front of goal and supporting areas after our lay-off. But we did show perseverance and character to keep going to the end and get a point. We didn't throw the towel in."

Tomorrow night is only Stags' third home game in 64 days after so many postponements and the start of four successive home games and nine in the last 13.

"We have to deal with the situation. I don't think fixtures are falling kindly for us," said Holdsworth.

"We have nine home games to come, four on the trot, and if we play like we can we will get results. You have to be pleased to be playing at home rather than leaving at 8am to travel all the way to Hayes and Yeading.

"Four game at home is great if we win them all.

"There will be ups and downs in the run-in with injuries, suspensions and availability but it is exciting."

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