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Archived News from November 2010

HOLDSWORTH, VINCENTI, PILKS, STEVE EVANS REACTION
5th November 2010 0:11



post match video interviews with Holdsworth, Vincenti and Pilkington --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2202209,00.html?

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Moment of madness cost us, says underfire Stags manager
CHAD.co.uk

DAVID Holdsworth was furious with on-loan defender Rhys Day as his needless red card saw Stags collapse to a 4-1 home defeat by Crawley Town today.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/moment_of_madness_cost_us_says_underfire_stags_manager_1_2724065

Day thumped former Alfreton defender Kyle McFadzean in the stomach as he marked him waiting for a free kick to be taken and that changed the whole game after Stags had been well in contention in a fiery game.

“It was a moment of madness from Rhys and, as an experienced professional, he should know better. It cost us at a vital time,” said Holdsworth.

“He has held his hands up but we are now without him for three games.

“Until then we were well in the game and I thought we shaded the first half and had the better chances.

“I felt we could have gone on and won the game. But we had to reshuffle the defence too after we lost Cook to a knee injury and then change it round again after the sending off.

“So I can't criticise the players for lack of effort. We did our homework on Crawley but you can't legislate for the things that happened out there today. There were some huge factors.

“When you are down to 10 men against a classy side like Crawley and putting square pegs in round holes it is going to be difficult.”

On the booing, he added: “I understand the crowd's frustration but I want to be judged on a fair playing field and not today when everything has gone against us. You cannot prepare for days like today.”

“That was a good performance from start to finish,” said Crawley manager Steve Evans.

“We were quite disappointed to be level at half-time as we had a couple of good chances.

“But Kevin Pilkington made an outstanding save from Brodie and four wonder saves while it was 1-1.

“I have no complaints about the penalty. But, like at Newport, I told them at half-time they had played well but I wanted an extra five per cent, which they gave me today.

“The sending-off helped us though I thought we were starting to get on top then anyway.

“This is a tough place to come and, don't let's kid ourselves, once David Holdsworth has got some of these players settled in and gelling, none of the teams at the top end will want to come here. I am glad we've got it out of the way.

“They have good players and a good manager. Their fans are fantastic and had some great banter with me too.

“Reading their new chairman's notes are like reading our own – a man who has made a lot of money and will back his manager to get it right. David Holdsworth is the man for that without doubt. They are going to be a force.

“I heard one or two other managers from teams around us at the top said we would lose here today. Well happy birthday Steve Evans!”

He added: “I didn't see the sending-off but you look for the reaction. Rhys Day is a big honest lad and he came to their bench and seemed to say sorry.

“It did look like a stamp by Adam Murray on Richard Brodie. I will look at the DVD but, if he did, it's not like Adam as he is a total footballer and a player I like.”

New Stags owner John Radford is thought to have opened talks with former owner and landlord Keith Haslam about buying Field Mill yesterday. But the club today said there was nothing to report at the moment.

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Holdsworth frustrated as Stags lose two players and Day is sent off
Evening Post
DAVID Holdsworth could not fault the work ethic of his Mansfield Town players in the defeat to Crawley.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Holdsworth-frustrated-Stags-lose-players-Day-

But the Stags boss insisted he could never legislate for the triple blow his side were dealt in the 4-1 reverse.

They lost striker Paul Connor to a hamstring injury in the first half and then defender Steve Cook at half time to a knee problem.

When Rhys Day was sent off in the 53rd minute for violent conduct with the scores at 1-1, he had to use a makeshift back four.

The Stags lost the game 4-1 and Holdsworth added: "It is massively frustrating, I cannot legislate for that sending off and cannot legislate for losing two players to injury. I feel we have undone ourselves. There were some huge factors that have cost us.

"Louis Briscoe has never been a right back in a million years and Silky has never been a centre half but we had to use a makeshift back four. Understandably you are going to get exposed but I cannot criticise the players for their work ethic."

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Holdsworth furious with Day following his red card against Crawley
Evening Post, by Stevie Roden
DAVID Holdsworth was furious with defender Rhys Day after his 'moment of madness' condemned Mansfield Town to defeat against Crawley.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Holdsworth-furious-Day-following-red-card-Crawley/article-2819352-detail/article.html?

The Stags were more than holding their own at 1-1 when Day was sent off for striking out at Kyle McFadzean in an off-the-ball incident at Field Mill.

It happened in the 53rd minute as a free-kick was about to be taken and with Mansfield already losing right-back Steve Cook and striker Paul Connor to injury, Holdsworth's options were limited.

He had to play midfielder Louis Briscoe at right back and Gary Silk in the centre of defence.

And, despite a string of Kevin Pilkington saves keeping the scores level, Crawley found a breakthrough in the 70th minute before romping to a 4-1 win.

Boss Holdsworth, who came under fire from some frustrated supporters at the end of the game, said: "It was a moment of madness.

"I cannot put a word on what he did. For an experienced player to put us in that position is not good. It has cost us.

"He has apologised. We were in a position to go and win, we were in pole position to win it.

"I can understand the frustration (of the fans) but I cannot legislate for some of the things that have happened. I don't mind being judged when it is on a fair playing field, but you don't prepare for those equations. The boys are downhearted because we were well in the game.

"Rhys should know better. If people are niggling at you, you should stand up and be a man.

"If it is a crunch tackle, you can accept it but not when it's off the ball. It has cost us at least a point, but ultimately the game."

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Mixed emotions for Pilkington
Evening Post, by Stevie Roden
KEVIN Pilkington returned to Mansfield Town after more than five years away – but endured the day with mixed emotions.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Mixed-emotions-Pilkington/article-2819189-detail/article.html?

The goalkeeper was drafted in on loan from Luton Town because of injuries to Alan Marriott and Mihkel Aksalu.

But despite pulling off a string of fine saves, he still shipped four as ten-man Mansfield went down to Crawley at Field Mill on Saturday.

And the 36-year-old said the sending off of Rhys Day in the 53rd minute killed the game for the Stags.

Pilkington, who left Field Mill in 2005 to join Notts County, said: "I am gutted. In the first half we gave a good account of ourselves and at 1-1, it was nothing less than we deserved.

"We were matching them and then the sending off killed us and their quality shone through, we were up against it. It is disappointing.

"For 20 to 25 minutes we were keeping them at bay, but then they scored and were getting crosses in a little too easily. Their left winger was dangerous at the end.

"I enjoyed coming back. It was nice because I had five great years here and a lot of the same people are still here. I wasn't sure what kind of reaction I would get but I got a great one. I thank everyone for that.

"I can play in the FA Cup against Torquay next week, that is part of the loan deal, so I am looking forward to that, to put this result right."

Striker Peter Vincenti, on loan from Stevenage, made his debut in the 4-1 defeat.

He added: "You want to have a good start on your debut so to get beat was disappointing. The sending off was the pivotal moment in the game.

"The boys were still trying but against a good side, with ten men, you are always going to find it difficult. They were finding those bits of space and getting on top of us."

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Evans delighted as Crawley take advantage of ten-man Stags
Evening Post
CRAWLEY Town boss Steve Evans was delighted with the way his high-flying side took advantage of Mansfield being reduced to ten men.

The game was even at 1-1 before Rhys Day struck out at Kyle McFadzean in an off-the-ball incident in the 53rd minute.

Despite that, the Stags hung on at Field Mill until the visitors made the breakthrough in the 70th minute, before romping to a 4-1 victory.

But Evans, who was given plenty of stick from the home crowd about his weight, said it took great ability to secure the three points.

He said: "We are not kidding ourselves, we were helped with the sending off. But we took advantage of playing against ten men where as some teams have not got the ability or tactical know-how to do that.

"It is a tough place to go, Field Mill, but when David Holdsworth gets some of those players he has just brought in settled, there will be some big, big clubs who will dread coming here. We are glad to get it out of the way.

"Mansfield is one of the big clubs in the Conference, they have fantastic supporters and they had great banter with me. I just say 'shout louder, I can't hear you'.

"David will get it right. They have a new owner and he is a man who has made a lot of money. He is not going to put it in foolishly and he will back the manager.

"It was a good performance from start to finish. We were disappointed to go in level at half time. We had no complaints with the penalty given against us because Pablo Mills timed it wrong."

And Evans singled out Mansfield's Kevin Pilkington for special praise, after he made a string of second half saves.

"Their goalkeeper has made four wonder saves, unbelievable," said Evans. "He did very well. But I have no doubt when they gel under David, they are going to be a real force."

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Goalkeeper Pilkington relieved to be back playing again
Evening Post, 4 Nov 2010
KEVIN Pilkington was questioning what the future held before Mansfield Town came to rescue him from his footballing nightmare.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/mansfieldtown/Goalkeeper-Pilkington-relieved-playing/article-2835544-detail/article.html?

The 36-year-old goalkeeper had been a first team regular for five years at Field Mill from 2000 and then the same at Notts County.

But after breaking his leg in training with the Magpies in the season after winning player of the year, he found himself first behind Russell Hoult for long spells and then Kasper Schmeichel.

He left Meadow Lane in the summer, signing a permanent deal with Blue Square Premier Luton Town.

But he has had to play second fiddle to Mark Tyler and after a long period not being a regular number one, Pilkington grew more and more frustrated.

Injuries to Alan Marriott and Mihkel Aksalu paved the way for a loan move back to Field Mill, and he jumped at the chance to return until early January.

He made his comeback in the 4-1 defeat to Crawley, where he was named man-of-the-match as ten-man Mansfield were put under severe second-half pressure.

And Pilkington said: "I'm just glad to be back playing. It has been a frustrating spell.

"I have had nine years playing football week in, week out and after watching the games, being sat on the bench, I started to ask 'what's it all coming to?' I wanted to play so it was hard.

"It all started with a freak accident in training, which broke my leg. I came back but then Russell was made the number one. It has been a nightmare from then on.

"The other Saturday there was no game and I found myself just walking around the house. I wanted to be playing.

"Don't get me wrong, it is nice spending time with the wife and kids but I want to be going out there on a Saturday, playing and earning a living.

"So it was great to get back out there again with Mansfield."

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Four-goal Crawley back on top

vy Bruce Talbot »

Crawley are back on top of the Blue Square Bet premier after an impressive 4-1 win against ten-man Mansfield at Field Mill today.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/argusgeneralsportsnews/8485622.Four_goal_Crawley_back_on_top/?

Reds went ahead through Dannie Bulman's 21st-minute volley but Mansfield levelled three minutes before half-time when Keigan Parker scored from the spot after he had been brought down by Pablo Mills.

The contest changed in the 52nd minute when home defender Rhys Day was sent off for violent conduct after an incident involving Kyle McFadzean in the Mansfield penalty area.

Reds made their advantage count with Craig McAllister heading them back in front on 71 minutes before sub Matt Tubbs (87) and McAllister (90) added late goals with crisp finishes.

Manager Steve Evans said: "We're not kidding ourselves that we got a hand with the penalty (?!?!? he didn't say this ?!?!) but we then showed how to play against a team with ten men. We played some fantastic football at times and it's a massive result for us."

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Latest | November 2010