Archived News from February 2008
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PREVIEWS
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Wycombe v Mansfield
BBC.co.uk Matty Bloomfield is fully fit after hamstring injury so Wycombe must decide whether to recall him or retain a 3-5-2 formation they played in his absence. Sam Stockley is in America playing in a trial match, Mike Williamson is short of match fitness and Will Antwi (groin) and Stefan Oakes (knee) remain out. Mansfield have Dan Martin available after suspension but Simon Brown is banned and Martin McIntosh is injured. Ashley Kitchen has returned from his loan at Gainsborough but has a virus. Dearden says Stags will stay up BBC.co.uk Mansfield Town manager Billy Dearden is confident that his side will avoid relegation from League Two. The Stags have slipped to the bottom of the table for the third time this season and now face a tricky game at promotion-chasing Wycombe on Saturday. But Dearden told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I've no doubt that we can get out of trouble. "We're capable of doing it with what we have in the squad. They have just got to keep believing in themselves." Lambert: He's could still be in Champions League By Dave Peters http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk BLUES boss Paul Lambert says new signing Neil Lennon should still be playing in the Champions League instead of lining up to face the Football League's bottom club Mansfield Town tomorrow. Lennon made his debut in a 2-0 win at Accrington last Saturday after signing from Notts Forest on transfer deadline day. Lambert said: "It is a massive coup for this club. Lennie will be a huge driving force in our ambition to get out of this league. He could easily still be playing in the Champions League." advertisement The former Celtic and Northern Ireland captain made an immediate impact last week as Lambert built his team around his new free transfer - who just 12 months ago was playing for Celtic against AC Milan in the last 16 of Europe's biggest club competition. Ex-Scotland midfielder Gary Holt, arguably Blues' best performer this season, popped up at centre back as Lambert dropped his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation to adopt a five-man midfield to incorporate his star signing. Lambert said: "It wasn't a big decision to change the shape of the side. When you have really good players you have to use them. "We have signed a fantastic footballer in Lennie. He never gives the ball away and makes the game look easy. He'll drive the players on and do great for this football club." Lambert is likely to go with his new 3-5-2 formation again tomorrow as Blues look to inflict more misery on the League's bottom club. Wanderers romped to a 4-0 victory over Billy Dearden's Stags at Field Mill just over a month ago with leading scorer Scott McGleish helping himself to all four goals. But Lambert said: "That won't matter a jot. There is no such thing as a home banker. Football doesn't work like that. "People thought that Dagenham would be a home win for us but we lost that one so there is no way we'll underestimate Mansfield. "The result we had at their place counts for nothing. It was horrible weather, the conditions were really poor and it will be totally different this time around. "They are fighting for their lives and they will be hurting after that defeat, but it doesn't matter that they're bottom of the league. You look at Wrexham beating Darlington and MK Dons, any team is capable of beating another in this division." While Wanderers were signing Lennon, Mansfield brought in much-travelled former Thame United striker Jefferson Louis in the transfer window. But Lambert, who says he now has five players capable of performing at Championship level, won't underestimate any side managed by Dearden. He said: "He is one of those managers I really like. I could sit and listen to him for hours on end with all his experience. "His team gave Middlesbrough a really hard game in the FA Cup and they have got some decent players who we will have to respect." |
Latest | February 2008