Archived News from April 2008
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Fairclough has injury worries ahead of Mansfield trip. By Jaybee Friday, 4th April 2008 Burton, Gillet and Yakubu all out for game at Field Mill tomorrow. Barnet will be without key defenders, Sagi Burton, Ismail Yakubu and Kenny Gillet for the away trip tomorrow to Mansfield. In addition, assistant manager, Ian Hendon is also injured. With only Joe Devera likely to be fit to play ay centre-back, Paul Fairclough has selection problems and will have to decide on whether to play a midfield player such as Neal Bishop or Michael Leary at the back or give a chance to untried youngster, Joe Tabiri. Another possibility is playing Max Porter at right back and moving Jordan Parkes to play alongside Joe Devera. With Gillet still out, Nicky Nicolau will continue at left back and Fairclough will have to decide between Jason Puncheon and Kieron St. Amie on the left of midfield and who will play up front between Adam Birchall, Anthony Thomas and Cliff Akurang as all three have made strong claims to a place recently. For Mansfield, on loan winger, Neil Wainwright is back again after missing Tuesday's match against Wrexham. Long term absentee, Lee Bell is still out. --------------------- CHAD VIDEO: Jefferson Louis recalls penalty drama CHAD.co.uk, 3 Apr 2008 STAGS striker Jefferson Louis was the man of the moment on Tuesday night as he bravely netted the breakthrough penalty that set Mansfield on their way to victory against relegation rivals Wrexham. In an exclusive video interview today, the big striker told Chad about his return to the side, his determination to take THAT spot kick and his hopes of the club beating the drop. Video at CHAD website here -------------- Listen to the excellent 'Stags Talk' with Tim Morriss and John Lomas here -------------- We need to win all home games - Holland by John Lomas, CHAD.co.uk, 3 Apr 2008 STAGS boss Paul Holland is hoping the end of their home hoodoo on Tuesday night will prove to be the launch pad to safety. Relegation-haunted Mansfield had lost 10 and drawn one of 11 home games since Boxing Day but beat bottom side Wrexham 2-1 at Field Mill on Tuesday to end that disastrous run. And, ahead of Saturday's visit of mid-table Barnet, Holland said: "It was a burden to be lifted. I was always confident we would end that run before the end of the season. Now we have three massive games to come at home andwe need to win them. Full story at CHAD website here "I told the lads I didn't think it would be long in coming. We should have got it against Hereford and we probably should have something against Grimsby. "Barnet come here mid-table, but we know it will be a very tough game. They try to play football the right way. But, after getting that draw at Notts County and then beating Wrexham, there is no reason why we shouldn't go into it full of confidence. "It is almost the end of their season with nothing much to play for. But I am sure their manager and staff will keep their players going. "A lot of them are probably playing for contracts so they won't just come here and relax. It will be a very hard 90 minutes." On loan winger Neil Wainwright returns to the Mansfield squad after recovering from illness. Barnet have lost four of their last five away trips, the last two by a three-goal margin. ------------------ Vital for stags to break Barnet Evening Post, 3 Apr 2008 Alex John-Baptiste today insisted Mansfield's win over Wrexham means nothing in if they don't back it up with another win against Barnet. After a 2-1 victory over the Red Dragons, the Stags are still in the drop zone, but cut the gap to third bottom Notts County to four points. Now John-Baptiste, who put in a commanding performance, is calling for a repeat against the Bees on Saturday. "Beating Wrexham was crucial to keeping our hopes alive. We haven't won at home in a long time and we needed those points," said John-Baptiste. Full story at Evening Post website here "We stayed strong in the first half and defended really well when the wind was against us. In the second half we got ourselves in the lead but then had to make it hard for ourselves, as we usually do. "Saturday's game against Barnet is massive for us now. "We have not managed to win two games in a row all season and we need to do it now more than ever. The victory over the Welshmen was Mansfield's first at field Mill for 12 games since beating Peterborough 2-0 on Boxing Day. John-Baptiste is convinced it is the boost players need ahead of home fixtures, including Shrewsbury and Rotherham after Barnet. -------------------- Bell back for Stags before end of season? by John Lomas, CHAD.co.uk, 3 Apr 2008 INJURED midfielder Lee Bell may still have a part to play in Mansfield Town's survival struggle. The ex-Crewe player has been sidelined with knee ligament damage since 12th February against Morecambe. But Bell is on the mend and Holland said: "Lee has been great. He has been to every single game since he was injured. Full story at CHAD website here "You don't see him for a couple of days in the week and then he appears. He is good around the dressing room and it shows the spirit we have here. "I am fairly confident Lee may still feature for us between now and the end of the season. "The pleasing thing is the lads not in the squad right now like Dan Martin, Rory Boulding, Chris Wood and Ashley Kitchen are all staying upbeat and encouraging the lads. "They all know they may yet get called upon to play a part." ---------------------- |
Latest | April 2008