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Archived News from August 2009

HOLDSWORTH AND DAISH REACTION
26th August 2009 21:14


Holdsworth BBC Radio Nottingham audio interview --->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/8208149.stm

Briscoe and Duffy video interview --->
http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1764998,00.html

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Stags will 'smash someone' soon vows Holdworth after third home win
By John Lomas, CHAD.co.uk
DAVID Holdsworth savoured his third win in three BSP home games this season, after seeing off winless Ebbsfleet 3-0, and then vowed the Stags would 'smash somebody' soon if they really hit form!

http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-will-39smash-someone39-soon.5578886.jp

And that comment comes after his side had hit 11 goals in just three games at Field Mill, where they remain unbeaten in 2009, without ever really needing to hit top gear.

The Stags boss said: "I am delighted with the result – it makes the weekend – but if I am being critical it could have been a few more.

"We have started great though we are not getting carried away. But I know if we really hit form we are going to smash someone someday.

"The clean sheet was the most important thing to me. Once we are ahead we mustn't give it away. We must keep the prize. It's all about the end product."

"I said at half time that the second goal was crucial. At 1-0 Ebbsfleet were still in the game. You have to manage the minutes and we did it well today. We scored the second goal at the right time.

"At half time I asked them to run off the shoulder and we created a number of chances doing so. The timing of the runs was important."

Jake Speight said in midweek he did not want to spend the season being a 'super sub' but was again left on the bench and for the third successive home game came on to score.

"Jake was bitterly disappointed not to start today but I think the world of him," said Holdsworth.

" He is a cracking lad with a great tenacity and work rate who is still learning the game. But they all know I have no favourites."

He added: "It was very warm out there today and strength-sapping so the lads will now have a few days off to regroup."

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Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent 96.7:
"I thought we were doing all right and playing fairly well. I will have to see the DVD before I comment about their first goal but I did think he was offside.
"It is a different type of football than some of my players are used to. It is blood and thunder. We are not being turned around by excellent football, we need to mix things up a bit.
"Some have been at clubs where the emphasis was on passing the ball to another man. In this league it's about creating chances by putting the ball into areas and asking questions of defenders.
"As a defender myself I enjoyed playing against passing sides. It was when they did things quicker that caused problems.
"Mansfield are a very strong side and some of my lads have still to grow into their bodies. Maybe they need to go out on loan and get conditioned. You have to be able to compete physically in this league.
"We were in the game but that second goal has killed it. You are not going to come back from that."

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Stags striker Duffy loves the pressure
Evening Post

ROB Duffy welcomed the pressure from Mansfield Town's other strikers because it is helping him hit the back of the net.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-striker-Duffy-loves-pressure/article-1276661-detail/article.html

The striker notched for the third consecutive home game to help the Stags to a 3-0 win against Ebbsfleet United.
Duffy and Kyle Perry are keeping Daryl Clare and Jake Speight on the bench, but the pair are responding with good performances and goals when getting on.
Duffy welcomes the competition as it is keeping everybody on their toes.
"You can see the confidence of the players and we are a match for anybody," he said.
"We showed early on this season that we can score goals from all the players. We know as professionals every games is not going to be 3-0 or 4-0 wins. There will be tight 1-0 games. But you ride the wave.
"It takes five or six games to find your legs and get your fitness and sharpness. It is early days but I am quite pleased.
"There is a little bit of pressure and it has never done anybody any harm. It can only be healthy for the players."
The win continued the unbeaten run under David Holdsworth at Field Mill and the Stags have not lost at home since the end of 2008 against Burton Albion.
But Duffy insists winning matches at Field Mill cannot be taken as given.
"You look back to when the gaffer came in at the turn of the year, a new regime, new players in and we have had an incredible run here," he said.
"But you cannot take anything for granted and you have to go out and do the basics right to earn the right to win."

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Stags their own worst critics
Evening Post

MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth believes his side can maintain their impressive start to the season - because his players are their own worst critics.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-worst-critics/article-1277034-detail/article.html

The Stags recorded a third successive home league win, thumping Ebbsfleet United 3-0 on Saturday, taking their points tally to 12 from five games.
Despite those impressive statistics, Holdsworth believes there will come a day when his side produce a jaw-dropping result that will make everyone stand up and take notice.
That, he insists, his down to the competitiveness within the squad. He said: "We have started the season great and there is lots more to come. When it does, we will smash somebody one day. The boys just keep demanding more of each other.
"The clean sheet was most important to me because it was about the three points. We said that at half time when we were 1-0 up, do not give it away. If you have a prize, keep the prize, do not give anything away."
Rob Duffy scored for the third home game running as did Jake Speight, who came off the bench at Field Mill for the third successive time to score. And Louis Briscoe got the second goal shortly after half time.
"Louis is a young man with a bright future if he sticks to his task," said Holdsworth.
"I am delighted with him. Jake was bitterly disappointed not to start and I understand that. You have to have faith in people and treat them properly and I am delighted for Louis to get a goal.
"I think a lot of Jake, he is a cracking lad. His tenacity, his work rate is phenomenal but he is still learning the game."

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Marriott not setting any targets at Stags
Evening Post, August 25, 2009

MANSFIELD Town's Alan Marriott is refusing to set himself a clean-sheet target for the season.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Marriott-setting-targets-Stags/article-1279299-detail/article.html

The Stags goalkeeper has so far kept three shut-outs in the first five games.
They came in the 4-0 opening day win over Crawley, 1-0 away victory at Salisbury and 3-0 triumph against Ebbsfleet.
But the former Lincoln stopper does not believe in specific targets.
"If I were to say I wanted to keep 15 or 20 clean sheets in a season then I would only put pressure on myself to get there," said Marriott.
"As long as we play well and keep the good results coming then I will take that and I'm not too concerned about personal milestones.
"But a goalkeeper is judged on clean-sheets and I will be doing my best to get as many as I can."

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