Archived News from December 2009
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HOLDSWORTH AND TAMWORTH MANAGER REACTION
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David Holdsworth video interview ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~1903190,00.html Holdsworth told mansfieldtown.net: "I certainly understand the frustrations of the fans at half time. I don't mind fans voicing their opinions at all, I have no problem with that. I'll accept people shouting and screaming at me. I think Tamworth defended very well, I can't fault the boys for the effort, we didn't get that little bit of luck in front of goal again" Sunday Supplement with Nigel Pinnick and Steve Hartshorn ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~1903214,00.html ----------------------- No excuses from Stags boss Evening Post MANSFIELD Town boss David Holdsworth refused to make excuses after his side crashed out of the FA Trophy to Tamworth. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/excuses-Stags-boss/article-1601299-detail/article.html? The Stags were hoping the competition could lead them to Wembley before they lost 2-0 in the first round on Saturday. Mansfield's preparations had been hampered by a flu bug sweeping the camp, hitting four players. And a torrid first half performance saw them booed off at half-time and then at full time, with the home supporters voicing their displeasure. But Holdsworth said: "It was a bitter blow and little things have cost us but I am not a man to make excuses and we have to take it on the chin. I will as a manager and they will as players. "I am looking forward to hopefully getting a full side again, having a reshuffle and changing things round. The ball did not drop for us and on another day it will. "We were too soft for the first goal. We have capable players and it is down to them when they cross that line to do the job. We created chances but did not test the goalkeeper." It was a fifth home game without a win but of the fans' rumblings, Holdsworth said: "I was disappointment by it but I respect the fans' reaction. "I would not say we were a load of rubbish, The performance wasn't, the result was a load of rubbish. "But I do respect their decision to say that, no problem. We do have a lot of good times here but not before I came. I am positive in the way we do things." ----------------- Stags need some luck in front of goal Evening Post MANAGER David Holdsworth said Mansfield need a break in front of goal, after seeing them crash out of the FA Trophy. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Stags-need-luck-goal/article-1601377-detail/article.html? Lee Morris went clear after just two minutes but failed to convert his chance and Holdsworth (pictured) said it could have been so different if he had. He said: "I can understand the frustrations of the fans at half time, I have no qualms about that. In the second half we did everything but score. I'll accept fans shouting at me but they have to get behind the players. "I do not mind fans voicing their disappointment and at half time I gave the players a reminder of their responsibilities. At the end, we needed a break and just could not find one. We have to take that on the chin. "They defended well and we huffed and puffed, but did not get that luck in front of goal. I cannot fault their effort. We need a bit of good fortune. "We worked hard in the first half, had a very early chance and it would have been nice to have taken that to give us a platform to move onto it. "Our pitch was not helpful to how we pass the ball and maybe we have to look into that. "The cup has not been kind to us. I hope the league is kinder. I am frustrated." -------------------- Stags post match CHAD.co.uk, 12 December 2009, By John Lomas STAGS boss David Holdsworth was disappointed with his side's 2-0 home FA Trophy exit against Tamworth and by the reaction of the home fans at the end. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-post-match.5907383.jp? Although below par, he still felt Stags did enough in the second half on a dreadful surface to have won it had they been given a break in front of goal. And he said the players were upset by the chants of 'what a load of rubbish' that rang round at the end of a disappointing afternoon. "I fully respect the crowd's right to react how they did and I agreed with them at half time," he said. "We had worked very hard but switched off for the first goal, "I gave the boys a reminder of their responsibilities during the break. "But it wasn't 'a load of rubbish' "I respect that fans here have had some tough times before I came and have tended to turn on managers and players when in a sticky patch. It's human nature. But the majority of fans here are good people. They have some good times since I came here. "If they want to shout at me that's fine. But that sort of reaction doesn't make a young man like Ollie Hotchkiss want to stay here and he was upset at the end." He added: "It was frustrating and disappointing and I have a lot of players down in that dressing room. "We need a break at times. We had the better of the chances throughout the game but probably didn't test the keeper like we did last week. "If we had taken our early chance it might have given us the platform we needed. "The pitch was hard to play football on and maybe I need to look at the system we play on that sort of surface. "Tamworth defended well. We huffed and puffed but couldn't find that bit of confidence you need in front of goal. "It has been a tough week with having so many players off ill but I am not looking for excuses. "Also I think that was the some of the worst officiating I have seen. I can't believe how many cards he showed as there wasn't a bad tackle in the game. "I don't know if he has officiated at this level before but I know what my rating will be. But again that is not an excuse." Stags lost keeper Alan Marriott with a twisted ankle before half time and Holdsworth said: "Alan has had his ankle iced and we will assess it tomorrow when all the players will be in." Midfielder Matt Somner was also disappointed in the crowd's hostile reception as they left the field and added: "I am gutted to be out the FA Cup and the Trophy. "I thought the crowd's reaction was a bit harsh at the end though it wasn't our best performance. "We had a lot of chances but couldn't hit the target. "In the first half they had three in midfield and their holding midfielder was getting on everything. But we got Andy Burgess in the middle in the second half and it worked much better. We took the game to them a bit more then. "I don't think we held the ball up well up front today and it kept coming back at us. That means you can't push up the pitch. "We got what we deserved and Tamworth took their chances well. "It was hard to pass the ball on that pitch though we did our best." "That was a massive result for a club like Tamworth and I am absolutely delighted," said Lambs manager Gary Mills. "It is tough when you get drawn away at a club like Mansfield who were one of the favourites to go all the way with their status. "But it's an old cliché that you have got to beat the best if you want to get to Wembley. "We thoroughly deserved this win. Tamworth are absolute minnows compared to Mansfield Town. "I have young lads out there playing for nothing – not a penny. They enjoy playing for Tamworth. "Though we hadn't scored a goal for so long, our performance levels have been good. All they've been missing is a goal. "I told them to just keep on playing how they were and the goals would come. "The biggest job for me is keeping these young players' confidence up when we lose matches." He continued: "I thought Iyseden Christie was massive for us today. He is working hard on his fitness and he needs to kickstart his career again, "I am giving him that opportunity and I though he was outstanding today." ---------------- |
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