Archived News from September 2011
|
DARLINGTON PREVIEWS
|
 |
|
---------------
Spotlight on Darlington v Mansfield Nottingham Post, Friday, September 02, 2011 Darlington (from): Russell, Purkiss, Lee, Miller, G Taylor, Arnison, McReady, C Taylor, Rundle, Campbell, Bowman, Chandler, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hatch, Walshaw, Atkinson, Sanchez Munoz. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13251029-detail/story.html Mansfield (from): Marriott, Redmond, O'Neill, Sutton, Riley, Futcher, Wood, Kendrick, Briscoe, Howell, Murray, Worthington, Bolland, Meikle, Smith, Dyer, Green, Connor. Team news: Darlington will be without Aaron Brown (hamstring), while Michael Smith has left to join Charlton. Ian Miller (bug) should be fit to play but the Quakers are waiting for international clearance on Jonathan Sanchez Munoz, an ex-Malaga player who has joined following a two-week trial. Mansfield welcome central defender Tom Naylor back into contention after a four-game ban. Martin Riley (foot) is rated 50-50, while Rhys Day (calf) was due to complete 60 minutes of a practice game yesterday. John Thompson (head) is expected to resume light training on Monday. Matt Bell will not be involved in the squad after moving to Solihull Moors on loan. One to watch: Greg Taylor. The attacking left-back has been Darlington's stand-out player in the early weeks of the season. Manager: Mark Cooper. Led the Quakers to FA Trophy victory over Mansfield in May and is out to improve on last season's seventh placed Blue Square bet Premier finish ------------- Cox delighted with Stags fans' backing Nottingham Post, Friday, September 02, 2011 IT was not just what happened on the pitch that pleased Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox at Edgeley Park on Monday. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-13251010-detail/story.html Of course he was delighted to see his Stags side secure a first away victory of the season by grinding out a 1-0 win over unbeaten Stockport – that goes without saying. ?But he was just as encouraged by the support of the rain-sodden 436 away supporters who had made their way over the Pennines to congregate in the open Railway End. Since taking over the reins at Field Mill in May, Cox has made several attempts to rally the Mansfield fans, believing they can be the team's '12th man'. He knows the backing of those on the terraces is vital. He wants everyone at the club 'pushing in the same direction'. That is why the response he got from those in the north-west impressed him so much. It was exactly what he has been looking for. Cox insists has been buoyed by the input of the Mansfield faithful from the day he walked into the club – and hopes that backing continues for the rest of the season. They can play another key role when Mansfield run out at Darlington tomorrow bidding to make it three wins in a row. "I have to say I was humbled by what I saw from the supporters up at Stockport, they were just brilliant for us," said Cox. "To take almost 450 fans was a great effort and then they had to sit there and get drenched because they weren't under cover. "In the last seven or eight minutes when Stockport were having a go and we were under the cosh, that's when they really came alive to help us. They really got behind the boys. "I can only go on what I have seen and they have been excellent in every game we have played. "I don't think the boys could ask for anything more and they are really appreciative of it. It only makes them want to get success for the club even more. "I hope the supporters can see how hard they are working and I think they do. Things can still go wrong during the season and there are a lot of things that the team can get better at. "But the backing of the fans is another building block in place because we need that unity to do well." Although the match in question preceded his time at Mansfield, Cox is well aware fans will still be smarting from their defeat to the Quakers' in Wembley's FA Trophy final. The Stags were beaten 1-0 by a last-gasp extra-time goal by now Alfreton striker Chris Senior, much to the disappointment of the near-15,000 contingent from north Nottinghamshire. He said: "Of course the fans will want revenge for that game because no-one likes to see their team lose at Wembley. "I'm sure they will be champing at the bit to right a few wrongs and get one over on them this time. "But we know it is going to be a tough game at Darlington because they finished last season really strongly and have got off to a great start this year as well. "For me, there is no doubt they are going to be up there come the end of the season because they don't concede many, are well organised and are difficult to beat." Cox is looking forward to renewing a rivalry with an old adversary in Mark Cooper. It was the now Quakers boss whose Kettering Town side ended Eastwood Town's fairytale run to the third round proper of the FA Cup. "We have had a few battles in the past, not least when Kettering put Eastwood out when we had already beaten Wrexham and Wycombe," said Cox. "His record at this level speaks for itself. He knows what he wants to achieve and how to go about it." Although frustrated at what might have been, Cox is much more satisfied with life after seeing Mansfield collect two wins inside three days, the win at Stockport following a 3-0 triumph over Kettering. "I have to be happy with the fact we have been unbeaten in the last four games which have been a testing set of fixtures," said Cox. "But the truth is that we should have had more points because I believe we could have easily beaten Braintree and Luton as well. "The good thing is the lads are now starting to be in it together – as you could see in the dressing room after the game on Monday. "We are starting to play more as a team rather than individuals, which showed in that it was hard to pick a man of the match because everyone did their jobs." Another success in the north-east tomorrow and Cox will have no worries about the away backing. They will need no prompting to be singing from the rooftops ------------------- Kendrick releshing return to Darlington with Mansfield chad.co.uk, Friday 2 September 2011 JOE Kendrick is looking forward to his return to Darlington with Mansfield Town on Saturday and is loving every minute of being a full-time professional once more. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/kendrick_releshing_return_to_darlington_with_mansfield_1_3734731 The Irish left back was signed from Bray Wanderers, where he was part-time, but he was full-time before that and had two years at Darlington as a youngster. “I played there for two years under Dave Hodgson and is it was an experience as I seemed to play in every position apart from left back.,” he said. “I had just come back from playing in Germany and was only young. I found myself thrust straight into the spotlight. My second season was a lot better and I enjoyed it. “Playing in that big, empty stadium, as a home player you get used to it. “I am sure our fans will get behind us there as they have been excellent so far in the first few away games we've had.” Kendrick admitted that playing part-time has once more made him appreciate how good it is being a full-time pro. “I am playing okay but it is going to take my body a bit longer to get back into it properly,” he said. “It is a great life being a full-time footballer. In Ireland I was working all day in the building trade until five or six at night then going off training.” ------------------ Stags midfielder Howell keeps former stars on the sidelines chad.co.uk, Friday 2 September 2011 ANTHONY Howell believes the calibre of player he is keeping out of the Mansfield Town side at the moment is the spur to his excellent displays in the last four games. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_midfielder_howell_keeps_former_stars_on_the_sidelines_1_3734786 Howell, who has just begun his second spell with Mansfield, is expected to keep his place at Darlington tomorrow alongside Adam Murray which means experienced former Football League pair Paul Bolland and Jon Worthington will again be left frustrated. “I was surprised to be included at Braintree,” he admitted. “But I was glad of the chance and it's been fantastic. “I have worked hard, done what I've been asked to do and given everything I can. “Paul Bolland and Jon Worthington are great players and knowing I am in ahead of them is a real spur to keep my shirt. “The first time I was here, things didn't really go to plan at all. So I wanted to come back and fix that. “The previous manager didn't think I was good enough and kept changing things. “I have known the current manager for more than a decade now. He's given me the chance and I have shown him I can do the job, put in the work rate and get to the standard he wants.” ------------------- Stags chase rare third win on the bounce at Darlington chad.co.uk, Thursday 1 September 2011 MANSFIELD Town head for Darlington on Saturday (3pm) looking for a third successive league win for the first time since October 2009. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_chase_rare_third_win_on_the_bounce_at_darlington_1_3734737 A 3-0 home win over Kettering last Saturday was followed by a superb 1-0 win at Stockport on Monday. But, despite being held 1-1 at home by Alfreton recently, Darlington will prove formidable opposition, fourth in the table, only having lost once all season at Tamworth. “It is a stunning ground and a beautiful pitch and, to be fair, a club that could be there or thereabouts at the end of the season,” said manager Paul Box. “It will be a really tough game for us. But we have taken points off potential championship winners Luton and Stockport and, as long as we keep progressing in the right way, I will be happy. “I was told the odds of winning both games over Bank Holiday are really slim so it was immense to get six points. It is testament to how hard the lads are working at the minute. “The performance at Stockport wasn't the best in terms of fluidity of football, but as far as grinding out a result goes, it was excellent.” With no new injury problems, it is likely Cox will stick with the same team at Darlington though Tom Naylor, who is being tailed by other clubs all the way up to the Premiership, is back from suspension while fellow defender Martin Riley is recovering from a foot injury and could also be back in the frame. Anthony Howell will be hoping his displays in the last four games will keep him the shirt ahead of the far more experienced Paul Bolland and Jon Worthington. “I have some good selection headaches ahead,” said Cox. “No one believes that after two wins we will now just sail into the sunset and win the championship. “There are going to be twists and turns and I know there will be bad times round the corner. So I need to have players fit mentally and physically to come in when I need them and not, in the meantime, feel left out of things. “It's not about how good the 11 is, it's how good your squad is. I want players champing at the bit who are as good as the ones in the side.” Darlington said farewell to two strikers this week in Michael Smith, who has joined Charlton, and Tommy Wright, who has left by mutual consent. But they have brought in Spanish midfielder Jonatan Sanchez-Munoz who could make a debut on Saturday if his international clearance comes through in time. Former Stags winger Adam Rundle could also line-up against his old club -------------------- Kendrick releshing return to Darlington with Mansfield chad.co.uk, Thursday 1 September 2011 JOE Kendrick is looking forward to his return to Darlington with Mansfield Town on Saturday and is loving every minute of being a full-time professional once more. http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/kendrick_releshing_return_to_darlington_with_mansfield_1_3734731 The Irish left back was signed from Bray Wanderers, where he was part-time, but he was full-time before that and had two years at Darlington as a youngster. “I played there for two years under Dave Hodgson and is it was an experience as I seemed to play in every position apart from left back.,” he said. “I had just come back from playing in Germany and was only young. I found myself thrust straight into the spotlight. My second season was a lot better and I enjoyed it. “Playing in that big, empty stadium, as a home player you get used to it. “I am sure our fans will get behind us there as they have been excellent so far in the first few away games we've had.” Kendrick admitted that playing part-time has once more made him appreciate how good it is being a full-time pro. “I am playing okay but it is going to take my body a bit longer to get back into it properly,” he said. “It is a great life being a full-time footballer. In Ireland I was working all day in the building trade until five or six at night then going off training.” -------------------- Tenacious Howell the ideal fit for rejuvenated Stags Nottingham Post, Saturday, September 03, 2011 ANTHONY Howell is the epitome of what Paul Cox expects his sides to be. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Tenacious-Howell-ideal-fit-rejuvenated-Stags/story-13258552-detail/story.html In his previous job at Eastwood, the Mansfield Town manager prided himself on putting out sides that were fiercely competitive, even if those players were not as talented as some of their rivals. ?Cox is now trying to instil the same kind of unwavering commitment at Field Mill and in Howell has someone he knows will lead by example in that regard. As the midfielder himself would readily admit, he does not possess an abundance of flair and creativity. He leaves that to others. But there is no doubt that Howell has followed his manager's instructions to a 't' in bringing strength and power to the heart of the Mansfield team. It is surely no coincidence that since his introduction into the team, the Stags have tightened things up significantly and remained unbeaten. "I would have hoped to have been in the side at this point in the season, but I am a bit surprised that I am," said Howell. "We drew against Bath and lost at Gateshead and you could see why the gaffer was saying he wanted to change it because I thought we weren't at the races up there. "He wanted to see what else he had in his squad and it has worked since then, so I have got my shirt for now. "It's not easy being part-time and then having to adjust coming into the full-time game again. "You can't do that overnight, you have to put in a lot of effort. "But it inspires me to be competing with the likes of Paul Bolland and Jon Worthington because they are great players. To be picked in front of two players who have such Football League experience shows the determination and hard work I have been putting in." Mansfield travel to Darlington today with things looking a whole lot rosier than they did a week ago after consecutive victories over Kettering and Stockport. Suddenly things seem to be clicking into place and the Stags are going in search of their fifth game unbeaten. Even if that doesn't happen, Howell feels the foundations are now in place for the team to improve on past performances at this level – so long as standards are maintained. He said: "We are showing to people watching us now that we can do what is expected to get into the play-offs. "We have also shown our manager that we are good enough, but what we do from now on is what really matters. "We have to be looking get some kind of run going and for that to happen we cannot let our efforts slip. "You cant's just turn it on and off. You have to keep going if you want to be consistent." Howell felt Mansfield's 1-0 success at Edgeley Park on Bank Holiday Monday was typical of the way Mansfield have to play to put themselves in contention in 2011-12. The former Alfreton man is well aware that pretty passing will only get you so far in non-league's top flight. "The Stockport game shows how we have to look to get results this season. It shows we have the capability to grind it out," said Howell. "It wasn't just the win that was pleasing but the learning curve we have been through from our previous games. "We were 1-0 up against Braintree and conceded, 1-0 up against Luton and conceded but this time we were 1-0 up and didn't concede." Howell is convinced the reason for Mansfield's steady improvement is simple – familiarity. The club brought in no less than 16 new players during the summer and only now, he believes, are they beginning to find their feet. Howell said: "It hits the nail on the head to say that we all understanding our roles better now. "Everyone is aware of exactly what they have to do – and if someone is not carrying out their role as they should. "We will know who to put it on if things go wrong, and so no-one wants to let the others down. "Having that organisation is key in football. There aren't any questions about what we should be doing any more. "That was not the case at the start. We didn't know each other and how we would react in pressure situations. "At times we tried to play football a lot on areas that we shouldn't have. "But you have to make those mistakes to be able to correct them and the form we are showing suggests we are starting to learn from our mistakes." ---------------- Stags' Kendrick to do battle with old boss in north-east Nottingham Post, Saturday, September 03, 2011 MANSFIELD Town go in search of three consecutive wins for the first time since October 2009 at Darlington today with left-back Joe Kendrick out to sink his old club and manager. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Stags-Kendrick-battle-old-boss-north-east/story-13258537-detail/story.html The Irishman spent two seasons with the Quakers, then in League Two, between 2004 and 2006. ?He also had a spell under the charge of the north-east club's current boss, Mark Cooper, at Tamworth. Kendrick would love to get the better of both and help Stags build on back-to-back wins over the bank holiday weekend. "I was at Darlington under Dave Hodgson when I was still a young lad and I think I played in every position except left-back!" said Kendrick. "It was an experience because I had just come back from Germany and I was thrust straight into it. "I also know Mark Cooper pretty well. He organises his teams, gives them structure and knows a lot about the game. "I wasn't at Tamworth long, but he was a wheeler-dealer. He has brought in some good players at Darlington. too. "But we are in good form and I believe we can go up there and get another win." Kendrick is backing central defender Tom Naylor to keep his cool amid a failed big from Charlton and interest from a Premier League club. He said: "We have been ribbing him saying we were surprised not to see him on Sky Sports at Charlton's training ground. "But it's important that he doesn't let it get to him because other opportunities will come along." ----------------- Quakers are in good heart Herald & Post, Sep 2 2011 DARLINGTON seek a third successive win when they host Mansfield Town on Saturday. Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/gazette-communities/2011/09/02/quakers-are-in-good-heart-84229-29337228/#ixzz1WjlKMUln The sides last met at Wembley in May when Darlington won 1-0 to lift the FA Trophy. But this time it's Blue Square Premier League points at stake. Quakers manager Mark Cooper said: “We need to be strong at home this season, and all we are focussed on is winning three more points against Mansfield.” Both sides have started the season well as they seek promotion back to the Football League. And Quakers are in good heart after back to back Bank Holiday wins against Grimsby and Lincoln. And with no new injury worries Cooper has the option of naming the side that beat Lincoln 3-1 at The Arena on Monday, when Ryan Bowman scored twice, the 19-year-old's first goals for the club. Darlington fans who made the trip to Wembley can buy reduced price tickets for Saturday's game. Supporters who produce their Wembley ticket in advance can buy one cut-price ticket costing £10 adults, £5 concessions and £2.50 Under-16s, while U-10s will go free if accompanied by a paying adult. Cooper said: “This is a fantastic offer and I'd love to see a really big crowd for the game. That final seems so long ago, but the memories of a wonderful day are still with us and I'm sure they are with everyone who witnessed it. “We had 9,000 fans supporting Darlington that day, which proves they are out there, it's just a case of trying to pull them in. “I know that winning games is going to be the only carrot for a lot of fans, but this ticket offer is a great incentive.” Fans are reminded the offer is only available up to 5pm on Friday. On match day tickets will revert back to normal prices ----------------- |
Latest | September 2011