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Archived News from November 2002

WATKISS INTERVIEW
26th November 2002 23:04


from mansfieldtown.net
"Whether or not the ref did let the game play too long, the fact is for the last 8 minutes or so our defending was very poor. For 87 minutes the lads played a great game with Liam Lawrence playing the best game he has ever played in a Mansfield Town shirt."
Watkiss felt that the last few goals for the Robins came from a lack of concentration and a degree of "jittery, nervy defending".
"The Players gave their all, their commitment, and standard of play was absolutely top draw and against a club that has bigger resources than ourselves". In fact after the game the Robins manager joined a long list of other club managers in this division that paid homage to the Stags, finding it difficult to believe that we are still at the bottom of the table. He said that no other team so far this season had cut them up the way we did.
Watkiss realises that the defence needs strengthening. So he has been having talks with the Chairman to see if they can bring a player in to strengthen this weak point. He said: "Our midfield and forward play has improved and the ball movement, especially on Saturday was absolutely top drawer, we just need to tighten up the defence". He went on to urge people not to blame Dave Jervis for the penalty which in his mind was the turning point of the game for the Robins. He said Jervis has been out of action for 11 weeks and shouldn't really have been forced to play but once again our diminishing squad forced his hand, and it seems that the Chairman agrees.

For the full interview, visit from mansfieldtown.net


 

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