Archived News from March 2008
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HOLLAND,MULLINS,WAINWRIGHT,BUCKLEYWATKISS REACTION
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Post match interviews with Paul Holland, Johnny Mullins and Neil Wainwright from Radio Nottingham, here
Stephen Booth is grilled by Robin Chipperfield on Radio Nottingham BEFORE the Grimsby game, here -------------------- Holland - I still believe Stags will stay up By John Lomas CHAD audio interview with Paul Holland here CARETAKER manager Paul Holland insisted he had seen enough in today's performance to suggest Stags will stay up, despite yet another home defeat. Grimsby stole a 2-1 success as Stags stuttered to an 11th game without a win at Field Mill - 10 of them defeats. Holland must now hope on a result at Bury on Monday to keep his chances of getting the job full time alive. But he said: "The lads heads are down right now but I never expected to win 10 out of 10 and I am still very positive. "There are nine games left, mostly against the sides around us, and loads to play for. We have some massive games ahead. "The lads gave everything again even though we didn't play perhaps quite as well as we did in the last two. "I still saw enough out there today to believe we can get out of this. "If we go to Macclesfield and win we are two points adrift with two games in hand. "Nothing was decided by this defeat today. I am disappointed to lose but not deflated by the performance. "I do not know what will happen with the job but I believe I am the right man for it. If you brought someone else in now they would have a lot of work to do. The lads have proved they want me to get it. "We started very brightly after half time and Nathan Arnold scored a good goal. But we just couldn't get the second and their winner was an absolute peach. "It's no good feeling sorry for ourselves. They have to puff their chests out and show some pride. "We probably need to win four of five of our last nine. We certainly need a result a home very quickly. "It was a difficult game for the new lads (Neil Wainwright and Kevin Horlock) to come into but both showed glimpses of what they've got." Mariners managers Alan Buckley said: "I am very pleased with the result. "We intended to come here and have a go at them and I was delighted with the first half. We played some decent football though the final ball was sometimes lacking, but I thought we deserved our lead. "But I was bitterly disappointed with our second half performance, certainly the first 20 minutes when Mansfield could have scored three or four. "It was only a combination of good defending and a bit of luck that kept them out and eventually we picked our own game up again. "And it was a fantastic winning goal - a superb first-time strike. "Danny Boshell had a big influence on the game and scored the winner after keeping out two chances for them on the line. "Mansfield played some good football to be fair so credit to them. They are scrapping for their lives, but didn't play long ball. They passed the ball well and supported each other well." ------------------- AUDIO: Luck went against Stags - Mullins CHAD audio interview with Johnny Mullins here STAGS defender Johnny Mullins bemoaned his side's luck after a 10th defeat in 11 matches at Field Mill, beaten 2-1 by Grimsby. The Mariners hit the Stags with a classic 'smash and grab' raid, with the full back twice unlucky to see efforts cleared off the line in one remarkable goalmouth sracmble. That left the Stags deep in relegation trouble, but the full back tried to remain positive. "When you are down things don't go for you, but if we win our fair share of the remaining games we will be fine," he said. ------------------ Watkiss backing Stags to stay up CHAD.co.uk FORMER Stags manager and player Stuart Watkiss watched his Grimsby side take all three points at Field Mill this afternoon but then said he would now love to see Mansfield survive the drop. Full story here And Watkiss believes they can do it if they continue to play how they did in today's unfortunate 2-1 home defeat when they deserved at least a point. "Now we have come out of here with the points tonight, nothing would please me more than to see Mansfield go on a run and get out of the predicament they are in," said the Mariners' assistant boss. "I thought Mansfield controlled the second half and were much the better team. "So they can count themselves very unlucky to come away with nothing. "In the first 10 minutes of the second half they had five or six good chances. But a mixture of the woodwork, some fortunate defending and a couple of great saves kept them out. "Maybe that just epitomises Mansfield's luck at the minute. Then they got done with a 25 yarder into the top corner. "In the first half of the season when we were against it we didn't get the rub of the green. But since we moved away from it and up the table we often seem to get the rub of the green now. "But if Mansfield can carry on like that second half performance and play with the same attitude, commitment and work ethic then I still think they have every chance of getting out of this. They have a couple of games in hand still which are vital. "I certainly can't see us getting in the Play-offs the way we played today and t do it would mean winning six or seven games which is a big ask. But while is it still feasible we will have a pop at it." |
Latest | March 2008