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Next Up: Field Mill
Next Up: Field Mill

Mansfield Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 13/02/2006

THE Mariners travel to Field Mill on Tuesday night, hoping to make it three wins in a row and stay at the summit of League Two against struggling a Mansfield Town.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Mansfield (a)


The Opposition

Overview
After a bad start to the 2005/06 season which saw the Stags secure only one win in twelve games, manager Carlton Palmer was soon given the axe. His assistant Peter Shirtliff initially took the reigns as a caretaker manager and now has the job until the end of the season. He has steadied the ship at Field Mill, but inconsistency appears to be the Stags main problem. For example, at the weekend they earned a creditable 2-2 draw with Wycombe, yet a few weeks ago they went down 4-0 at Darlington. They lie in 20th place, just four points clear of the drop zone.

Their Squad
Experienced Norwegian defender Jon-Olav Hjelde was a summer signing from Nottingham Forest who has featured in the Stags defence of late. The 33-year-old had two separate spells with Forest. Jonathan D’Laryea is a promising young midfielder who recently signed a permanent deal with Mansfield following a loan move from Manchester City. Lawrence Wilson is a left sided player who only completed his temporary move from Everton to the Stags last week. He made his debut as a substitute in the Wycombe game. In attack they can call upon the experienced Richie Barker (left), who netted against Town last month and has 16 goals this season.

Key Player
Danny Reet. Young striker who signed for the Stags in the transfer window from Sheffield Wednesday. Already scored against Town this season in a loan spell with Bury. Already netted a couple of goals for Mansfield, the livewire striker will be looking to increase that tally.

Recent Form

TownMansfield
WBoston(h)1-0
WNotts Co(a)1-0
LPeterborough(h)1-2
LStockport(a)1-2
DTorquay(a)2-2
Currently 1st in League Two.
DWycombe(a)2-2
DMacclesfield(h)1-1
LDarlington(a)0-4
LChester(h)1-2
WRochdale(h)1-0
Currently 20th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownMansfield
Michael Reddy13
Gary Jones7
Barker16
Brown10

Team News

TownMansfield

  • The Mariners will welcome back Ben Futcher after the giant centre half missed out on the Boston game due to a "gentlemen’s agreement" between Russell Slade and his former club.

  • If Slade feels Rob Jones is fit enough to play his second game in four days, then Futcher could partner Jones. This would mean Tom Newey reverting to left back and Gary Croft moving to right back.

  • Marc Goodfellow remains sidelined after picking up a knock in training on Friday. He is now expected to be out for up to a month.

  • Paul Bolland will return to the midfield from suspension and Russell Slade will have to chose who he is to partner in the centre of the park - whether Curtis Woodhouse or Ciaran Toner.

  • Striker Gary Jones did make it onto the bench on Saturday but may not be fit enough to start. Junior Mendes will therefore partner Michael Reddy, who is looking for his fifth goal in consecutive games.
  • Defender Alex John Baptiste will have a fitness test before the match to see if he can play any part. He has missed the game with Wycombe on Saturday due to a stomach injury.

  • Striker Danny Reet should start despite being taken off at half time on Saturday due to illness. Adam Birchall replaced him and is on standby if Reet fails to make it.

  • Simon Brown, who has netted 10 goals this season, is expected to miss out yet again. He hasn’t played since playing in the 4-0 drubbing against Darlington at the end of last month.
  • Probable Teams

    TownMansfield
    1Steve Mildenhall
    20Gary Croft
    3Tom Newey
    4Ben Futcher
    12Rob Jones
    15Gary Cohen
    8Paul Bolland
    32Curtis Woodhouse
    11Andy Parkinson
    31Junior Mendes
    9Michael Reddy
    1Kevin Pressman
    3Gareth Jelleyman
    21Kyle Jacobs
    22Jon Olav Hjelde
    12Jake Buxton
    8Gus Uhlenbeek
    4Jonathan D’Laryea
    18Adam Rundle
    16Giles Coke
    9Richie Barker
    10Danny Reet

    Subs

    TownMansfield
    7JPK Kalala
    18Ciaran Toner
    19Gary Jones
    14Terry Barwick
    17Glen Downey
    7Stephen Dawson
    6Alex John-Baptiste
    11Adam Birchall
    27Lawrence Wilson
    13Jason White (GK)

    Head to Head

    Town have enjoyed a less than favourable record against the Stags, although that balance was redressed slightly with the Mariners 2-1 win last month. Field Mill is certainly not a happy hunting ground for Town - they haven’t won there since 1956, failing to win in any of their last 13 visits.

    P 34 W 10 D 9 L 15 F 44 A 52

    Mansfield Head-to-Head (74th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    It was just a month ago since the sides last met at Blundell Park. Ben Futcher made his debut at centre back as the Mariners won 2-1. Michael Reddy netted after nine minutes, yet Mansfield were the better side until Richie Barker hit a 79th minute penalty. Then, with just four minutes left on the clock, Andy Parkinson scored to make it 2-1 to Town.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall ,Bloomer (Croft ,81 ) ,Futcher ,Robert Jones ,Newey ,Cohen ,Toner ,Bolland ,Parkinson ,Reddy (North ,89 ) ,Gary Jones (Gritton ,81 )
    Subs (not used): Barwick, Downey

    Mansfield Team: Pressman ,Jelleyman ,Buxton ,Baptiste ,Hjelde ,Uhlenbeek ,D'Laryea (Coke ,74 ) ,Dawson ,Rundle (Birchall ,64 ) ,Russell (Reet ,57 ) ,Barker
    Subs: (not used) Day, White

    Attendance: 4,506    Report

    Prediction

    A 3-1 win for the Mariners!

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Boston1-01-03
    Notts Co2-11-01
    Mansfield3-02-11
    Carlisle0-01-20
    Wrexham0-02-10
    Lincoln1-03-01
    Bury1-02-11
    Bristol R1-00-10
    Rochdale3-24-11
    Oxford1-13-20
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Field Mill (left).

    Pubs and Grub

    Click on the link for pubs near Field Mill.




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