The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Field Mill
Field Mill

Mansfield v Grimsby

By: Alex Green
Date: 21/03/2008

ROTHERHAM’S predicament has bought a new lease of life to our season and now that we are only five points off the play-offs we have a chance of emulating our great '98 campaign, but only if we can get a result at down and out Mansfield.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Mansfield (a)


The Opposition

Overview

Can it really get any worse for the Stags? When we joined this league the Nottinghamshire outfit were one of the favourites for promotions with a loud and active fan base. Mansfield’s promotion only seemed a matter of time rather but football has a way of hitting you hard when you least expect it. A troublesome ownership and safety fears have resulted in a boycott from the vast majority of fans and many will be happy they've stayed away this season. Even with Michael Boulding being one of the top scorers in the league Mansfield still find themselves staring at relegation, along with Wrexham. It's hardly surprising when you find the Stags have shipped a staggering 32 goals at home resulting in a minus 16 goal difference. As a result manager Billy Dearden was sacked on the 3rd of March. His second spell in charge came to an end and he was replaced on the same day by Paul Holland (left) who may only be a temporary replacement but so far he has an undefeated record as manager - granted its only 3 games, two during this spell and 1 in 2006.

The Team
It must be a real worry for the Mansfield fans how a talented squad got into such a problem. Apart from the scoring machine that is the ex-tennis pro and former Mariner Michael Boulding the Stags can count on ex-Celtic star Carl Muggleton to keep goal and the outfield has the protection of ex-Hibernian defender and once of Grimsby Martin McIntosh (left). These two are both are well travelled and on the final leg of their careers; both have vast experience at playing at a higher level and should be well equipped at being able to move away from adversity. The real major problem for Mansfield is their lack of goals even though Boulding can brag 18 goals this season their next highest scorer is Simon Brown with 4 and ten others have an array of 3 to 1. It's hardly surprising Mansfield have found them here with many wondering how they became so reliant one on man.

Key Player
It’s hardly surprising that Buckley will have sat the players down over the last week and talked of the problems that once cult hero Michael Boulding poses for us is one of real certainty. 18 goals this season is one of the best in the league and with such a struggling squad around it’s a greater feet he has reached such a high total. Though we all see him as our ex-star who scored those memorable goals for us Boulding actually started his league career here at Mansfield only seven years ago and though it seems such a short time ago he was playing for us in the first illustrious spell his late arrival in football means that Boulding is actually looking at one of his last seasons in football.

Recent Form

TownMansfield
LDarlington(a)2-3
WBarnet(h)4-1
LMK Dons(h)0-1
DMorecambe (JPT)(h)0-0
WMorecambe(a)4-0
Currently 10th in League Two.
WBradford(a)2-1
LHereford(h)0-1
LRochdale(h)0-4
DWrexham(a)1-1
DBury(h)1-1
Currently 23rd in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownMansfield
Danny North9
Danny Boshell6
Paul Bolland6
Michael Boulding 21

Team News

See Team News

Head to Head

Mansfield were something of a bogey team for Town during the 60's, 70's and 80's but in recent times the pendulum has swung Grimsby's way. Overall though Mansfield easily have the upper hand between the two teams.

P 39 W 12 D 10 L17 F49 A 59

Mansfield Head-to-Head (76th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 1 Mansfield 0 (Sat 15th December 2007)

Town won 1-0 on a freezing day at Blundell Park.

Report

Prediction

Mansfield 1 Grimsby Town 3

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