FA Cup 1st Round; Mansfield vs Torquay - Match Thread
Posted: 03 Nov 2010, 22:07
This weekend we have been invited to a stag do. We take a return to our recent past, as we travel to Blue Square Premier side Mansfield. The Stags, who dropped out of the league after the 2007/08 season, are still struggling to get out of the league which I think is the most difficult to get out of. Field Mill is one of the better grounds in the Blue Square Premier, and David Holdworth is the man charged with the duty of trying to get the Stags back in the league. However, things aren't all so rosy at Field Mill at the moment, as the hopes and expectations of the fans aren't quite being reached by the current squad.
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - League 2 - 16th place - 54 points
2006/07 - League 2 - 17th place - 54 points
2007/08 - League 2 - 23rd place - 42 points - RELEGATED TO BLUE SQUARE PREMIER
2008/09 - Blue Square Premier - 12th place - 62 points
2009/10 - Blue Square Premier - 9th place - 62 points
As you can see, the club has been in a bit of a decline since 2005, and the drop out of the league came a year after ours did. However, unlike us, they have not really made much of a mark in the league, finishing 12th and 9th since they dropped down. The club are currently sat in 8th place in the league, but the fans still aren't happy, especially after last weeks 4-1 drubbing at home to league leaders Crawley.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Mansfield wins - 31
Torquay wins - 17
Draws - 18
Looking at that, our record is quite poor against Mansfield. We have only ever recorded 4 away wins, in 33 attempts. Not pretty reading. Our last win in an away fixture against Mansfield was in the 1995/96 season. Our record since then has been much better reading for the home side. There have been recent games where we have lost 5-0, 3-0 and 4-3. Our last game at Field Mill was at the end of March 2009, where a 1-1 draw was earnt thanks to a goal by Blair Sturrock. That was the last time the two clubs met, and alot has changed since then, with us moving back into the league and such.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
DLLDWL
One win in their past 6 games came in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, but it's 6 without a win in the league. Defeats at Luton (2-0) and Rushden (1-0) have been joined with a home defeat to Crawley (4-1) and two draws, against Darlington and Gateshead. It's been a poor bit of form, and with Rhys Day being sent off last weekend, we can really fancy our chances at the weekend.
PROBABLE LINE-UP.
This is the line up that started the 4-1 defeat to Crawley:
Kevin Pilkington
Paul Stonehouse
Stephen Foster
Rhys Day
Steve Cook
Adam Smith
Adam Murray
Tyrone Thompson
Louis Briscoe
Paul Connor
Peter Vincenti
Subs:
Neil Collett
Gary Silk
Rob Duffy
Keigan Parker
Kyle Nix
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
Looking at that team, there are two players who we all know well, and which will ensure a tough midfield battle, I'm sure. Murray and Thompson will want to prove a point (TT more so, I'm sure). Other big names are Keigan Parker, who I remember from his time with Blackpool. Also Paul Connor has been about a lot in the lower leagues, too. Kevin Pilkington made a loan return to Field Mill recently, and played his first game in the 4-1 defeat last weekend.
PREDICTION.
I wasn't so sure when it happened, but with two consecutive wins, and a clean sheet, coupled with Mansfield missing a centre half, and all the pressure on the players, it all points to an away win.
But this is Torquay!
Still..
Mansfield 1-3 Torquay
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - League 2 - 16th place - 54 points
2006/07 - League 2 - 17th place - 54 points
2007/08 - League 2 - 23rd place - 42 points - RELEGATED TO BLUE SQUARE PREMIER
2008/09 - Blue Square Premier - 12th place - 62 points
2009/10 - Blue Square Premier - 9th place - 62 points
As you can see, the club has been in a bit of a decline since 2005, and the drop out of the league came a year after ours did. However, unlike us, they have not really made much of a mark in the league, finishing 12th and 9th since they dropped down. The club are currently sat in 8th place in the league, but the fans still aren't happy, especially after last weeks 4-1 drubbing at home to league leaders Crawley.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Mansfield wins - 31
Torquay wins - 17
Draws - 18
Looking at that, our record is quite poor against Mansfield. We have only ever recorded 4 away wins, in 33 attempts. Not pretty reading. Our last win in an away fixture against Mansfield was in the 1995/96 season. Our record since then has been much better reading for the home side. There have been recent games where we have lost 5-0, 3-0 and 4-3. Our last game at Field Mill was at the end of March 2009, where a 1-1 draw was earnt thanks to a goal by Blair Sturrock. That was the last time the two clubs met, and alot has changed since then, with us moving back into the league and such.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
DLLDWL
One win in their past 6 games came in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, but it's 6 without a win in the league. Defeats at Luton (2-0) and Rushden (1-0) have been joined with a home defeat to Crawley (4-1) and two draws, against Darlington and Gateshead. It's been a poor bit of form, and with Rhys Day being sent off last weekend, we can really fancy our chances at the weekend.
PROBABLE LINE-UP.
This is the line up that started the 4-1 defeat to Crawley:
Kevin Pilkington
Paul Stonehouse
Stephen Foster
Rhys Day
Steve Cook
Adam Smith
Adam Murray
Tyrone Thompson
Louis Briscoe
Paul Connor
Peter Vincenti
Subs:
Neil Collett
Gary Silk
Rob Duffy
Keigan Parker
Kyle Nix
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
Looking at that team, there are two players who we all know well, and which will ensure a tough midfield battle, I'm sure. Murray and Thompson will want to prove a point (TT more so, I'm sure). Other big names are Keigan Parker, who I remember from his time with Blackpool. Also Paul Connor has been about a lot in the lower leagues, too. Kevin Pilkington made a loan return to Field Mill recently, and played his first game in the 4-1 defeat last weekend.
PREDICTION.
I wasn't so sure when it happened, but with two consecutive wins, and a clean sheet, coupled with Mansfield missing a centre half, and all the pressure on the players, it all points to an away win.
But this is Torquay!
Still..
Mansfield 1-3 Torquay
