Back with a short preview for the Mansfield game tomorrow and after that fantastic win at Darlington we must be hopeful of getting another three points against a side that promised much at the start of the season but now seem to be struggling to hold onto reality with Carlton the Clown at the helm.
Carlton Palmer was finally confirmed as the new Town manager a week ago after Keith Curle was finally dismissed through reasons known only to the Mansfield board. During his probationary period Palmer managed to alienate most of the fans with his strange decisions regarding players.
If he didn't like the cut of his jib he would soon make them feel un-welcome and that, it appears, is just what happened with former Harrier Adam Murray. The crowd pleaser had a fall out with Palmer just prior to the transfer deadline on Thursday and by lunchtime he was on his way to Conference side Carlisle Utd.
Now, with Palmers meddling, Mansfield have slumped from the edge of the play-offs to a mediocre mid table slot.
Following Friday nights goal-less clash with Chester City Mansfield arrive at Aggborough with an extra days rest than we have had. They'll be without key players Alex John-Baptiste (concussion), and Dave Artell who has had a deep vein thrombosis following an ankle injury. The former Shrewsbury defender is thankfully on the mend now and is back in training.
Doubtful for Town will be Adam Rundle following a thigh injury picked up against Chester.
The game between us should also be a chance to see how former Harriers favourite, Simon Brown, is coming on for his new club. Looking at some comments on Stagsnet though it seems that he's still as greedy with the ball as he was when he was with us. Some fans seem to love him but an equal amount think he's overrated and not good enough.
One player that will be missing for us following the game at Darlo will be Lee Jenkins. He stupidly got himself sent off after being given two yellow cards. The first for a bad tackle and the second for kicking the ball away at a free kick.
To be honest I thought that he'd miss the Wycombe and Bury games and not the one against Mansfield just two days later because of the Easter break and there'll be no one working at the FA. The Harriers official website say that he will miss it so it must be right.
Ian Foster will still be out and Simon Weaver picked up a groin injury yesterday and will be facing a late fitness test before the game. Reuben Hazell stands by just in case he is needed.
Mark Jackson also got a leg injury but it's only bruising and he'll probably pass himself fit to play.
Our two former Mansfield players, Beardsley and Christie, will be raring to get at their old club and it looks likely that Beardsley will start along side Mark Rawle and Issey will get his chance later on. Whoever does start it'll be a great chance to increase this good run but this un-beaten run also has it's drawback and that is the dreaded Manager of the Month award. At the moment we sit in 7th place in the overall current form table [here] and 3rd in the current combined form table [here]
I think I'd prefer to just draw tomorrow and let someone else be MotM rather than invoke the curse of failing to win another game. Then again we could always prove this theory wrong.
Teams
Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Burton, Mullins, Hazell, Jones, Sall, Weaver, Jackson, Bennett, Hatswell, McHale, Beardsley, McGrath, Keates, Cozic, Gleeson, Sturrock, Birch, Christie, Rawle, Russell.
Mansfield from:
Pilkington, McNiven, Eaton, Curtis, Day, Rundle, Neil, Larkin, Coke, Brown, White, Barrowman, Buxton, Wood, Lambu, McIntosh, Dimech, Lloyd, Herron, McLachlan, Lonsdale, Parkes, Barker, Langford, Jelleyman.
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