Boss Relishing A Derby Improvement

Mansfield Town manager Billy Dearden has called for an improved performance from his team, as they travel to Meadow Lane on Saturday.

Mansfield Town have however won their last three on the bounce, leapfrogging their rivals ahead of Saturday’s big match. The Stags boss has also admitted that he is relishing the prospect of returning to his former club Notts County, who he left Mansfield for in 2002.

Dearden spent two years at County before leaving in 2004, and as the two teams prepare to meet, they are separated by just one point, in a congested mid-table. The good news for Stags fans however is that the two sides appear to be going in different directions.

‘I am looking forward to going back on Saturday. I enjoyed my time there, despite the problems we had being in administration for 18 months,’ Dearden said.

‘To fight the problems we had there and stay in the league we were in, the players did absolutely brilliant. It was tough but I always enjoy being involved in football.

‘I don’t know what manager from any level could have done a better job under those circumstances.

‘But I am looking forward to going back and giving them a good game of football.

‘It is a derby and there will be a big crowd and we will get a tremendous following, especially after winning our last three.’

Dearden did however state his disappointment with the level of Mansfield’s performance during their 2-1 victory over Chester City on Tuesday night.

He said: ‘It was a gritty performance, but a poor one. That’s the worst we’ve been. The pitch was a bit tacky but that’s no excuse.

‘A few of the lads looked a bit heavy-legged and one or two were plodding a bit. I think this game came a bit quick for them after Saturday’s win at Lincoln. We gave them a goal start, but we carried on and I can’t praise them enough for coming from behind to win as Chester don’t concede many goals.

‘But you look at how we played on Saturday and then at that performance and there is no comparison. Yet we got the same result and the same three points.

‘The lads are disappointed with their performance and that’s a good sign for me. I am pleased they are not happy even though they won.’

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