When Peter Shirtliff replaced the comical Carlton Palmer as the Stags manager during last season, Town fans breathed a huge sigh of relief. Palmer's spell was disastrous. His attempts to be controversial rather than concentrate on the on-pitch affairs, his tactics were appalling, angered supporters.
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The one bright spark has been the continual existence of the club, with that often being put into doubt due to lack of finances. Captain Richie Barker's form is another thing that is continual. The striker, one of Palmer's success stores when he signed him from Rotherham, is behind only Jamie Forrester and Izale McLeod in the League 2 scoring charts.
On the pitch this term, Mansfield have been one of the most inconsistent of all League 2 outfits. After only one defeat in August, September saw a sequence of Lost, Won, Lost, Lost, Drew, Won, Lost. The season has remained like that up until the present day.
They can play decent football at times, though there defence leaks more holes than a watering can. It is also fair to say that without Barker, who they were prepared to sell earlier in the season quite remarkably, they would perhaps be embroiled in a relegation scrap, not that they aren't already.
Manager: Peter Shirtliff
League position (as of 12th December 2006): 17th
Top goalscorer: Richie Barker with 11
Goals for: 26
Goals against: 32
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Player of the season so far: It is impossible to see past the irrepressible Barker. Matty Hamshaw started well, providing a good threat on the wing, though he has since faded.
V Notts. The first local derby this season ended all square in a 2-2 thriller at Field Mill. The hosts raced into a two goal lead through Danny Reet twice. However, after Hamshaw was dismissed, Notts produced a deserved second half comeback, with Mike Edwards and Lawrie Dudfield on the score sheet in dramatic fashion. The teams next meet at Meadow Lane on Saturday 10th March
Drapes' Prediction: They will improve slightly due to Barker's prowess: 14th