Derby preview SPECIAL: Key men

Last updated : 28 March 2008 By Paul Smith
Notts

One - It is about time more than one goal was scored in a game for Notts, and that makes the strikers absolutely crucial to success over the Stags.

Crow...Big game player
Notts' measly defence has been in stunning form lately, but Town have goals in them and so Notts will probably need to score at least two to win the game which really could be a thriller.

For that a goalscorer has to be born, as the reliance on the defence performing more miracles and goal-line clearances will become very dangerous. Note that neither Rochdale or Shrewsbury had a certain Michael Boulding in their team.

So step forward "proven finisher" Danny Crow. The on-loan Peterborough frontman is yet to hit the form that had fans so excited by his second coming.

Initial promise in both the hour long spell in his first coming before injury, and then the goal against Chester on his second debut, has died down, and Crow hasn't looked sharp at all.

Missed two glorious chances against the Dale, but surely he will start to fire this time. He has the knack of a goalscorer and his natural confidence won't affect him. A bit of a big game player, they don't come much bigger. Time to step up Danny.

Two - Michael Johnson has been a superb acquisition for Ian McParland. Maybe Notts can again perform defensive miracles, its not as if the Stags are an amazing league Two force afterall, although Boulding on his own is quite a handful.

Therefore another top 'Johnno' showing may be all it needs.

Three - Is it unfair to say that Richard Butcher is due a goal? It probably is because eleven goals from midfield is a fantastic return and he shouldn't be expected to even get that.
Butcher... Needs a goal


But it has now been a while since the former Lincoln man bagged, and he was terribly disappointing the last time these sides met.

He has gone five without scoring since hitting a cracker against Macclesfield Town, but it is the fact he has rarely threatened that is the disappointing thing.

That he has been pushed into an unfamiliar wide right role hasn't helped, but Butcher is usually more productive in the final third than he has been. If he gets his attacking instinct back, he will be a real threat.

Mansfield

One
- Matty Hamshaw seems to relish local derby's and has put in three top showings against Notts in his three Stags appearances against them.

Sure he was sent off in his first, perhaps harshly on video evidence, but before that he was a constant threat, as he was at Meadow Lane last term
Hamshaw... Relishes Notts
and certainly at Field Mill this campaign.

His directness and trickery out wide make him a huge threat, and since Paul Holland took over the emphasis has been very much on wide play for the Stags.

Playing through Hamshaw will fill the former Sheffield Wednesday star with great confidence and Paul Mayo will have a tough task on his hands to keep him quiet.

Two - Some may question why Michael Boulding isn't first on this list, that is because he needs supplying to hit his ammunition, and Hamshaw is important to that.

But Boulding is indeed a key man, and Mansfield's best player.

His 18 league goals have salvaged a terrible Stags campaign and given them a glimmer. A real potent finisher, Boulding is dangerous around the box and doesn't need anybody to tell him when to shoot.

It is huge Notts deal with his threat.
Mullins... Consistent and versatile


Three - At the back Town have been woeful at best, but one man has performed consistently and attracted interested scouts to Field Mill.

That is right back, centre back and left back Johnny Mullins who is perhaps Boulding's only rival for the player of the season accolade.

Mullins is extremely pacy and very dangerous on the overlap, meaning Notts have to watch his attacking threat as he gets into some good positions.

Defensively he is always prepared to put his body on the line.