News

20/11/2008 - McEwan warning for Stags

Billy McEwan has fired a warning shot at his Mansfield players ahead of Saturday’s trip to Forest Green, insisting: “It won’t be easy.”

Rovers have failed to win any of their last 12 league games after briefly topping the table in August following four consecutive wins. Many of the travelling Stags fans will see it as an ideal opportunity for their side to record a much-needed away success. But McEwan’s experience of the Gloucestershire club and their manager tells him three points will be no foregone conclusion. “We have to respect them. I know their players and manager from playing against them with my previous club York and it will not be an easy game,” he said. “They were top of the table early in the season and in many eyes were hoping to mark the play-offs this season after missing out last season. “Jim Harvey has done a great job there – just like he did at Morecambe. “When Sammy McIlroy took over there (taking them into the Football League) the job was already done. “He has had a similar influence at Forest Green and the fact they aren’t doing so well this year is probably down to injuries to key players. “Small clubs on budgets have not got the money like those in the Football League to replace them and it can hamper progress.” McEwan knows the importance of the fixture to Mansfield, which could be the difference between mid-table or being sucked back into the relegation battle. He said: “This is a big game for both teams. Both are at the bottom end of the table and it is not nice. “They will be looking at it as a six-pointer and it will be a battle and one where we can’t afford to drop points.”