Dearden Reaction

Last updated : 02 September 2007 By Editor
"We set off very brightly and scored a good goal and soon we were 4-0 up." The Stags boss told the Nottingham Evening Post after the match.

"After that I was disappointed we didn't keep a clean sheet. Having said that, their second goal came when we were down to 10 men and we didn't reorganise as quickly as we should have done.

"All in all I thought it was a battling second half after playing some excellent football for this level in the first half.

"Losing Martin McIntosh was a blow. He needed four stitches in his eye and his cheek is up like a balloon.

"We had to move John Mullins in the centre of defence and Lee Bell to right back. Then Lee was sent off and we had to bring Stephen Dawson to right back for the last 20 minutes.

"So I thought we showed a bit of character and were not going to get beaten. Stockport did have chances but so did we.

"We rode our luck at times in the second half but we earned that luck with our first-half performance.

"I wasn't sure if it was a sending-off but someone who was here and who I respect in the game told me he didn't think it was a red and we should appeal. I will have a look on Monday and decide."