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Adrenaline rush

Simon Smedley
9/ 4/2008

JIM Gannon is hoping that a win tonight [Wed] against struggling Mansfield Town will give his automatic promotion-chasing side another big lift ahead of Saturday’s tasty trip to table-topping Peterborough.

However, despite County going great guns at present having won seven and drawn one of their last eight games, boss Gannon is wary of the potential threat from the desperate Stags tonight.

Gannon said: "Paul Holland has done a brilliant job since taking over at Mansfield. In my view they’re not typical of the teams at the bottom, in the sense that they’re not a poor side.

"They’re an energetic and lively footballing side, and they attack with decent skill and inventiveness.

"Mansfield are one team down at the bottom that I feel are capable of getting out of trouble. It’s ‘game on’ for them to get out of the bottom two, but for us it’s another huge home game. It’s one of our games in hand on Darlington, and it gives us an opportunity to creep up on Hereford.

"The lads have been brilliant at taking one game at a time of late, and getting one win after another, but it is important that we get a win on Wednesday.

"If we do, then the excitement and importance of the Peterborough game will then look after itself.

"The adrenaline will certainly be flowing for that game, but it’s up to us to acquit ourselves properly on Wednesday, do things professionally, and hopefully we’ll get another three points."

Thanks to last weekend’s gutsy 1-0 win against Darlington - courtesy of Liam Dickinson’s 17th goal of the season - County are closing in ominously on the third automatic promotion place in League Two.

A win tonight would leave County level on points with third-placed Hereford.

Loan defender Shaleum Logan could come back into the reckoning tonight now that he has recovered from a groin strain.

Ryan Lowe [shoulder] and Leon McSweeney [hernia] are still two weeks away from full fitness though.

COUNTY goalkeeper John Ruddy has won the March Powerade Player-of-the-Month award for Coca-Cola League Two.

Ruddy, who is loan at Edgeley Park from Everton, was in outstanding form during March, helping earn his side 16 points from a possible 18. The 21-year-old stopper had a rock solid month, securing five clean sheets in six games.

Hatters boss Jim Gannon said: "It’s fantastic news for John. It’s a great reward for a great month’s work.

"When called upon he has really pulled out some top class saves."

Chris Kamara, chairman of the Powerade Player-of-the-Month awards panel, added: "John has a marvellous record since rejoining County, only conceding one penalty in six games."