Mansfield

Much as I'm not a big fan of the Brabinator's pre and post game bore-a-thons, at least our leader doesn't yet talk about himself in the third person.

At our lowly level of football, it usually indicates that the ego of the individual in question is running riot. Steve Evans, the self appointed "Blue Square Special One", is the best example of course, but it seems that David Holdsworth, manager of tonight's opponents Mansfield, is already treading a similar path.

"He has brought into David Holdsworth and into Mansfield Town Football Club," he told the Mansfield Chad, referring to his goalkeeper Alan Marriott's decision to sign an extended contract. One suspects that the potential alternative of being unemployed was a more significant motivating factor in Marriott's decision.

But who am I to argue with Holdsworth who, judging by this video on the Mansfield official website, is quite an intimidating character. In fact, in the unlikely event that a royal rumble is ever organised between Conference managers, I'd probably back him and the Brabinator to be the last men standing. That's assuming Evans doesn't sit on all the other competitors that is.

Shares in David Holdsworth will almost certainly be on the rise if his team can end United's eight game unbeaten streak. I notice they don't concede a lot of goals, and we tend to struggle against sides who, to borrow Jose Mourinho's classic phrase, "park the bus". But it does seem that Holdsworth will be employing his favoured 4-3-3 formation, which could give United's wingers a bit of space to operate in. I guess it will be a tight game either way, so lets hope we come out on top.