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Page last updated at 07:34 GMT, Friday, 17 September 2010 08:34 UK

Holdsworth twins in English football history bid

Blue Square Bet Premier
Venue: Newport Stadium Date: Saturday, 18 September Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Nottingham and online, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and score updates on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru


Holdsworth enjoys sibling rivalry

Dean Holdsworth hopes to win the family bragging rights when he and twin David make English league history.

Dean's Newport County host David's Mansfield at Spytty Park on Saturday as twin brothers go head-to-head in a managerial contest for the first time.

Brothers in opposite dugouts is not new in English football but twin rivalry is as the Holdsworths prepare for battle.

"There's that brother rivalry and we'll enjoy it," joked Dean. "And it's bragging rights, I suppose."

Bobby and Jack Charlton competed against each other when Preston North End played Middlesbrough in the early 1970s while Brian and Alan Little crossed swords as recently as 2002.

But twins have never before enjoyed a managerial dual so a little bit of football history will be made at Spytty Park as Dean's County bid to maintain their 18-month unbeaten home record.

Newport are unbeaten in seven Blue Square Bet Premier fixtures as the Welsh club settle in their new division after a record-breaking promotion from the Blue Square South last season.

David's Mansfield, meanwhile, are third in the division as he tries to regain the club's Football League that The Stags lost in 2008.

Holdsworth not focused on sibling rivalry

Both 41-year-olds were appointed at their respective clubs in 2008 and are ready for their first tactical confrontation.

"I'm looking forward to it," said former Premier League striker Dean.

"We played against each other a lot of times and trained against each other when we were younger.

"And we have played against each other a number of times in the league and we've had some good battles over the years.

"We talk all the time about football, players, methods and some of the madness what goes on and we enjoy it.

"As a manager you are very much led by performances and results and when the results are down you can normally tell from each other who needs picking up.

"And one of us is going come out with a victory at the weekend and hopefully it'll be me.

"But I think it is fantastic what he has achieved and I'm very proud of what I've achieved at this football club.

"Other people outside will judge it as David versus me but for me it is about winning the football match."

County lie ninth in their return to non-league football's top-flight and Newport are unbeaten at home in the league since March 2009 while Mansfield are targeting promotion this season.

"He knows what we've built here and we haven't been beaten at home," Dean told BBC Sport.

"Mansfield are sitting further up in the division and they're a strong side. They are a former league club and there's a lot of expectancy.

"They should be there or thereabouts at the end of the season given their squad and we're looking forward to the challenge of playing against Mansfield and obviously I'm looking forward to seeing David come down."



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see also
Brotherly love on hold for David
16 Sep 10 |  Mansfield
Newport County 1-0 Mansfield
18 Sep 10 |  Non League
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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