Paul Cox said he and his players are focussing solely on tomorrow night’s mouth-watering clash at home to Grimsby Town and wouldn’t get drawn into discussing points targets ahead of a huge three matches for the club, at this morning’s press meeting.
Cox’s men face promotion rivals Grimsby, Forest Green and Wrexham in the space of a week in what some have described as a ‘make or break’ seven days for the Stags.
But Cox today insisted tomorrow’s match would not define our season.
But Cox today insisted tomorrow’s match would not define our season.
“All of our games from now until the end of the season are cup finals and you can’t get bigger than a cup final,” he said.
Paul Cox is speaking to our Head of Media & Communications Mark Stevenson.
Paul Cox is speaking to our Head of Media & Communications Mark Stevenson.
“Whatever the result, and I’m sure Grimsby think the same, it wont define whether we get promoted or not. We’re on a good run but at some point we’ll lose or drop points, but so are the other teams at the top. It will be fine lines between now and the end of the season."
The game, however, has been cast into doubt following an inch of snow falling on the pitch.
The game, however, has been cast into doubt following an inch of snow falling on the pitch.
“We’ve had a fair amount of snow, freezing temperatures, with more [snow] forecast this afternoon," Cox said.
"We’ll do all we can to try and get the snow off the pitch and try and make sure this game will be played. We’ll train and work like it’s going to be on."
"We’ll do all we can to try and get the snow off the pitch and try and make sure this game will be played. We’ll train and work like it’s going to be on."
During today's press meeting, Cox made a point of praising the members of his squad who are on the edge of the starting 11 by stating that their attitude had pleased him more than some results this season.
“When we’ve gone away from home, some of the players who haven’t been involved have wanted to come down and support the lads. The team spirit and camaraderie in the camp is excellent. That’s tough, to sit on the outside of a team, especially one which is winning at the minute.
“It’s hard to keep yourself motivated [if you’re not playing] and that’s a massive point that I want to get across: people like Ben Hutchinson, Ex (Geohaghon), Ritchie Sutton - these lads have trained exceptionally well and have shown me the hunger needed to get in the side. When these boys come in the dressing room, we’re all as one and that pleases me more than some of the results we’ve had.”
In team news, Louis Briscoe should be back in contention for a place in the squad after suffering with a tight glute. But he faces a battle to get in the line up after an excellent performance by the returning Lindon Meikle.
