Manager Paul Cox says ‘patience is key’ as his side endure a run of form which resembles last year’s record at this stage of the season.
This time last year, Stags were six games without a win before results were turned around to see us finish in a respectable position of 11th last season.
One year later, Paul Cox’s side have been unable to collect maximum points from their last seven outings, but Cox reflected on similar runs in previous seasons at this morning’s press conference, which they have eventually overcome to finish the season commandingly.
“Patience is the key whilst we’re going through a transitional period. We will have a period where things won’t go well," said the manager.
“Like I’ve said every year, we come through this period each season. It’s how you deal with these situations that ultimately tests where you will finish at the end of the season.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s match at Shrewsbury Town, third in Sky Bet League Two, Cox said: “They flew the flag for League Two in the cup earlier in the season and I thought they were excellent in that game.
"We’ve had good reports about them and they have good players throughout their squad. They’re a side which I predict will be one of the teams in the top three come the end of the season.”
In team news, Paul Cox said that defender Ryan Tafazolli has a chance of a starting place this Saturday. Tafazolli has been sidelined for the past six matches with a hamstring injury but returned to training earlier this week.
Midfielder Simon Heslop resumed training today whilst Matt Rhead will be battling for a starting shirt.
“It’s nice to have these characters back now. When you look at the side that did so well at the end of last season, there is a massive spine of the side that has been missing in the last seven or eight weeks and we’ve felt the brunt of it.
“It’ll probably take a week or two for a few players to get back to full fitness but I’ve always said that when we start to get bodies back we will start to get consistent results a lot quicker,” he added.
