Stags’ boss Adam Murray wants his players to simplify their performances as they aim to return to winning ways away at Carlisle United on Saturday.
The Stags sit in 13th place in Sky Bet League 2 and boss Murray says his players need to eradicate some poor decision making which has prevented the team obtaining more points than they have gained in recent matches.
“At the minute, we’re taking risks and gambles that we don’t need to and that’s what’s costing us – you look at some of our decisions at the minute, at vital times in vital areas – it’s killing us," said Murray.
“It’s looking at eradicating that and keeping it a little bit more simplified in terms of your individual performance and your individual jobs and roles – it’s a massive cliché that I hate, but it is [about] going back to basics of your job and just focussing on that and not doing anything ‘outside the box’.”
With defender Krystian Pearce suspended for the next three games after being dismissed in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool and midfielder Chris Clements likely to miss the remainder of the season through injury, Murray says now could be the time to introduce some of the youth team players into the senior setup.
“We’ve got a couple of bodies where we can maybe change the shape and try and have a look at a few things and if we have to use the kids and bring in a couple from the youth team, who are flying, so be it.
“There’s a number in that team who the fans haven’t seen yet, or aren't probably aware of, that can come in and get some experience and we’ve probably put ourselves in that position now where it’s six games of pride more than anything.
“We want to finish on a positive for the fans – we want to give them something to go into the summer with more hope for next season and continue on the kind of hope that we’ve had for the majority of this season.”
The manager will be able to welcome back Adi Yussuf into contention for Saturday’s match after the Tanzanian striker completed his five-match suspension, and Murray says the Stags have missed his ‘impact’ during his spell on the sidelines.
“We know every time we put Adi on, he gets a chance or he creates a chance for somebody else. If Adi was here over the last five games, would he have maybe nicked us a game or nicked us a goal here and there? I think he probably would.
"He’s our second joint top goalscorer I think and he hasn’t started a game yet, so this might be a period now that we can introduce him and allow him to get that match fitness that we’ve been desperate to get him.”
Following the news that first team coach Micky Moore left the club prior to Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Hartlepool United, the manager revealed that he will use the remaining weeks of the season to ‘have a look at a couple of bits and bobs’ with regard to his coaching staff.
"The timing [of Micky's departure] was to give everybody that breathing space to get their head round things and then have a look at different options.
“I had a chat with somebody yesterday who is a little bit of an older head than me who has been there and done it at Championship level, been to World Cups and stuff, so it’s a major experience that could be a benefit to the group. On the flip side of it, I’ve got another young and hungry couple [of coaches] who are eager to learn and come in with new ideas.”
Supporters can view Adam Murray’s news conference, in full, later, on Stags Player HD.
