Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has stated his hopes of getting a home tie ahead of The Emirates FA Cup first round draw tonight.
Stags will be ball number 25 for the draw, scheduled for 7pm tonight on BBC Two, and after travelling over 400 miles for the recent trips to Portsmouth and Yeovil, Murray wants a home fixture when the names are drawn out of the hat later on.
Speaking in this morning’s news conference, he said: “We want to have a good run for the atmosphere it can create, we want to keep a winning momentum. In terms of who we get tonight, I’m not interested.
“Whoever it is, we’re going into every game knowing that we can earn the right to win and we do that by the work in training. I keep saying this season is consistency versus complacency and as long as consistency wins it doesn’t matter who we come up against, we’ll give a good account of ourselves.
“Even if you come up against a lower ranked team, the tactical test is brilliant because sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get.
“As soon as we think we deserve to be in the top group and get carried away with it, then it bites you on your backside. Nobody owes us anything, we fight and we scrap for everything. We are a complete unit at the minute.”
Reflecting on Saturday's display on the South Coast when the Yellows earned a hard-fought point, Murray was pleased with the strength in character his squad showed to perform well in a tough seven days.
The boss added: "[It was a] hectic week. We weren't really in the office or in the ground last week so it was a bit strange. I was driving in this morning and I feel like I've been on holiday. It's good to be back
home after getting some good points on the board.
"We went into two different challenges. Tuesday we used to release our frustration from Bristol [Rovers] and then we recovered and set up to put something on the board against Portsmouth. I thought the boys were outstanding."
With many of Sunday morning's headlines citing that Portsmouth had dominated the encounter, Murray was eager to dispel the myth and recognise the efforts his players went to more than match their opponents, managed by Paul Cook.
"We controlled the game out of possession which is something people who don't go to the game don't see, and that was summed up in the report I read. We limited them to going side-to-side for the majority of the game and we looked a threat on the counter-attack.
"It's no coincidence when you speak to their manager, who for me is the best in the league, after the game he said 'we were very wary of you'. He classed us as one of the best teams they've played so I'll take the points from people who know what they're talking about.
"When you go away to a team like that (Portsmouth) your chances will be limited, whether you're at the top of the league or the bottom of the league. We weren't as good as we should've been in possession, we had opportunities where we could've hurt them more."
"We've played the top three now and none of them have beaten us.
“We’re up against the big boys, let’s not kid ourselves, let’s not get carried away. We’re fighting tooth and nail and these boys can’t give any more than they’re giving. The next step will be going to these clubs and nicking 1-0’s. It was a pleasure to watch my team.”
Murray’s men picked up two consecutive clean sheets on the back of their last-minute heartbreak against Bristol Rovers, which is something Murray was satisfied to see with this weekend’s One Call Stadium match against Wycombe Wanderers firmly in his sights.
He commented: “Credit not only to the back four and Brian [Jensen] – it’s a credit to the whole team. It’s nice to get a free week again – recovery will be a big part so the lads are having more of a chilled, recovery day today. We go back into double sessions tomorrow preparing for a massive test on Saturday.”
