Coach says frontmen are in contention after eye-catching displays in reserve game.
First team coach Micky Moore says that players who impressed in Tuesday’s reserve team game with Rotherham United could force their way into the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup second round tie away to Cambridge United.In a remarkable action-packed game against our South Yorkshire opponents, Junior Brown, Ollie Palmer, Rakish Bingham and Matt Rhead all found the target in an incredible 4-4 draw.
Whilst Brown is cup-tied after playing for parent club Oxford United in the first round, at least one change will need to be made to our starting line-up as Kieron Freeman is also ineligible.
“There will be some changes on Saturday, but we got some lads minutes in the reserves on Tuesday, which is good for them,” said Moore. “Whoever comes in [to the squad], they will come in with confidence and belief.”
He continued: “It was a good game – lots of goals, lots of good play, lots of poor play when you concede four goals, but the big thing was that we got a lot of players minutes under their belts, which was more important than anything else.
“Forwards always want to score goals and we had three who all scored goals and it’ll do them a world of good, so they all come into contention for Saturday.”
Moore also insists that our players are firmly focussed on the task ahead of us at the R Costings Abbey Stadium and forecasts a tough, closely-fought encounter.
“With events going off away from the pitch then you can forget that we’ve got a big FA Cup tie on Saturday,” explained Moore.
“Luckily for us, we’ve kept our eye on the football side of things and the players have as well and we’re just concentrating on the things that we are in control of, which is preparing right for Cambridge as it will be a very difficult game.
“Every game is important, but after losing last week we want to get back on a winning track.
“Obviously with the FA Cup, we know what this can bring to Mansfield. Two years ago, when the club played Liverpool, it put the club and the team on the map, so we’re one round away from the big romances.”
He added: “They’ll know a lot about us and we’ll know a lot about them,” continued our first team coach.
“To be fair, they’ve just come up from the Conference [Premier] and when teams do come up, they usually have a little bit of momentum. We found that out last year and they’ve kept it going.
“We anticipate a very difficult tie. They’re a good side and had a good win on Saturday away at AFC Wimbledon, which is never an easy place to go, so they’re in good form, but obviously with the last three games we’ve played, we’re in good form as well.”
A full interview with Micky Moore will be available on Stags Player later today. To subscribe, click here.
