Manager Paul Cox has insisted that all focus within his first team camp is on Saturday’s Blue Square Bet Premier encounter with Ebbsfleet United at One Call Stadium.
The Stags go into the game against an Ebbsfleet side that slipped back into the bottom four after they lost on home soil to relegation-rivals Cambridge United in midweek.
“We’ve got a very important league game on Saturday,” said our boss, who was speaking at his weekly press conference.
“First and foremost, the league is our priority. We’ve got a couple of league games in hand over everyone else, and we’re already playing catch up as it is.
“We won’t tolerate anyone getting carried away with things. After Saturday, we’ll concentrate on Lincoln City.”
Goalkeeper Alan Marriott is in contention for the Ebbsfleet game, having continued his recovery from a dislocated shoulder by playing another 90 minutes for our reserve team this week.
Cox continued: “Mazza’s got another 90 minutes under his belt and it has done him the world of good. It was a full-blooded game against Hartlepool, so it’s definitely helped him.”
Paul Cox is speaking to Jason Harrison (103.2) and Stephen Thirkill (Chad)
Paul Cox is speaking to Jason Harrison (103.2) and Stephen Thirkill (Chad)
“I want two keepers vying for a place in the team, so if he’s fit for Saturday, he has to come into the equation.”
Our side will be looking to gain revenge on Liam Daish’s men for a disappointing 3-1 defeat that we suffered at Stonebridge Road earlier this term.
The visitors will be without influential skipper Paul Lorraine for Saturday’s clash, who is serving the last game of his three-match suspension for a straight red card that he received in November’s FA Trophy defeat to Hereford United.
Our boss concluded: “Ebbsfleet have had some decent results recently. Grimsby went down there last week and only got a 1-1 draw, which proves how tight this league is.”
