Mansfield Town

Midfielder pleased to grab his first goal for us on home soil.

Midfielder Chris Clements says advice from boss Paul Cox has helped him to become an established fixture in our starting xi in recent weeks.

The creative playmaker bagged his first goal at One Call Stadium in tonight’s 1-0 victory over Newport County – our second success on home soil in four days.

Speaking afterwards, Clements said: “[The gaffer] has told me exactly what I’ve got to do and I think I’m doing that. I think it’s helping the team to be fair, because I’m getting about, putting tackles in, tracking back and getting forward as well and obviously getting chances and scoring goals.”

“He’s challenged me with the off-the-ball work, which has been a downfall for me getting in the team the past two years, but I’m buying into it and it’s coming off for me, so I’ve got the goal and I’ve got a few good performances now.

The midfielder also stated that his determination was rewarded after battling with the Newport County’s Ismail Yakubu in the build-up to the winning goal: “He was struggling with Rheady’s [Matt Rhead’s] flick on and I just got in there in front of him and I should’ve finished it first time, but it still went over the line – that’s all that counts.”

Clements admitted that his first goal at One Call Stadium has been a long time coming: “I’ve waited a long time for my goal. Fleetwood Town away last year was my only goal for Mansfield, so playing [in] that hole I want to get forward and score more goals and I’m just glad I did that today.”

The 24-year-old believes the Stags knew what to expect from their Welsh counterparts and they dealt with it well.

He added: “We knew what we [were] going to get from Newport. It was always going to be a hard, battling game. That early goal settled us and I think we played some good stuff. They were very direct and I think we dealt with it and I’m just glad we got the three points again.”

“We’ve got a smaller squad this year, but obviously we’re closer, we’re close-knit and there are some good characters in there. We’re all pulling the same way which is good and obviously it’s showing on the pitch with the results we’re getting.”

Chris Clements’ full post-match interview will soon be available on Stags Player. To subscribe, click here.