Mansfield Town

Boss wants team that play in final two games to make fans feel proud.

Manager Adam Murray has hinted that he will field teams that will aim to make supporters feel proud in the final two games of this season.

Mid-table Portsmouth visit One Call Stadium for the final game of the campaign in North Nottinghamshire on Saturday, before our team make the trip to Accrington Stanley on the last day.

“I’m going to pick two teams [for the games against Portsmouth and Accrington Stanley] that I want to represent the football club in a way that when people walk out the ground, they are proud of them,” said Murray.

“I’m going to pick two teams that go out there and want to show an enthusiasm to play for Mansfield Town. We’ll be looking at certain things and we’ll be experimenting with certain things.

“When I walk across the pitch at full-time, I want to see a team or individuals that are moving forward. Certain people have had their chance and it’s time for others now to build on and show what they’re about.”

Murray has hinted that some young players, such as Liam Marsden, Corbin Shires and Joe Fitzpatrick, could play a part before the end of the season.

He continued: “It would be nice to give these boys some minutes and more importantly the experience. We’ve got two tough games which they’ll get a lot from. They’ll be able to test themselves, we’ll be able to look at them in different formations and different areas of the pitch which will be good for us.

“That’s the nice things of going into these two games. We can allow them the freedom to go and play.”

Although our boss is keen for our team to end the season strongly and improve their league position, he admits that plans are already underway for the 2015/16 campaign in Sky Bet League Two.

“The preparations and the planning, because there is so much to do for next season, has already begun,” said Murray.

“We’ve still got two games to go and I want to see certain things. There are still six points to play for and a chance to put points on the board and when there is a game of football to be played, I want to win it.”

He added: “But plans and preparations are being started for the whole reason that there is going to be so much to do over the summer. It’s important we get started as quickly as possible because we don’t want to miss the train with certain things.”