Stags’ boss Adam Murray says his side fought well to earn a point after going behind to an early goal against Leyton Orient this afternoon.
Jay Simpson scored his 16th goal of the season to give the Londoners the lead before Reggie Lambe’s volleyed equaliser earned Stags a draw on a blustery afternoon at One Call Stadium.
In a game in which Murray felt his side gave the Orient frontline too much respect in the first 30 minutes, he was pleased with the way his players fought to get back into the game after he changed the shape to combat the visitors’ threat.
“We came out for the second half and changed our shape to 4-3-3 – it worked a lot better for us. It enabled us to ‘get out’, we created chances with it and I think, in the end, we were unlucky not to take all three points.
“We changed the shape after half an hour because they were causing us problems and we looked a lot better. At times today we missed Clemmo (Chris Clements). We don’t have the same flow when Clem’s not in the team, especially at home.”
The gaffer believes his side were ‘a lot better’ in the second half – and also coped well with the deterioration of the pitch after the constant rain throughout the match.
“In the second half, Mitch (Rose) and Chappy (Adam Chapman) got hold of the game and Jammer (Jamie McGuire) did the screening job really well. I thought the two wide boys were superb and when Blairy (Matty Blair) came on, he created chances,” said Murray.
“We created chances, Pearcey (Krystian Pearce) hit the post – he knows he should score there.
"[But] as I say, [it was a match] where two teams were 'going for the game' and at times, because of the conditions, it was very open.”
"[But] as I say, [it was a match] where two teams were 'going for the game' and at times, because of the conditions, it was very open.”
Murray also had praise for referee Darren England after he allowed the game to go ahead after a pre-match pitch inspection.
“Fair play to the ref, because he made the call before the game. It was heavy but it was playable. As the game went on, in the second half it [the ball] wasn’t rolling much. I think the wind was up to 40 miles-per-hour today and that caused the problems because through balls were going too long and when you’re against it, the balls come back at you.”
Although the nature of the game made it hard for either side to take a real foothold in the game, Murray believes the point will be a big one upon reflection later in the season.
“That will be a massive point for us. When we look back at it in two or three months’ time, that’s a huge point because if you take points off people around you and you don’t get beat by people around you, it keeps you in the top seven.
“I’ve got a certain amount of wins that I believe we need to achieve, to get to where we need to be and we’ve got another 25 games to continue on that path.”
You can watch manager Adam Murray's post-match interview on Stags Player.
