Mansfield Town

Manager Adam Murray was able to take plenty of positives after our team clinched a valuable three points to climb up the Sky Bet League Two table with a valuable 1-0 victory over promotion-chasing Luton Town at One Call Stadium.

Striker Rakish Bingham, on as a substitute for Reggie Lambe with just over a quarter-of-an-hour played, grabbed the only goal of the night when he beat Mark Tyler in a one-on-one following a superb crossfield ball by teenager Jack Thomas.

“It was a tough game,” said Murray. “We prepared right, knew what we were up against and we had to get the lads re-energised and re-focussed again from Saturday[‘s 1-1 draw with Northampton Town].

“All credit goes to the boys. They are the ones out there running through brick walls at the minute and I can’t praise them enough.”

He continued: “Exhausted is a good word. We’ve got to give credit to the fans too because when we get to 70 minutes in a game like tonight, that’s when we need them and they were tremendous.”

Youngster Jack Thomas put in another accomplished display in the middle of the park and won the sponsors’ Man of the Match award for his efforts.

It was something that pleased Murray, who believes the 18-year-old has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

Our boss continued: “This is what he’s all about. It’s been a case of picking the right time and scenario to put him in and unleash him.

“I’ve worked with Jack closely now for the past three years and a lot of credit goes to Richard Cooper (first team coach) too, because we spent a lot of extra hours on the training ground with him and Liam Marsden, and I’m over the moon that we’re seeing the results of that now.

Murray added: “What will happen is he’ll go through this spell now with adrenalin and performances will take a dip, then it’s about pulling him out and putting him back in again when he’s re-focussed.

“I was there as a kid. I’ve been through it, I’ve done it, so I know exactly how he’s feeling. The big thing will be keeping his feet on the ground. He’s had two good games and nothing more.”

Murray was also pleased with the display of Bingham, who he says has returned to One Call Stadium with bags of confidence following a loan spell with Sky Bet League Two rivals Hartlepool United.

Our boss said: “With Rakish, it’s a situation where he’s gone out, played 90 minutes week in, week out, in this league. He’s got fit and since he’s come back he’s been like a bottle of pop.

“We’ve been desperate to get him in just because we know that we can’t let that pop go flat. The opportunity came on today earlier than expected and he does what he does by scoring the winner.”

Our team will be hoping to achieve another good result on Saturday, when they make the journey south to the Kassam Stadium to take on Oxford United.

Adam Murray’s full post-match interview will be available on Stags Player later tonight. To subscribe, click here.