Mansfield Town

Manager Adam Murray insists that the point gained and positive aspects of today’s 0-0 draw with top of the table Wycombe Wanderers can be used by our team as a building block for the rest of the campaign.

Despite a gulf of 19 places between the two sides in the league table, the Stags were by far the better team and would have bagged maximum points had it not been for some fabulous saves by Chairboys’ custodian Matt Ingram.

“The fact we’ve gone toe-to-toe with the team who are top of the league and put them on the back foot for a lot of the game speaks volumes,” said Murray. 

“People will have the same view as me in that we should have won the game, but it was a massive point with loads of positives to take and we keep building.”

He continued: “The biggest word at the minute for the boys is ‘believe’ because I can’t ask any more of the boys. I’ve asked for passion, commitment and desire and a concentration and a high level of technical ability and they’re giving me that so I can’t get angry or mad at them, because they can’t give me any more.

“If they keep doing that and we don’t come up against world-class goalkeepers every week, then we’ll start getting some goals.

“At the minute, we’re taking games to teams and we’re creating a hell of a lot of chances. The important thing is that we stay on our path, we believe in what we’re doing and the goals will come.”

Undoubtedly for Murray, the most pleasing aspect of this afternoon’s game was the clean-sheet kept by loanee ‘keeper – our first shut-out in over a month and one which comes just seven days after defensive errors contributed greatly to our 3-2 defeat to Exeter City.

“That’s the most important thing,” added Murray. “We said before the game and during the week that we needed to start defending like it meant something.

“We know that we’re going to create chances with the way we set-up, work and go about things, but it’s important for us now that we do the nasty side and do what I call ‘defending your granny’s house’ because you’d never let anyone in there.

“If we get back to doing the basics and the nasty stuff, then the results will come.”

Murray also had praise for defender Ryan Tafazolli, who made his first appearance since our 1-1 draw with Hartlepool United on Boxing Day, in today’s game.

Our boss added: “The way he is towards the game when he’s not at 110% his focus drifts, but he kept hold of that really well today. 

“A big part of his learning curve is his game-management and organisation skills. He knows that they have to be lifted and I thought him and Michael Raynes were superb.”