Mansfield Town

It was the first time in 12 years in a Football League season that the Stags have got more than 60 points, following the terrific 3-2 midweek win at Exeter City.

And If the Stags beat Leyton Orient next Saturday (30 April), they will equal the record number of away wins by a Mansfield team in the Football League which stands at 11, and was set in the 1974-75 promotion-winning campaign.

And Murray has pinpointed exactly why he thinks his side have performed so well on their travels.

“Our discipline and our organisation in terms of our shape and our game plan has been tremendous. Away from home you can set up a little bit more shape-orientated and a little bit more set to counter.

“At home, fans get a little restless when you sit behind the ball, they want you to go after teams. You’ve got to get a balance right – at times we have sat behind the ball and won games so as long as fans understand when we are doing that, we’re not doing it because we’re getting overawed by the other team.

“I’m a big believer that you cannot just control the game with the football, you can control it without as well. We’ve got a lot of pace and energy in the side so we use that away from home probably a little bit more than we do at home.”

Murray believes that breaking through the aforementioned points’ barrier is an even bigger achievement after comparing current resources to those two seasons ago, when we first returned to League football.

“We’re breaking a lot of records this season. The 60-point one was a big one for me. I don’t think some of the opinions that I’ve listened to have been educated on this 60-point mark that we’ve made. 

“Why I’m giving by boys a pat on the back and why I’m giving my staff a pat on the back is because two years ago when we got to 60 points, the resources that went into putting that team together; it should’ve been top seven.

“Can we get better? Of course we can. Do we want to get better? Of course we can. I’ve never really harped on about budgets and money. Does it help? Of course it does. 

“It’s not the ‘be all and end all’ – what matters is a team spirit, a club that’s on the same page, hard work on the training ground and a clear and concise game plan going into every game.”

The Stags can also break the away points’ tally in a season which stands at 34 and was originally set in the 1985-86 campaign, which the club are just one point away from and could surpass against Orient next week.

But turning attentions to tomorrow afternoon, Murray says in-form Barnet will be difficult opponents at One Call Stadium (3pm kick-off).

“We know we’re in for a tough challenge tomorrow. Barnet are on a good run themselves. I’m a big fan of Martin Allen, I think he’s a very good manager.

“I think he’s a great character as well. I actually listen to his press [conferences] when we’re not even playing them because he’s a little bit out-the-box which I like.

"They can play long when needs be, but they can play some good football as well.”

View Adam Murray's news conference, in full, on Stags Player.