Mansfield Town’s all-action midfielder Jamie McGuire has praised the impact of new boss Steve Evans after the Stags' recent spell of consistent performances.
The Stags have slipped to a solitary defeat in the five games which the Glasgow-born manager has taken charge of, and are unbeaten in three home games.
Their next outing is the 450-mile round trip to Exeter City this Saturday, who sit four places below the Stags in Sky Bet League Two, but only three points apart.
And McGuire believes it is crucial to continue their good run of form going in to the Christmas period - and it all starts with preparing the right way ahead of the Exeter trip.
“Consistency is the main thing for us. We have come into a good run of form going into Exeter on Saturday,” McGuire said.
“It is all about us [and how we approach the game]. We have been in good form ourselves. Exeter are a good team with some good players. But we have to go there with confidence, make sure we set the standards what we want to set.
“You have to prepare right. You eat right on the coach, get your water in as you do, get to the hotel, the boys rest up, get the food in them, and then back into your rooms – ready to go for Exeter.
The Birkenhead-born midfielder believes the Stags’ new boss is beginning to install a winning mentality in to the playing squad.
“That’s the character he (Steve Evans) is. He is a winner; he gives 100 per cent from the start.
“Standards have got to be high with him, because that’s what he wants. He demands it, and that’s what you see in the training and you see in the games.
“He demands high standards, good quality, and from training to the games, that’s what he’s been talking about.”
Following the outing against Exeter, the Stags feature in back-to-back home games over the Christmas period against Morecambe and Doncaster Rovers.
The ex-Fleetwood Town man feels that it is a good chance for the Stags to collect maximum points, but must take each game as it comes.
McGuire said: “It (winning maximum points) would be the perfect Christmas present for the whole club. But again, we are starting with Exeter first.
“[Let’s] see if we can get three points going down there. Then you have two home games – Morecambe and Doncaster. So let’s go down there, let’s go and pick three points up, and [it will be the] start of a good Christmas period, hopefully.”
Finally, McGuire has praised the support from the Stags’ faithful over the past few weeks and has emphasised how important they are to the club’s success.
“I have mentioned it a few times in press conferences, they (Mansfield Town supporters) are the '12th man', and when they get behind us, when this place (One Call Stadium) is rocking, it’s massive for us.
“I think there is a good few going down to Exeter on Saturday, so [there will be] a good following again from them. If we can take three points from Saturday, and then take them to two home games for them, let’s get the place rocking again.
“As the gaffer has said, it is a ‘roller-coaster’. But let’s make it a good roller-coaster, get the fans behind us, get the club booming, and if we can get the nine points over the Christmas period, that would be the perfect present for everyone.”
Supporters can view Jamie McGuire's news conference on Stags PlayerHD.
