New boy James Baxendale is delighted to have extended his stay at One Call Stadium after making his loan spell permanent earlier this week.
The attacking midfielder was one of Stags’ two deadline day signings after being rewarded for his impressive loan spell from Walsall with a permanent deal by manager Adam Murray.
Baxendale has flourished in his five Mansfield appearances, and while he’s delighted to have completed his loan switch, he feels Saturday’s ‘kids for a quid’ game against Morecambe (3pm) is the perfect time to get points on the board at One Call Stadium.
“I had a good month here on loan and it was something that was spoken about as soon as I got here about extending it, and I was glad to get it done. The lads have welcomed me well and obviously the management as well.
“I came on the Friday, we won the game on the Saturday so I think you can’t really settle in much better than that. The debut was good, and we’ve won three out of the five since I’ve been here. At this stage of the season, picking up points is important.
“If you can pick up your wins at home and get the odd point away, that’s what people say is the form to ‘get you up there’. If we can get a few more wins at home, we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Doncaster-born Baxendale was a frustrated figure on the fringes of a high-flying Walsall team and he knew that he was going to have to depart the Bescot Stadium to play regular football.
“The situation I was in at Walsall, I was itching for football – to come in on the Friday and know you’re going to play on the Saturday, it’s exciting.
“I couldn’t wait to get started. For the personal side of things, I had to come away [from Walsall] to play some games and I think I found the right club.
“Sitting in the dressing room, it feels so much better when you win so it’s something we want to replicate every week. If we can win more than we lose, we’ll be alright.”
The Stags face Morecambe this weekend, less than a fortnight after a dramatic victory over the Shrimps at the Globe Arena – Baxendale believes the memory being fresh for both sides could have a negative effect on Jim Bentley’s men.
“I think we’ll have the psychological advantage going in because we scored the late goals, it would’ve deflated them so they’re going to come here and know we’re not going to give up for 90 minutes regardless of what the score is.”
You can watch James Baxendale’s interview, in full, on Stags Player.
