Stags’ boss Adam Murray says tonight’s match against Hull City was used as a ‘shape session’ for his side preparations for the upcoming Sky Bet League Two season.
Murray’s men slipped to a 1-0 defeat against a strong Tigers’ side at One Call Stadium, courtesy of a second half strike from substitute Jarrod Bowen.
And the manager says his side had to be disciplined in their approach against the Premier League side, whose lineup boasted bags of top flight experience.
“The workout tonight, it was designed for fitness and thinking at the same time,” Murray said.
“I think when you work hard and you physically 'go' you mentally 'go' as well, so we wanted to test those boundaries tonight, we wanted to make sure that when the boys got tired we kept our discipline, we kept our organisation – we used it as a shape session.
“It was a great workout for us in terms of the organisation side of things and it proves the point that [if] you switch off for that split second against good players you get punished.”
Murray introduced youngsters Cameron Healey and Teddy Bloor in the second half and the 34-year-old says it’s important to get young players involved in games like tonight.
“For football fans and for a football club and for someone like myself, this club is obviously a big part of my life, we want 'our own' in.
“So we feel the more we can get experiences like this into the boys, the better it will hold them in the future.”
An outstanding performer against the Tigers was veteran goalkeeper Brian Jensen who made three terrific saves during the encounter and Murray praised the qualities of both the Dane and fellow stopper Scott Shearer.
“On the other end of the scale, you’ve got people like Brian Jensen in the team tonight who was outstanding.
“When you do need to call upon people, he made some great saves and it just goes to show that somebody at the stage of his career, he’s one hell of a weapon and we’re blessed to have two goalkeepers like that."
Supporters can view Adam Murray’s post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.
