After scoring the only goal of the game in this afternoon’s 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, defender Krystian Pearce says the players are ‘buzzing’ to be in the play-off race.
The former Torquay United defender saw his header rebound off the post but he was the quickest to react as he nodded the ball into the back of the net.
And with spirits high in the Stags’ dressing room, Pearce is delighted with today’s victory in Buckinghamshire.
“I think everyone in the squad knew that today was make or break really so it was a battling 1-0 victory that we’re all buzzing about.
“Rhys [Bennett] said that he was going to get there [for the goal] but I said no, no chance! It was always going to be me but it was a great victory and we’re just buzzing to still be in the mix.”
The Birmingham-born defender played as one of three centre-halves alongside Rhys Bennett and George Taft and Pearce believes the players carried out their jobs well the different formation.
“We worked on it a bit and the gaffer (Steve Evans) changed it and said this gives us the best chance of winning, so it worked today.
“The three of us looked like we were solid today and hopefully we can continue playing solid for the rest of the season.
“It was vital that it was a team performance today and I think everyone pulled their socks up and dug in. Every single one of us was working hard today and did our jobs.
“[Adebayo Akinfenwa] is a big threat but I think we dealt with him, more or less, the whole game so we were happy with our performance.”
With just four games remaining in Sky Bet League Two, Pearce believes Stags’ fate is in their own hands with three of the top six still to play.
“Obviously I know we’re two points off now, we’re tenth but it’s very close now. It’s in our hands because if we win our remaining games, we’ll be in there.
“I think with the games that we’ve got left, every one's must-win now – there’s no easy games left so we know every team we play’s going to be tough.
“In this league, it can change every week so as long as we can get back-to-back wins now and build on today, we’ll be in the mix.”
To view Krystian Pearce’s post-match interview, login to Stags PlayerHD.
