Frontman Danny Rose was happy to open his account for the season in today's 2-2 draw against Crewe Alexandra, but admits the performance gives Stags plenty to work on in the coming weeks.
The former Bury striker scored Stags' first goal of the afternoon as he headed home left-back Mal Benning's cross from the left after Crewe forward Chris Porter had put the Alex ahead.
Porter then struck again as Crewe re-took the lead, but centre-half David Mirfin scored from close range following a Joel Byrom free-kick to ensure Stags left Cheshire with a share of the spoils.
And speaking post-match, striker Rose said: "It's always nice to get an opening goal at the start of the season but we'd have liked three points but I think we'll take a point. It's away from home so it's a good start.
"I think there's stuff to be worked on. The two goals are poor goals to concede but it's the first game of the season, we'll work on it in training and hopefully we'll be alright.
"I anticipated he (Mal Benning) was going to [cross it] first time and luckily he did. I got my head on it and headed it down and luckily it's gone in."
"We'd have liked three points but I think we'll take a point. It's away from home so it's a good start."
Stags appeared for the second half at Gresty Road much sharper in the final third than they did in the first and Rose admits that the visitors had the chances to seal an opening day victory.
"I think we created more in the second half, rather than the first half. [In the] first half we weren't really good in the final third but the second half we could have scored two or three more.
"It's a point at the end of the day and we've got to respect that."
Speaking more generally, Rose is impressed with the quality of the signings made by manager Steve Evans during the close season.
"It's a very good team. There's been a lot of good signings. There's been signings from the league above and you can tell, they've got different class.
"I don't think anyone was expecting to be on the team-sheet. There was four or five players who weren't even in the squad and they're brilliant quality.
"Tafty (George Taft) and the other lads have all been brilliant all pre-season. We've had a good pre-season but no one expected to be in the starting eleven but thankfully I was in it and I just put my head down and thankfully scored at the end of the day."
The Barnsley-born forward has also told www.mansfieldtown.net what he hopes to achieve this season.
Rose said: "We just want to be up there at the end of the season. It would be nice to be in double figures but we want to be up there at the end of the season.
"We've got quality throughout the squad and we want to be up there for promotion and see what happens."
Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to watch Danny Rose's full interview later this evening.
