Stags' boss Steve Evans commended his players on a professional display after they comfortably swept aside National League outfit Guiseley 3-0 in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup at One Call Stadium this afternoon.
Frontman Jimmy Spencer was the star of the show as he struck a clinical hat-trick – his first goals for the club – to ensure the Stags progressed to round three of the Emirates FA Cup.
And the manager believes his side were 'fantastic' in spells of today's game and were deserved victors against the Lions.
"They had a game plan to be very physical, I think that was evident from 30 seconds and we had a game plan to get the ball on the floor and pass it when we could," the Stags' chief said.
"I know people [will] look tomorrow or tonight and see ten men and nine men but 11 v 11, if it had been a boxing match the gloves would have been off and we would have all been home for the night.
"But you don't get anything for knocking on the door so we reminded them (the players) at half-time just to go and be really professional and I thought we were fantastic in spells.
"You have to be very reflective of who you're playing against. They're not in the bottom three of the National League for no reason but you have to respect a team that can go to Accrington and win over 220 minutes in a shoot-out."
"But you don't get anything for knocking on the door so we reminded them (the players) at half-time just to go and be really professional and I thought we were fantastic in spells."
Summer signing Jimmy Spencer opened his account for the Stags with today's match-winning hat-trick and the manager says his inclusion in the starting XI against the Lions is testament to the striker's hard work.
"He's a young man [and] you can see what it means to all the squad, everyone was hugging him when he [came] off. He works so hard and I said when we signed him 'he'll play a part' and he will play a part.
"When he's been in the side we've thought he's done very well. I think in mid-week, I know it's only against a Clipstone side – again another team who worked hard – I was away watching a potential player but the reports I got is that Jimmy never scored but he was sensational, that's why he started today. It doesn't matter who we play, you have to work and deserve to be in the team."
Stags are now in the hat for the third round of the competition and the gaffer hopes tomorrow's draw is 'kind' to his side, but joked he'd like to be handed an away tie against Premier League side Tottenham Hotpsur, as he 'normally wins' at Wembley!
"We'll be in the next round and we're proud of that and we'll hope the draw is kind to us and it's another draw at the One Call Stadium.
"I want to go to Wembley because I normally win at Wembley so that would mean Tottenham away; I think the chairman would hug me if we got Tottenham away!
"I would take Jose (Mourinho, Manchester United manager), because I fancy taking him on. We just want either the lowest ranked team at home, because that will help us, we weren't far away from that today, we don't kid ourselves, or I quite fancy going to Wembley."
Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview in full.
