Stags’ sensational second half performances during the current unbeaten run have been aided by increased stamina levels, says fitness and rehabilitation coach Lee Taylor.
We have scored seven second half goals during our six-match unbeaten run which has seen up climb to within two points of the Sky Bet League Two play-off places.
On a wet and windy day at One Call Stadium, goals from midfielder Ben Whiteman and striker Danny Rose secured a deserved three points for the Stags against Leyton Orient.
And speaking post-match, Taylor says the Stags’ increased stamina levels is testament to their training regime.
“We work on 110 minutes. So if we can work on 110 minutes of football, we know that we’re going to keep running through walls when other teams falter, and we’ve seen that,” Taylor said.
“We’re nowhere near where we should be at the moment and I’m not happy with our fitness at the moment, I think we’ve got a long way to go, but that’s just my standards.
“There’s a lot of other things that come in to our philosophy which you will see in the coming months.
"The first half, for us, wasn’t the best, but obviously we’ve come out for the second half and it could have been six."
The former head of performance at Notts County was particularly impressed with midfielder Ben Whiteman’s display against the O’s, but praised the Sheffield United loanee’s determination to improve as a major factor.
“Ben Whiteman was different class, he pops up and how cool was that strike? He’s just took it in his stride and he’s becoming a man.
“From playing League One football at Sheffield United and coming through now and playing in the senior squad here, he’s getting fitter, he’s getting stronger and it’s only testament to obviously what the gaffer, Paul Raynor and myself are delivering for the football club.
“Ben Whiteman is becoming a man now. He’s been excellent, he’s excelled in training, he wants to do everything right and he delivers. He comes in to the analysts after the game and he’s looking for stats, he’s looking for anything to make him better.
“He’s come here and we’ve took him to that next level and we’ll continue to take him to that next level. He’s a big part of the gaffer and he’s a big part of Mansfield Town Football Club at the moment and long may it continue.”
With just three days remaining of the January transfer window, Taylor says that manager Steve Evans is still working as hard as ever to add to his squad.
“He’s got new players coming in, one of the big signings that he wants to make was watching the game today.
“He’s upstairs now with Paul [Raynor] and they’re going to be on the phone all night and I’m just been sorting things out with the boys and ticking all the boxes with the medical staff, making sure everything runs properly.”
Finally, Taylor dedicated today’s win to his family, as his mother is currently fighting a battle with cancer.
“This was my old team today, Leyton Orient, my dad was there for five years as manager.
“I’ve got to say this for my mum; my mum’s got cancer. So mum, we did it, we beat them – this was for the Taylors today.”
Supporters can view Lee Taylor’s entire post-match interview on Stags PlayerHD.
