Flying left-back Mal Benning says the Stags’ fate is in their own hands with nine games of the season remaining.
We currently sit five points off the play-off places but still have six of the top seven left to play before the end of the campaign.
And Benning, who is now nearing the end of his second with the club, says confidence is still high in the squad despite four games without a win.
“The last nine games we’ve got sides all in and around us now and we’re ready for it," Benning said.
“We’ve got more time to prepare for these big games now but it’s basically the main part of the season now and it’s in our hands against the teams that are around us.
“Hopefully we can get a win and hopefully get back on track for the play-offs. We’re five points off now but I reckon we’ve still got a good chance if we can put our foot down on Saturday.
“We’ve worked really hard to get in the position we were in prior to the last couple of games. Our main focus now is winning games and getting back up there.”
The left-back admitted that the squad are naturally disappointed to have been without a goal for four games, but he insists the most important thing is that they are still creating opportunities.
“We’re still creating chances and the play that we’re playing has been really good. That’s the main point, that we’re creating chances, we just need to start sticking them in the back of the net and that will come soon enough.
“The confidence is still there, to be fair. Everyone’s down that we’re not scoring but that will come, but we’re still creating and we’re still dominating games, which is the main point.”
The former Walsall defender scored four goals last season – one of which won the club’s Goal of the Season award – but is yet to get on the score-sheet this season, something which he is keen to rectify.
“For me personally, obviously it’s not my primary job to score goals but I’ve had chances this season but it seems to not be going in for me this season!
“I’m going to keep going and hopefully I can get a couple before the end of the season.
“I’ve had plenty of chances this season to score and it just seems to be not going in. There’s nine games left for me to notch a couple. It’s not my primary job to score, but I would like to score a couple!”
Stags’ fans can login to Stags PlayerHD to watch Mal Benning’s full news conference.
