Stags' boss Steve Evans praised matchwinner Danny Rose after the Barnsley-born frontman bagged a second half brace to send Mansfield Town into the second round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 win over Shaw Lane.
After the Ducks' Lee Bennett cancelled out defender Krystian Pearce's first half header, striker Rose headed Stags back into the lead before producing a sublime overhead kick minutes later.
And speaking after the match – which was screened live to the nation on BT Sport – the gaffer heaped praise on Barnsley-born Rose, who moved into double figures for the season with today's brace.
"I don't think you could wish to be a young striker like Danny Rose and score two better goals. The header, for me, is the better of the two, it's absolutely fantastic," the gaffer said.
"To then come out two minutes later and score an overhead kick like that, if you're watching the best of the Premiership, if it's the Drogbas or the Ronaldos and people like that, Harry Kane, if he scores two like that this weekend then we'll be watching it over and over again on BT.
"He said to me all week: 'please don't leave me out for this game' and he just couldn't lose it (the match) because he probably knows three-quarters of the supporters for Shaw Lane! He's a professional; he has to come and do his job and he has a wonderful affinity for the club."
"I don't think you could wish to be a young striker like Danny Rose and score two better goals."
The gaffer also had kind words for today's hosts, Shaw Lane, for staging what he described as 'a wonderful cup tie' and predicted that the Ducks will go on to enjoy a successful season.
"It was always going to be where everyone outside Mansfield wants you to lose and the only credit goes to Shaw Lane. They put up a wonderful cup tie, they stretched us at times, it was very physical at times and we're just pleased we've come and dealt with it and we're in the next round.
"We had to turn up here and work so hard against a real difficult opponent. There would be league clubs come here and lose today – we dealt with it.
"[Danny Rose has] been telling me since the summer about the quality of player that's been brought in by the chairman here so fair play to the chairman (Craig Wood) at Shaw Lane, and the gaffer (Craig Elliott). He has to go and find the players and the chairman supports him.
"We were met here earlier by real respect and courtesy all the way through and we wish them every success. I think they'll go and be league champions in the league they're in by some distance and I remember when I took my team to Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson told me that. I didn't believe it but the record book speaks for itself now."
Stags will be ball number 19 in Monday's second round draw, but who does the gaffer want to be paired with?
"Either a team that's lower ranked in the competition – hopefully at home, if not away.
"I'm not a manager in the early rounds of the cup that wants the big boys – leave the big boys until the fifth round, that's where I like to see them."
Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags later today to view the manager's post-match interview.
