Stags' boss Steve Evans described his players as 'courageous' after a 'hard earned' 4-1 victory against Grimsby Town at One Call Stadium this afternoon.
Two penalties from frontman Lee Angol, along with a strike from defender Krystian Pearce and what looks to be confirmed by TV replays as an own-goal, helped the Stags to their second home win of the season, despite Sam Jones' late consolation from the penalty spot for the visitors.
And speaking post-match, the gaffer highlighted the importance of both confidence and courage in the squad and believes the result was thoroughly deserved.
"I think when we got the second goal I thought we could go on and beat them three or four [nil] because the players started to have that little [bit of] belief and confidence," the Stags' chief said.
"The confidence comes from scoring a goal and getting a two-goal advantage, things that we deserved to do in recent times.
"It's hard earned work and we go back on the training ground. We'll take the win, we don't get carried away."
"It's hard earned work and we go back on the training ground. We'll take the win, we don't get carried away.
"I asked the ball players to have some courage to play in front of the fans. We've not won for a few weeks but you need courage to pull it and play and if the Grimsby Town player takes it off you, you need the courage to do it again.
"If I'm being honest, at half-time I was a little bit critical with the boys, working so hard but not working smart and there's a difference but they understood where I was coming from."
The former Leeds United manager was also pleased with the calmness of the dressing room and the belief ingrained in the players that every league game is an opportunity for three points.
"Our dressing room is probably as calm as any dressing room that wins a game.
"I'm watching teams celebrate when they beat us and draw with us. I watch my players walk in today and they walked in with a real calmness because they know they should be winning football matches."
The boss made three changes to his starting XI from last week's draw against Carlisle and he believes that it's important to change his team depending on the type of opposition they face.
"I thought Lee Angol and Kane Hemmings worked so hard for the team today and they covered every blade of grass.
"I thought David Mirfin was outstanding from start to finish. I was delighted with a lot of the players but we've got a good squad here.
"We made two or three changes and we'll probably look to do the same again. This idea that Steve Evans doesn't know his best eleven [is nonsense] – I know what I would play if it was a cup final tomorrow but you can't play the same team to play every type of team."
Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview.
