Stags' boss Steve Evans says his side's winning goal came from 'the only quality of the whole game' during today's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.
Striker Danny Rose came off the bench to head home the winning goal after 61 minutes to decide a game in which both sides went toe-to-toe in front of a sell-out Sincil Bank crowd.
And speaking post-match, the manager commended his players for their efforts against the Imps.
"I think there was nothing in the game in all honesty," said the Stags' manager.
"I think we've come, we've won at a difficult venue, we have enormous respect for the players we're playing against and we worked really hard.
"I think [the goal's come from] the only quality of the whole game from Hayden's [White] run, his cross and Danny Rose on the end of it, that's the only quality of the whole game for me.
"It was two teams that battled really hard and we knew the first thing we had to do from a way back was if you want to get a result against Lincoln, you have to work as hard as them and you have to be as physical as them because that's how they play."
After saying that he wanted his side to 'work smarter' after Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers, the former Leeds United boss was pleased with the commitment his players showed in today's victory.
"I questioned the boys' character in midweek about, never [not] working hard, but standing up to aggressive sides.
"We had two of them in four or five days with Lincoln today so we had to stand up to that and that's the bit that pleases me.
"I just want to turn up every week, go to the train station, get three bags of coal and go home."
"I probably questioned that more to myself when I went home on Tuesday and I questioned the boys on Thursday and Friday but they stood up to it. I commend my players, no-one else."
The win at Sincil Bank extended Stags' unbeaten league run to five matches but the boss insists that he is purely focussed on taking each game as it comes.
"I just want to turn up every week, go to the train station, get three bags of coal and go home.
"We've turned up today and got three bags, we got three bags last Saturday and one in the week because we didn't work hard enough to load the engine in the train. We worked hard enough today. We were backed with magnificent supporters."
The gaffer praised match-winner Danny Rose and revealed that, prior to the game, he told the former Bury frontman that he would win the contest for the Stags today.
"He knows – he sits in my office and he knows the quality of the competition. I said to him in the week: 'just been patient' and you can ask him what I said.
"I told him before the game: 'you'll win us the game today because you're coming on to play a part in a time of the game when we need Danny Rose on the pitch.' It's brilliant when your dressing room hears you say that and then he does it."
Supporters will be able to login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview later this evening.
