Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has described tonight’s resounding 6-1 win over League One outfit Accrington Stanley as a ‘night of aggression and magic moments,’ after he watched his Mansfield side cruise into the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Tyler Walker’s two penalties and deft flick to the back post gave him a first-half hat-trick, with further goals coming from Otis Khan, Danny Rose and CJ Hamilton.
The Stags’ boss heaped praise on his players for their ‘top class’ performance.
“I look at what I want to try and bring to the club and the values of the town and our owners,” he said. “Your players have to play with honesty and sincerity. The bottom line to success is hard work and endeavour.
“We started off on the right foot in terms of pressing them. Accrington are a good team who absolutely blitzed League Two last season. I watched the work they did at the weekend against Bristol Rovers and they were brilliant.
“We knew we had to put them under pressure which we did and got a few early chances. We went 1-0 down to some sloppy defending.
“Tyler Walker epitomised getting us on the front foot. I thought he was outstanding at leading the line. Butcher, Otis [Khan], Mellis all backed it up. It was a night of aggression and a night of magic moments.
“Some of the goals and the work were top class. It was absolutely top class. I’m absolutely delighted with the group tonight.
“I told all of the players to be ready as this is a squad. It was tough to leave Omari out at the weekend after he travelled seven or eight hours [to Yeovil]. But then he came on [tonight] and he influenced the game.
“We’re in the next round and that’s really important to keep the momentum going. It’s really important to me how we develop the players and that’s what we’re trying to do.
"Tyler Walker epitomised getting us on the front foot. I thought he was outstanding at leading the line. Butcher, Otis [Khan], Mellis all backed it up. It was a night of aggression and a night of magic moments."
“The last one [was my favourite goal]. Oh, wow. Lots of passes, patience and then when we hit them, we hit them hard.”
The manager also spoke of Danny Rose, who tonight marked his first appearance of the season, coming off the bench to fire in Stags’ fifth goal of the evening.
“I’m also delighted for Danny [Rose] for getting his goal. The cross has come in and Danny is in a great position to go and score. It was nice to see the Danny of old. He ran for me like he did when I was at Bury and at Barnsley.
“Seeing Rose at full-flight tonight and going with a desire to score that goal that meant so much to him was important.”
The Stags’ boss also touched on the development of his players as the season progresses, that in particular of Walker and Khan, whose goals gave Mansfield a 4-1 lead heading into the half-time break.
“I know they scored after six minutes, but before that six minutes, some of the football and the quick play [was outstanding]. We are all working hard and the boys and the staff probably don’t get the credit.
“It’s important because we want to implement stuff off the training ground and they’re doing that. They’re taking it on board.
“I’m delighted for Tyler [Walker] that he’s got a hat-trick. He’s just pure class. The kid is pure class. You can see from his upbringing from his dad that he’s been honest with him.
“He’s not like an academy player. He gets up, he’s robust, he wants to run and I just love working with him.
“I brought Otis in to score goals and assist goals and that’s what we’re working on.
“I’m really delighted with how the group is developing. I know we’re good at what we do and I want to give our supporters a team that represents the town and give them football they haven’t seem for a long time. That’s how it felt tonight.”
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