Goalkeeper Conrad Logan believes the travelling faithful of 4,172 supporters can provide Stags with the match-winning edge in Saturday’s big local derby against Notts County at Meadow Lane.
Logan has started all-but-one of Stags’ Sky Bet League Two matches this season, helping his side to the second-best defensive record in the division.
And as he looks forward to the mouth-watering prospect of 4,172 Stags’ fans packing out the Jimmy Sirrel Stand at Meadow Lane on Saturday, Logan believes a vocal support could be the difference.
“It’s fantastic. Most people would like that for a home game in this league. 4,000 fans going away from home, it’s going to be fantastic,” the shotstopper said.
“We’ll need their voices and they might be, if the game’s tight and things are a little bit edgy, it might just be that bit of support and bit of will that might get us over the line. I’m sure they’ll be vocal like they have been all season.
“Whenever there’s a full house, it’s something special. There’s a lot times we’ll play games and there’ll be Tuesday night games and a long distance away and you’ve got to generate your own atmosphere but once you cross that line on Saturday, both supporters will be 'at it' and there’ll be a buzz.
“We’ll need their voices and they might be, if the game’s tight and things are a little bit edgy, it might just be that bit of support and bit of will that might get us over the line."
“We want to play in big games, [in front of] big crowds and local derbies are fantastic but as a player, you’ve just got to play the game and not the occasion when it goes out there.
“Let the supporters and everyone else enjoy the day and whatever else but there’s only three points like any other game, so we’ve just got to be calm and play the game, not the occasion.”
The 31-year-old, nicknamed ‘The Polar Bear’, believes Stags have the ability in their squad to provide a moment of magic to decide Saturday’s game, but admits their approach to the clash should not differ from other encounters in Sky Bet League Two.
“For us going into this one, we’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing, it’s worked so far this season. We’re in a decent position and there’s going to be key moments in games.
“You hope with the squad of players we’ve got, whether it be that bit of magic to score a goal or a defensive block or whatever it is, that we can do that on Saturday.
“They’ve got youth and experience and they’ll be a tough team, we’re under no illusions. We beat them here earlier in the season but you take that with a pinch of salt.
“It’s a different game, different occasion, different stadium, everything’s different. There’s been a lot more games played since then and they’re a good team.”
Reflecting on the season as a whole, Logan admits he would have liked more clean sheets and less draws, however he believes those single points could be vital come the end of the season.
“I’ve been happy. I probably would’ve liked a couple more clean sheets. There’s been games where we’ve won games 3-1 when we probably should have won those games 3-0. Personally, you pride yourself on clean sheets but I think I’ve had a decent season.
“At times, maybe at the start of the season, it’s been a bit of ‘huff and puff’ and we didn’t really get what we needed.
“We’ve only lost six games all season, albeit with probably drawn too many but those points may be the difference at the end of the season. It could be a point from being in the play-offs or that point might just take you up automatically.”
Supporters can view Conrad Logan’s full news conference by logging into iFollow Stags.
