Stags’ striker Jordan Graham has reflected on Mansfield’s 5-1 Central League victory over Doncaster Rovers, and praised the team’s clinical nature in front of goal in the second-half, in which they scored on four occasions.
Mansfield went a goal down in the early stages after Alfie Beestin’s strike, but fought back through Otis Khan’s goal to make it 1-1 heading into the break.
The Stags came out of the traps with a purpose in the second-half, scoring four times, with goals from Calum Butcher, Graham, Danny Rose and CJ Hamilton making it 5-1 at full-time.
Following the win, Graham commended the team’s second-half display.
“It was a good result,” he said. “We started off slow. In the first six minutes or so we were poor and conceded, but we got back into the game.
“We took control in the second-half. It felt a lot easier. We were passing the ball a lot better and scored goals.
“With the opportunities we were creating [in the second-half], we were taking our chances.
“We created some opportunities in the first-half but the ones in the second-half were more clear cut. When we got into them, we’d score.
"We took control in the second-half. It felt a lot easier. We were passing the ball a lot better and scored goals."
“We just kept adding on and adding on [goals], so it was good.”
Graham netted from the penalty spot in last week’s Central League fixture against Rotherham United reserves, and followed that up with a composed finish in yesterday’s clash, rolling the ball into an empty net after rounding the goalkeeper.
The striker spoke of his second goal in as many games, and went on to discuss the experience of completing 90 minutes in a side full of first-team regulars.
“I just saw Omari [Sterling-James] get the ball and made a run in behind,” he added.
“Then he slipped me through with a perfect weight [pass]. [Then] I went round the ‘keeper and scored.
“The tempo is good [playing with the first team players]. Obviously playing with the under-21s I enjoy that too, but the tempo goes up a lot when you play with these [players].”
