Stags’ boss David Flitcroft has called for a ‘massive response’ to today’s disappointing 1-0 defeat away to Notts County.
Magpies’ attacker Craig Mackail-Smith scored the game’s only goal with a well-taken volley in the first-half.
The Mansfield chief says today’s result has left him ‘bitterly disappointed.’
“When you have quality players like we have, the test is to commit to the other side of the game,” he said. “You have to make sure that you’re mentally prepared.
“As a player who didn’t have much quality, one thing I did was give 100 per cent. When you have the quality our players have, you have to bring your work to every game.
“We didn’t commit how I wanted them to commit, and we weren’t brave. We didn’t have the mental toughness to get on the ball and cause them problems.
“I’m bitterly disappointed with how we’ve represented here today. Our supporters have come across and paid good money to get in this stadium.
“You have to earn your yards on a football pitch. We had one shot, and that’s not on target – the one shot by Tyler [Walker].
“[In] a local derby that means so much to so many, you have to make sure that the commitment is there.
“I spoke to the players in there about what next week is going to look like. We need to make sure we do the other side of the game. We have to make sure we have a massive response to this huge disappointment.”
"We need to make sure we do the other side of the game. We have to make sure we have a massive response to this huge disappointment."
The manager says that his side simply didn’t ‘turn up.’
“Notts look like they wanted to compete. They were almost free, whereas we played with a bit of fear.
“When you play with that anxiety, physically your body sometimes doesn’t work. It looked like that today.
“It was a massive game, a big game, and we came up here and didn’t turn up. The goal that Mackail-Smith has got, we were nowhere near him.
“It [dressing room] knows where it’s at. It knows what we’re doing next week, and how let down I feel.
“We have an opportunity now to put it right next week. You have to come and enjoy what you’re doing, and the players didn’t look like that today.”
After the defeat, the boss has called for a ‘massive improvement’ in future clashes, while also praising the fans for their outstanding support, after 4,283 Stags’ supporters made the journey to Meadow Lane.
“I’ll be honest with the players. You can only move forward with anything if there’s an honesty there.
“I want a massive improvement, and there’s got to be a 40 or 50 per cent improvement on today’s performance.
“I wish we had a game on Tuesday that we could bounce into. It gives me a chance to work with the group.
“Today’s work has not been good enough, and the only people who came here and represented was the supporters.
“I think it was a respectful clap off, but I wouldn’t have clapped off the performance from me or my team tonight.
“We’re not going to rest on our laurels. We’re up there near the summit. But I will not accept another performance like that again.
“I have to make sure the group understand that. I have to make them understand what makes the greatest sportsmen become the best, and that’s what I try for daily.”
