Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes the possibility of setting a new club record of eight successive league wins on Saturday adds extra ‘incentive’ on the Leyton Orient clash.
The Stags have now won 13 out of the last 15 matches in all competitions.
The manager admitted a new club record would be an added bonus as the club look to finish the season in the promotion hunt.
“That’s [setting a new club record] a great incentive for us,” he said.
“On top of what’s already there [the record], just getting the three points and trying to improve our league position [will be important].”
The run emphasises the magnificent sequence of form the Stags are in of late.
“It’s nice when you know you’re having a good run,” said the manager.
“All the years that the football club has been in the Football League and you’re equalling a record.
“It shows we’re doing something right at the moment.”
Ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Leyton Orient, the boss is hopeful that the Stags’ supporters will gather in large numbers to see a potentially record-breaking afternoon.
“If they [the supporters] can [get to the Leyton Orient game] that would be wonderful.
“I think supporters are enjoying the way that we’re playing at the moment, certainly the victories.
“Enjoy it whilst it lasts.
“However many numbers in there [inside One Call Stadium] sounds a lot more when we do play.
“The atmosphere is brilliant.
“We’ve got to keep providing the performances on the pitch and the crowds will come and the atmosphere will be there.”
The boss feels the weekend’s visitors will provide challenging opposition.
When asked the type of game the manager expects, he said: “A tough one. We had an unbelievably tough game down there [earlier in the season].
“[They are] Very, very difficult to beat, Kenny Jackett’s teams.
“They’ve got a good home record, I think they’ve had a lot of draws on the road and not many defeats.
“I think the first goal is going to be vital on Saturday.”
The Stags could see experienced defender James Perch in the matchday squad, in protective head gear, for the first time in five months.
The 36-year-old suffered a fractured skull in mid-August but received positive news recently by a specialist in returning to action.
“It is one of the best pieces of news we’ve had for some time,” the gaffer said.
“[It was] unexpected] as we were thinking he was going to be out for the season.
“He saw a specialist a few weeks ago, he got the provisional okay to start training with a protection, he’s got a guard on [when playing].
“[He’s been in training for] Varying stages for a few weeks, but we didn’t want to say anything too early.
“We wanted to make sure everything’s okay, he’s back in full-contact training now.”
The return of the Perch could have further effects on potential incomings and outgoings within the squad.
“With Perchy coming back and JJ signing on a permanent, with Hawkins playing back there as well [then] Richard’s [Nartey] injury set him back.
“He’s [Nartey] been fit for a week or two now but it’s difficult for players on the fringes to get in [the starting XI] with the team doing so well and he understands that.
“What we don’t want to do is keep Richard around for the sake of it when he could be playing somewhere else or go back to Burnley and play for them.”
On a potential return for defender Will Forrester the boss said: “You never know in the last day or two in the window.
“At the moment it’s a ‘no’ from Stoke but we’ll see how we go.
“A lot can happen in the next few days.”
To watch the manager's interview in full, click here.
