Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough believes this evening’s 3-2 victory of promotion rivals Swindon was the club’s ‘most important win of the season’.
Stags continued their sensational run of form and are now only outside the play-offs on goal difference.
The victory is the Stags’ eighth in nine Sky Bet League Two matches but gaffer believes tonight’s had most significance.
“I thought that was our most important win of the season, off the back of the cup disappointment,” he said.
“It would have been easy to have a little bit of a hangover tonight, losing in the 95th minute [at home to Middlesbrough].
“I thought we were outstanding tonight from start to finish.
“The effort was remarkable tonight.”
The impressive performance sees the Stags climb up a place in the league table, leaving the boss impressed with the momentum gathered ahead of another home clash with Walsall this weekend.
“It [beating Swindon, a promotion rival] sets it up nicely for Saturday,” the manager said.
“It seems to be all away games once we’ve played Walsall on Saturday which is going to be a different prospect for us.
“We didn’t want to let them [Swindon] settle into any sort of rhythm or let them get into their stride, for the majority of the game our work rate stopped them doing that.”
With just over two weeks remaining of the January transfer market, the Stags’ chief provided another update on potential dealings
“We’re close with one or two.
“We’ve got a good 18 [man squad] out there tonight [though].
“Faz Rawson will be back in soon, Tyrese is back tonight as well after Covid.
“George Lapslie is a week or two away from being fit and that’s on top of the 18 we put out there tonight.
“We’ve still got a good squad so there’ll be no panicking or desperation signings, there’s no need.
“We’re in a nice position, we will add two or three bodies to it and some of the younger lads will go out and get some football.
“We’ll try and improve the squad without breaking any camaraderie that we have at the moment.”
The manager also updated supporters on the contract situation of key performer John-Joe O’Toole.
“It’s still up in the air at the moment,” he said.
“He still has this very good offer on the table but if he is going somewhere [then] I don’t think anybody could have been more committed than he was tonight.”
Watch the boss’ interview in full at: mansfieldtown.net/ifollow.
