Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says Stags will aim to ‘try and maintain’ their current average of two-points-per-game in Sky Bet League Two as the club made it 16 league matches unbeaten with a 2-1 win at Salford on Saturday.
The weekend’s win at the Peninsula Stadium was Stags’ first-ever at the home of the Ammies.
After climbing back into the top three, Mansfield have now recorded eight wins and eight draws with a game in hand on their promotion rivals.
Speaking to iFollow Stags in a news conference today, Nigel said: “It was the first time we had won there [Salford]. It wasn’t a comfortable afternoon let’s put it that way.
“The way Salford play makes it very difficult for you. We couldn’t play our normal game in terms of pressing and everything.
“If you stay unbeaten, it doesn’t matter where you’re getting your points from.
“We’re averaging two points a game which I suppose is your target at the start if the season if you’re looking for automatic promotion.
“After the last few games, we’re on that now and we want to try and maintain it. Whether it’s home or away it doesn't really matter as long as you get the points.”
On Stags’ injury and suspension latest, the boss said: “He [Callum Johnson] just had a little cut behind his ear. He should be fine.
“We’re very pleased with his contribution coming back in and making the second goal for us.
“It was a brilliant cross right in the heart of the six-yard box for Davis [Keillor-Dunn] to tap in.
“It’s [Calum Macdonald’s suspension] not ideal. I thought he was extremely unlucky to be booked on Saturday.
“We’re only a few weeks off the cut-off point for the five yellows.
“John-Joe O’Toole should do some training this week. Stephen Quinn will probably be next week, but we’ve got them pencilled in for playing some part at Burton in the EFL Trophy game.”
The gaffer went on to discuss the weekend’s opponents, Newport County.
“[They’ve been] Decimated through injury, similar to what we were last season,” he said.
“Graham [Coughlan] could only name five substitutes on Saturday, including two young players.
“I think it’s just injuries that have prevented them being much higher up the table, but they’ll still be resilient without a doubt.
“Graham, coming back to his old club, will want to see all of those qualities.”
