Forward Will Swan declared his delight at netting for the first time this season in the league after the 23-year-old climbed off the bench to help Stags rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers.
Swan was introduced to the field on 69 minutes and found the net ten minutes later as Mansfield earned a point and kept their unbeaten record at One Call Stadium intact this season in Sky Bet League Two.
It was Swan’s first goal of the league campaign and after the game he said: “It was a bit of a lucky one, taking a nick on the way through [but] I’m delighted to get my first league goal of the season and for it to be an important one to get us a point in a game like tonight.
“As soon as I came on, I was just looking to get around Lucas [Akins] and then when Flinty’s [Aden Flint] up there I was trying to get around him and play off him because he’s such an aerial threat. Luckily, he nodded it down to me.
“I think I caused them some problems at the back, trying to run off Lucas and play off Oatesy [Rhys Oates].”
When asked about what went through his head when he saw the ball hit the net, he said: “Relief, probably, I would say. It’s been a long time without a league goal so I was delighted to get one tonight.
“It’s always a confidence booster for me [to score]. Hopefully I can go forward and build on that, as long as I can keep getting chances, whether it be off the bench or starting. It gives me that confidence to go and get a few more.”
Swan had been unfortunate not to score in the league prior to this evening and described the period without a goal, saying: “It was frustrating. Obviously, when it’s not dropping for you it’s tough to go through.
“I tried to remain patient and not let it affect me too much, to the point where it affects my game even more. [It’s about] Being ready to come on so if I do get a chance like tonight I can come on and make an impact.”
Summing up tonight’s match, in which Stags came from behind twice to earn a 2-2, draw, the former Nottingham Forest frontman added: “I think we will be disappointed that we didn’t win. We had enough chances to. We could have prevented their two goals.
“Their two strikers caused us some problems, they were really fast. But for the most part we dealt with them pretty well. Like I say, we created enough chances to score. We’re disappointed that we didn’t win but delighted that we haven’t lost back-to-back games.”
