Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says he’s ‘extremely proud’ of his side’s unbeaten record, with Stags targeting a club record 21st match without defeat and a place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup when Port Vale visit One Call Stadium tomorrow.
Stags – unbeaten in 19 matches this season – equalled their record for games without a loss [20, including a 2-0 win at Colchester last season] with a 2-1 victory at home to Walsall on Saturday.
Sky Bet League One outfit Port Vale will look to prevent Mansfield’s run continuing tomorrow with Stags aiming for a first quarter-final in the League Cup since 1975.
Speaking to iFollow Stags at a news conference today, Nigel said: “I thought we could have had a couple more points because we should have won some of the games we’ve drawn in that period, but to do 19 games in all competitions unbeaten – you don’t expect that sort of run.
“We’re extremely proud of it and we want to keep it going.
“I think the next two [Port Vale and Wrexham] will be as big a test of that as any time in the last 19.”
The prospect of two sides in the third and fourth tiers of English football competing for a place in the last eight of a cup competition is one the boss is looking forward to.
“When you’ve got a League One and a League Two side [in the last 16 it’s a mouth-watering prospect], one of them is going through to the last eight,” he added.
“That’s a great incentive for both sides.
“They’ll be a formidable opponent tomorrow night – without a doubt.
“They play football and they’ve got some good players and good threats.”
Nigel went on to provide the injury latest.
“He’s [McLaughlin] just building up his fitness. He may well be on the bench against Port Vale because we get the extra two substitutions,” he said.
“Apart from that, he’s down to play a week tomorrow against Everton [in the EFL Trophy].
“Nothing has changed with him and Rhys Oates.
“He’s [Akins] okay. He got checked out in the hospital on Saturday.
“He feels a lot better. We’ll see how he is for tomorrow night.
“We’re not ruling him out one way or another yet.”
Mansfield’s current run gives the gaffer pride ahead of a big week at One Call Stadium.
“We want to go one step further.
“It’s all rolled into one really; the preserving of the unbeaten run and getting to the last eight and then trying to get through in the FA Cup on Saturday.
“There’s a lot to play for but we go into it in good heart and good spirits.”
