Forward Davis Keillor-Dunn described today’s 4-1 win at MK Dons as ‘massive’ as Stags took a giant leap towards booking a top three finish.
The club’s leading goalscorer climbed off the bench to net twice and set up another as Mansfield produced a memorable fightback to cast aside the Dons on their own patch.
The win sees Mansfield strengthen their grip on the top three and now a point on Tuesday night at home to Accrington would effectively clinch promotion, given Stags’ superior goal difference.
“It’s a massive win,” said Davis.
“Absolute credit to the boys. It was a hot day on a big pitch, against a great side in MK Dons. These teams try and close you down, you’ve got to be quick, you’ve got to be sharp.
“To score four goals away to MK Dons is really good and the boys deserved it in the end.
“Every single person grafted so much, so credit to all the boys. Everyone was needed today.
“It was a tight game, two good sides going at it, nobody wants to lose the game. We stayed in the game and got in [at half-time] level. The gaffer said ‘are you ready to go on’ and I said ‘yeah, of course’. “
The frontman believes Stags’ quality finishing was the ultimate difference today.
“We’ve been guilty this season of missing a couple of chances and we were clinical today, apart from the one of the skip [Ollie Clarke] hitting the bar, we were unlucky with that.”
Keillor-Dunn managed to poke Mansfield in front by netting the second goal following a scramble in the box.
“I couldn’t get it out of my feet, the ball was so sticky I couldn’t get it out of my feet to get a clean shot off. I just got enough to get a clean strike at it and was buzzing to see it go in the bottom corner you know. “
There were memorable scenes of jubilation with the travelling supporters at the end of the game and Davis said: “Credit to the fans. We sold out every single ticket we were allocated and probably could have sold it double, treble the amount of times. They were just urging us on and really are the twelfth man.”
Stags can now seal promotion on Tuesday night at home to Accrington, but Keillor-Dunn warned: “There are no easy games, I keep saying it in this league. You have to be ready and prepare, whether you’re on the pitch or the bench and we’ll be prepared for Tuesday night.”
