Midfielder Hiram Boateng says Stags ‘laid down a marker’ as the amber and blue moved back into the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion spots with a well-deserved 1-0 win at home to Forest Green.
The 28-year-old was named the sponsor’s Man of the Match following the victory.
Stags now sit in third in Sky Bet League Two, two points above Saturday’s opponents MK Dons and with a game in hand.
The experienced midfielder was delighted with the three points and speaking to iFollow Stags after the match, Boateng said: “I think we laid a marker down today and showed what we’re capable of again and what I’m probably most pleased with is the fact we kept a clean sheet because that’s obviously going to help you pick up points.
“After a result like that, although Forest Green are down near the bottom they really came and gave it a go and battled hard so It was never going to be an easy game. I don’t think any of the games from now till the end of the season will be. So now the spirit is going to be lifted and it’s about keeping cool, level headed and taking on the last few games as we did today.
“[It’s a] Massive win,” he added. “I think the message going into the game was that we needed to turn the result from the weekend [a 4-1 loss at home to Crawley] into something positive today, so [we are] delighted with the result.
“I think we knew we had to start fast. It was important after obviously conceding early in the last game we knew that we needed to get back to starting the game fast and playing with intent.
“The message from the manager was that it’s going to come down to desire today and I think the boys showed that in abundance.”
Boateng played a vital role in Tom Nichols’ first-half opener, as his cross found the striker at the back post before Nichols’ header looped over the ‘keeper and into the net.
The playmaker spoke about the goal and said: “It was a great finish to be honest. I thought he was heading it back across goal initially but he did really well to get the power on it and get it over the ‘keeper.
“Ultimately at this point in the season it’s about getting the wins, getting the results, that's all I think any of us care about right now and if we can keep doing that I’ll be happy.”
He went on to add the importance of ‘keeper Christy Pym this evening: “I think sometimes it goes unnoticed when the ‘keepers do that. I know obviously it is their job ultimately but it’s about concentrating through the 90 minutes and being ready for those moments.
“They’re big moments in the season which can be defining.”
