Manager Nigel Clough described today’s performance as ‘outstanding’ as Stags stunned Bradford City with a 5-1 win in West Yorkshire.
Mansfield launched a full-scale assault on the Bradford goal right from the first whistle and coasted into a 3-0 lead inside 18 minutes through goals from Baily Cargill, Lucas Akins and Davis Keillor-Dunn.
Forward Will Swan added salt to a gaping City wound in first-half stoppage time by adding a fourth.
And despite former Stags’ forward Andy Cook netting a consolation for the hosts, Aaron Lewis bagged a fifth goal for Mansfield late in the second-half.
“[It was] An outstanding performance, result, everything,” said the manager.
“I was a bit disappointed when we conceded one because I don’t think we deserved to, but we’d take 5-1 all day long.
“Ironically, I thought we created more chances in the second-half than we did in the first. Some outstanding saves from their goalkeeper stopped Will Swan from getting a hat-trick today.
“I also thought some of the build-up play was some of the best it’s been for weeks as well; the passing around the penalty area, the movement, the throughballs and good decisions.
“It’s what we’ve lamented at times this season when we’re in and around the penalty area, we haven’t made the right decisions. I thought we did today.
“[We knew] That if we could get another goal or two [after the first goal] then it would be uncomfortable [for Bradford] with the crowd and everything, but it was as much about getting our crowd going as well, which I didn’t think we needed to do too much of that today, but certainly the three goals helped.
“I thought it was important to react today. I think it says an awful lot about the character of the players on the back of a defeat.”
The boss believes Swan’s fourth goal effectively put the game beyond Bradford’s reach.
“It was very important. I thought we were okay at three-nil but getting that fourth one really does enable us to take Davis [Keillor-Dunn] off [at half-time]. He’d been booked and made a foul and Baily Cargill had a tight hamstring so there’s no point risking him.
“We could then take Quinny off after an hour and get the subs involved.”
Saving the last word for the travelling fans, he said: “For two-and-a-half-thousand to turn up today and enjoy it, that’s the main thing.
“Enjoy the games, enjoy the results, enjoy being top of the league. We’ve got eight games to go and five of them are at the One Call, that’s the most important thing now.”
