Boss: Unbeaten record pleasing but draws need to become victories.
Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough has described his side’s record of fifteen matches unbeaten as ‘very pleasing’ but hopes for more victories following this afternoon’s goalless draw at home to AFC Wimbledon.
Despite being made to settle for a point, Stags have moved up to fifth in Sky Bet League Two and are just four points off top of the table.
Speaking to iFollow Stags post-match, Nigel said: “[I’m] Very pleased with that [the unbeaten record] I just wish we had another two or three wins.
“Another four points on the board – we would be in the top three, very close to the top of the league.
“We have got plenty of time to make that ground up.”
On the game today, he added: “It was [frustrating], more so than Tuesday night.
“Today we had situations, but we were very wasteful in and around the penalty area and final third.
“Christy Pym has saved a penalty which has preserved our unbeaten record.”
A tactical switch of formation saw Stags create more opportunities in the second-half.
“I thought when we changed shape and we put Davis Keillor-Dunn [wide we did better],” he said.
“He didn’t really get on the ball much [where he started] it was so compact in the middle of the pitch that we couldn’t get him in any space.
“If we put him wide a little bit, he’s going to get more room.
“I thought on the right-hand side he looked quite dangerous and had more of the ball.”
James Gale provided some lively moments in attack – coming on as a substitute in the second 45.
“He did [look lively].
“He’ll have a start on Tuesday against Doncaster and get some more game time.
“There’ll be a few that won’t be involved, the ones that have been involved in pretty much all the games so far this season.
“We can’t risk them, especially with Notts County coming up on Saturday.”
The gaffer provided an update on the squad for Tuesday’s EFL Trophy match at home to Doncaster.
“We’ll get the squad out there [on social media] on Monday so the supporters can see who’s going to be out there and playing,” said the boss.
“We wouldn’t want to mislead them and say it’s going to be a full-strength side, but they wouldn’t expect that in the EFL Trophy anyway.
“McKeal [Abdullah] has got another couple of goals this morning [for the under-18s] so he’s certainly in contention for starting.
“I think Will Swan could do with a game, James Gale, Callum Johnson needs game time… George Williams, George Cooper, Calum Macdonald – people like that.
“It will still be a reasonable side and it should be enough to get us a result.”
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