Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says his squad will “embrace” the “beautiful challenge” and “enjoy” it for a place in the top seven of Sky Bet League Two.
The boss’s side faces a series of three consecutive away games after having already played two on the road before tomorrow night in Rochdale.
Stags sit at 10th Position in the division, and have up to four players in hand over other promotional rivals, while Dale in the 19th.th Plaz.
Speaking to local media today, Gaffer said: “Getting to the top seven in a play-off place, where we came from three months ago, is a great challenge.
“It’s a great thing to embrace and enjoy.
“It’s certainly not one to be afraid of.
“We have 12 games to go, that’s all that matters.
“Whatever happened in the previous 34 games is now irrelevant, it counts for absolutely nothing.
“I think we have a good squad.
“I wish we could play more at home, though [in] the next three [matches] we have to get something, we have to raise it and we have to get back into the top seven.
“We should have a spring in our step [with us being] in the position where we are.
“We were second from the bottom three months ago.
“People thought it was another relegation battle and now all of a sudden we’re fighting for the top seven. It’s great.”
Mansfield’s scheduled competition at home to Stevenage on Saturday was postponed due to opposition Covid-19 cases had in their camp.
“[The feeling of the squad was] One of disappointment. We were desperate to play the game in [were] surprised that the game was torn down, “said the manager.
“[We were] Grieved to a certain degree but it’s all in the hands of the Football League.
“I’m sure they are [the Football League] will carefully examine the circumstances of the delay and ensure that everything is on board.
“Et [the match postponement] means we’re playing five away games in a row. Eight out of nine [matches] now are away from home.
“It is [the postponement] certainly no advantage, we will say.
Gaffer admits it was a frustration not to play at home on Saturday after losing the previous two games on the road.
“We were desperate to play the game that the two lost [previous] Escape players [Tranmere and Port Vale].
“I think that added to the frustration of the players on Friday morning when we told them the game was over.
“We won ten on the spin at home, we were for the club record of eleven and failed the two defeats.
“If you lost the last two [it’s especially important to pick up points again].
“We could have just won a few draws down the road or even one of those two.
“We should have won at Port Vale after leading 1-0.”
With 12 games left, the boss says the end of the season will be an “interesting” one.
“[Form is] Completely irrelevant at this time of season, “he said.
“You see results coming out of nowhere at this time in the season, in the last sort of ten, 12 games.
“We do not look at the form guide at all.
“I think we played fewer games than anyone in the country at one time.
“We have these 12 [fixtures] to play in the next three [are] on the road.
“We have to get something from the next three games.
“It’s going to be an interesting dozen games [remaining]”.
The manager provided an update on the injury situation of his squad before tomorrow evening at the Crown Oil Arena.
“[It’s] More than likely [that the team will be the one that would’ve lined up against Stevenage].
“Lucas Akins is the biggest doubter in the squad at the moment.
“Everyone else is there or there around.
“Ollie Clarke has a license problem at the moment, so he went against Port Vale.”
View the manager’s news conference now in full by clicking here.
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