Craig Priest Stags Blog: Is it deja-vu for Mansfield Town?

ANOTHER three points in the bag meant another happy weekend for Stag’s supporters, the 3-1 win over Cambridge putting Paul Cox’s side back to winning ways after they fell to defeat in Newport last Tuesday.
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STags Fan Craig PriestNMAC12-1280-1

STags Fan Craig Priest
NMAC12-1280-1 STags Fan Craig Priest

It’s almost a feeling a of deja-vu really as defeat at Newport last term ended a good spell but sparked an even better one.

If the same can happen this season, then who knows where our beloved side could finish?

T he league’s so wide open it’s tempting to say a title challenge could still be on.

We’ll wait and see what the next few games bring first though!

Three back to back away games now in the space of eight days all in my mind pose different yet tough threats, but all are winnable games.

In reality I’d be happy at seven points from a possible nine.

But by getting all nine, Paul Cox’s side would send a real statement of intent to those above and around them in the table.

Stags will have already taken on Hyde by the time this hits the news stands.

Despite them sitting above the drop-zone and being hammered on Saturday by Kidderminster, I am sure ex-Stag Scott McNiven will have got his lads fired up to respond.

Saturday’s opponents Luton, on the back of their FA Cup exit to Millwall will be itching to play catch up in their league campaign – it’s up to us to stop them.

As for now managerless Lincoln, they’ll have seen our match against Liverpool with fury in their blood.

So Stags have to ensure that any ‘let’s get revenge’ notion is crushed.

But I have no worries about Stags on their travels. What was the worst form in the division is now the best over the last five games.

I’d just like to note my praise for Luke Jones and Lee Stevenson over the last few matches.

Stevenson is on fire as is now showing why so many teams fought for his signature whilst Jones is fighting tooth and nail for his shirt after so long in the cold.

He and John Dempster are forming a solid pairing at the heart of our back line whilst at the other end, Jones is proving a menace for our opponents – long may that continue.

The attitude and desire from two players that could have so easily thrown in the towel, has been a delight to see.

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