Rhead calls on Stags fans to show patience

Stags have not won in their last nine outings, during which Rhead and 10 other first team players have been sidelined by injury, and he said: “The fans are being critical. But we have been successful for the last few years and now that’s what they want all the time, but that’s difficult.

“Once you get promotion it’s difficult to win games all the time. But the lads want to win games as much as the fans want us to and they just have to stick with us.

“When we have had good runs of results they have come when we have had a settled team. That’s important.

“We have to concentrate on Saturday first and foremost and try to get a win that will shoot us up a few places and take off some of the pressure in the league, then we can concentrate on the FA Cup.”

Stags face a tricky FA Cup replay at Conference South Concord Rangers on Tuesday night after a Jordan Chiedoze rocket shot from 30 yards earned the Beachboys a 1-1 draw in midweek.

“I think we created plenty of opportunities. We just need to start putting them away now and turn the corner and get a good win under our belts,” said Rhead.

“Their keeper pulled off a couple of good saves. But we’ve not been getting chances of late so it’s a positive we are now getting them. I hope we can continue that and take a few if they come our way.

“I have been in their situation when you are the underdog. You give everything and hope for a bit of luck. Once we’d scored you hope you can push on, but they scored a screamer which I think was applauded by everyone at the ground.

“If you let him shoot from there, nine times out of 10 it would have gone wide or over the bar.”

Rhead made a return to the side last weekend and admits he is the type of player who needs to be playing regularly to be fully fit.

He said: “I started the season, but then got an injury which set me back which was disappointing. Now I hope I can get a few appearance and get my fitness up and start scoring a few goals.

“I need to be playing regularly and I hope that can happen.”

On the closer marking he is experiencing he added: “I do seem to have a few more round me this season and you have to combat that. Maybe I have to reinvent myself?”