Stags boss Cox gets go-ahead to bring in loan striker

Cox was disappointed when he was told he could not bring any players in before yesterday’s transfer deadline as the club tightened its financial belt.

But the emergency loan market opens up this coming Friday and Cox has now been told he can delve into the market after all.

“I will spend the next four or five days seeing where the market is and planning accordingly,” he said.

“It’s not that the players we have are suddenly bad players. I just want someone in to galvanise us and make us stronger.

“We need that fresh face in the dressing room, someone who has been successful at this level or above who can be the cherry on the cake for us.

“I can’t do anything until Friday. I am going to try to be cute and clever with it and get someone in who will make us better if we can.

“I don’t just want someone who is going to be sat on the bench or learning their trade. I want someone our boys can learn from.”

Cox was speaking just after this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle where a 96th minute equaliser earned the home side an undeserved draw after Stags had looked home and dry for three points.

“It was a real sickener and I am absolutely gutted for the lads,” he said.

“It almost feels like we have lost and I have had to go in the dressing room and pick a few of them up.

“I thought we were excellent today, especially in the second half and we should have been out of sight by the time they scored.

“We worked hard, we passed the ball well and created some good chances.

“We were so much on top, keeping the ball well and looked to have a great shape.

“I thought the boys put on a great show and there were a lot of positives today. We looked like the team of last season.

“We looked assured at the back and our decision-making was better.

“Overall I thought we were the better team and deserved to win it. All we had to do was see the six minutes of stoppage time through.

“I just hope these two points don’t cost us later in the season. We have just got to be more ruthless. If we do that we are not a bad side.

“Lee Stevenson is feeling a bit down as he gave the ball away during the build-up to their goal, but I thought today he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch.

“The fans that came here today saw it wasn’t just a good point, but a good performance too and now we need to start replicating this away form at home as well. If we can do that we will be in a healthy position by the end of the season.”