Stags boss Murray proud of his players after win at Newport ends poor away run

Stags snatched it with an 87th minute Reggie Lambe goal after a some solid defending to end a run of five away defeats for a club with the second worst away record in the division.

Murray said: “Our away form was winding me up, but like I said on Monday, when I am put in a corner I come out fighting.

To read the match report click HERE“I made sure the players knew what they were coming to and how good were they? Absolutely superb, brilliant, I am over the moon with them.”

Murray made six changes tonight and said: “I made the changes for a purpose that I thought would benefit us. I knew the players we would be bringing on could impact on a game. All three came on and were influential on the game in different ways.

“This is a squad that’s together and they understand that if they are not in the team. This is one of the best dressing rooms I’ve been in and we are starting to see the rewards for that.”

Striker Billy Kee was not far short of man of the match for Mansfield and Murray said: “I gave him praise after Saturday as I thought he was influential after coming on and tonight he deserves double praise.

For someone who hasn’t played for a while to put in a shift like that as a loan striker was absolutely superb.”

Murray added: “A lot of people didn’t think we’d get anything from here tonight. To come to a place like this against a team in the play-off spots, the home side were always going to come close.

“But we came here with a game plan to be solid and efficient. We made good decisions and managed the game superbly and got the result.

“It was a different performance tonight I asked for tonight and we showed focus, organisation and discipline. Our shape was superb and we broke when we could.

“We have gone toe to toe with this football club through the Conference years. We’ve always had battles so it does give it a bit of an extra kick.

“It is three points and we have broken that voodoo. It is another small step to where we want to go.

“These boys have put in shifts over the past month that I am very proud of.

“Now it’s back down to ground zero and we work again.”