Stags manager Cox awaits full details of Jennings’ injury after Nuneaton win

Jennings limped out of tonight’s hard-earned 1-0 win over Nuneaton Town – a 10th successive win for Mansfield – and Cox will weigh up his next move once he knows how long he may be without his left back.

“At the end of the season I don’t want to look back and think I should or I could have acted, but I will wait to see what the news is and then be professional about it,” said Cox.

“JJ went off with a bit of a pull but he says he is a quick healer so I hope he won’t be too long.

“To say that George Pilkington would be an adequate replacement is an understatement anyway. I will just wait and digest the news.”

Cox was delighted with his side’s efforts tonight in a game in which they wasted many chances and rarely hit the heights against a Nuneaton side scrapping for their lives.

Matt Green missed a penalty and had another effort disallowed, but Louis Briscoe came up with the winner midway through the second half to close the gap on leaders Kidderminster to just one point.

“The lads gave me and the club their all tonight and I am very proud of them,” he said.

“After the last two games were called off, you feared they may lose some of their mental sharpness. And we didn’t look as sharp as we had been.

“It was a horrible game. I thought we looked a bit nervous at times. I told them at half-time to just enjoy themselves. It is a waste of time getting uptight just because there is now expectation.

“I want them to put a smile on their face and enjoy these last eight games and not fear them. They are eight cup finals.

“I said at half-time it wasn’t about how many goals we scored, it was just about winning the game.

“I lost count of how many chances we had in the first half. The second half was the same. And when we missed the penalty you feared the worst. Then we went and scored probably the hardest chance of the match.

“I don’t think anyone could deny we deserved to win the game. It was just a bit frustrating we didn’t score earlier in the game.”

He added: “There were some strange decisions tonight. But I won’t have a go at the referee as it’s the hardest job in football.

“I thought for Matt Green’s goal that was disallowed that he came from onside.

“Their keeper deserves a special mention. Some of the saves he pulled off were on a different level, though it’s what he’s paid to do.

“He got his body in the way and it was a great penalty save. I thought he had an excellent game.”