Tafazolli tips Lambe to be a Stags star

Former Southampton defender Tafazolli can remember Lambe vividly – and the pair could now be team mates for Stags home clash with Carlisle tomorrow if Mansfield’s new Bermudian international midfielder gets international clearance in time.

“Reggie has really impressed in training,” said Tafazolli. “He has a lot of flair. I used to play against him when he was in the Ipswich youth team and he was a stand-out player for them.

“He has very good pace and is very good on the ball.

“He is a very laid back, chilled-out guy. But he is from Bermuda and everyone I have met from Bermuda is laid back.”

Tafazolli needed treatment for a cut head in Tuesday’s last gasp 1-0 win over Morecambe, but for once he didn’t need the needle and thread.

He said: “Luckily this time I didn’t need stitches. I have had them four or five times before. This one the doctor glued after the game and I have got away with a little graze.

“In a game like Tuesday when it’s 0-0 you don’t want to come off so you just put some Vaseline on it and get stitches afterwards. Then you return to training when it’s settled and a wound had formed.

“It was a really competitive game and we did really well as Morecambe are a tough side. They came up here with a game plan and tried to remain compact and solid throughout the game. Luckily we scored in the dying stages.

“Notts County changed their formation to match us recently and Morecambe knew what we were going to bring to the table and sat deep. We just kept knocking on the door and, as the game went on, we created more and more chances. So we came away with the win we deserved.

“The fans were great on Tuesday night and we hope to get more of the same from them on Saturday. They stuck by us which contributed to the late winner.”

Tafazolli helped carve out the winning goal with his flick to Alex Fisher from a long Liam Marsden throw.

He said: “There is a lot of competition up top and ‘Fish’ has looked lively around the box. I flicked the ball on to him and he got the winner. I was delighted for him. He deserved to score from the chances he has had in previous games.

“That throw is a weapon. It is a really long throw which we’ve had here before with Exodus Geohaghon. Luckily it has paid off for us.

“Keeping a clean sheet was massive and will give us a confidence booster going into Saturday’s game.

“Carlisle will be a totally different game. Morecambe sat off us and allowed us to play. But Carlisle are struggling for points and are going to come at us all guns blazing. But I don’t think we will have any problems picking up three points. We really should be looking to win it.

“I need to keep up my individual standards. I hope I can remain injury free and play as many games as I can this season. With people around you dropping like flies, there is a lot of responsibility on the lads in there.”