Matty Blair delighted to get off the mark for Mansfield Town in Morecambe win

Matty Blair was delighted to claim his first goal for Mansfield Town in yesterday's hard-earned 2-1 win over Morecambe, despite it taking a big deflection off the head of Ryan Edwards.
Mansfield Town Matty BlairMansfield Town Matty Blair
Mansfield Town Matty Blair

“It was on target so I am claiming it,” he smiled. “It was my first one. I had my chance last week and that should have been my first.”

Blair missed of last season injured after joining Stags in January 2015 and said: “It wasn’t honestly a great start for me here getting injured. To grab it today was a special moment which I will remember forever. It really meant a lot. I really enjoyed that one.

Click HERE to read boss Adam Murray’s reaction

Click HERE to read match report

“I will keep working as hard as I can and hopefully the gaffer will keep picking me.”

Yesterday, Stags had to come from a goal behind in the first minute to lead through Blair and Krystian Pearce, but it took two penalty saves from keeper Scott Shearer to deny Morecambe a comeback.

On the penalties, Blair said: “The first one – not for me, he went down too soft.

“The second one I thought was a penalty. Jack has gone in with his arms up. But Scott Shearer got to step up twice and be the hero for the day.

“I think the character of the squad is just starting to shine through now, that’s three difficult games on the bounce and three wins.

“We’ve really had to dig deep and pull out a performance.

“The wind made it really difficult and it was hard to play in.”

Mansfield now face tough games away at Oxford on Tuesday and Plymouth on Saturday, but Blair said: “I think we have been a better team away from home this season than at home.

“We have got great characters in the squad and great men, so I think we can go there and cause problems for both teams.”