Time for back-to-back wins, says Stags defender Pearce

Mansfield Town defender Krystian Pearce said the Stags need to start getting back-to-back victories if they are to mount a serious promotion challenge.
Mansfield Town's Krystian Pearce - Pic by Chris HollowayMansfield Town's Krystian Pearce - Pic by Chris Holloway
Mansfield Town's Krystian Pearce - Pic by Chris Holloway

The club are on a high after last weekend’s 3-1 home local derby victory over Notts County moved them to ninth ahead of this Saturday’s visit of Wycombe Wanderers.

But, despite having the joint second lowest goals conceded in the division after 12 games, Mansfield have yet to register successive League wins.

“That’s the next step,” said Pearce. “Obviously getting back-to-back wins is what you aim to do.

“If we are serious about promotion we have got to be putting back-to-back wins on the board.”

On visitors Wycombe, he said: “It’s obviously going to be a difficult game. “They still play the same way they played last season.

“They’ve got big units up front who like to bring other people into play. Obviously I will be trying to stop that.”

Pearce is hoping many of the fans who helped them to victory over his former club last weekend will turn up again and be just as noisy.

“We want to get promoted and we need the backing of the fans to help us do that,” he said.

“So hopefully they will be there on Saturday and cheer us all on.

“It was a positive result for everyone involved with the club.

“Obviously the fans are going to be buzzing – a local derby win and last minute winner as well.

“With Matt Green coming on and scoring two and Hendo (Darius Henderson) coming on and scoring as well there is a lot of competition for places at the moment.

“Kyle (defender Howkins) has just come back to training now so there is even more competition now. It’s a good place to be.

“Everyone in the squad knows you have to perform if you want to stay on the pitch, and I think that shows with everyone trying their best.”

Last weekend Stags’ back four managed to shut out the division’s top-scoring pair in Jon Stead and Jonathan Forte and Pearce said: “They are probably one of the best partnerships we’ve faced so far this season. As a back four I thought we dealt with it.

“It took a bit longer than I’d hoped to adjust to them, but we managed to snuff them out in the end and minimise their threat.

“We have one of the best defensive records in the league at the moment. We take pride in that and try to get as many clean sheets as possible.

“Being a derby game you are always going to be a bit more pumped for it and being a former club it was a big one for me personally.”