VIDEO: Hurst hoping Notts derby can kickstart Stags' home form

Mansfield Town midfielder Kevan Hurst admits the excitement is building for Saturday's derby visit of Notts County with the Checkatrade EFL Trophy game at Port Vale tomorrow a bit of a distraction.
Mansfield Town's Kevan Hurst speaks with the press after the Crewe game - Pic by Chris HollowayMansfield Town's Kevan Hurst speaks with the press after the Crewe game - Pic by Chris Holloway
Mansfield Town's Kevan Hurst speaks with the press after the Crewe game - Pic by Chris Holloway

“Saturday is a massive game,” he said. “It’s a game that could kickstart our home form and definitely get us up the league.

“I know they’re in good form. Talking about that game brings great excitement to me and I am sure the lads are very much up for it.”

In the meantime, Stags travel to Port Vale tomorrow in the much-derided EFL Trophy, but Hurst refused to join the chorus of dissent against it.

“I am not really going to comment on that – it’s not my place,” he said.

Click HERE to see video of Stags’ goal at Crewe

Click HERE to read the match report

Click HERE to read boss Adam Murray’s thoughts

Click HERE to read the Lomas on Stags blog

Click HERE to read Tim Morriss on Matt Green being dropped

Click HERE to see a gallery of Stags’ fans photos at Crewe

Click HERE to see a slideshow of match action photographs from Gresty Road

“I think as a footballer you’ve got to take every game professionally and approach it the same way. That’s as far as we look at it.”

Hurst provided the cross for Stags’ goal in Saturday’s impressive 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra and said: “They’ve not been beaten at home and they’ve taken some good teams to the cleaners really, so the game plan we came with worked really well.

“I thought I did all right and was happy with the assist. But we are all in it together and we’re all working towards that goal of being successful.

“The lads are disappointed we didn’t hold on to the victory, but you take a point. The away form is really good.

“You keep that momentum going and try to improve the home form. If we can do that we’ve got a good chance.”

Stags’ away form is much better than their home form which Hurst puts down to the way the side line up away from One Call Stadium.

“I just think our shape is really resolute,” he said. “We all know our individual jobs and as a unit we are very solid. That plays a massive part in how we set up away from home.

“If we can start winning at home we can quickly start moving up the league.

“We now need to add the goals to our armoury and we will move up the league as we don’t concede many. We are all staying positive and we will get there definitely.”

Hurst laid on Pat Hoban’s first goal for the club, but with Matt Green, Darius Henderson and Danny Rose all hungry for first team striker’s shirts, Hurst is convinced there are plenty of goals to come if he can help keep the supply line going.

“Paddy’s hold-up play is his main asset and he’s very good at that,” he said. “And he’s got himself a goal which I’m really pleased with. The other lads, Greeny, Hendo, Rosey, they are all capable of getting in the box and scoring goals.

“It’s our job to provide for them and provide quality, which we work on every day in training. It’s just a case of being patient and keep putting it in there and keeping the chances coming for them.”