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Mansfield Town need to fully focus on Blue Square Premier promotion bid, warns boss Paul Cox
Stags 2012-2013 Paul Cox
MANSFIELD boss Paul Cox says his players must put any thoughts of Liverpool to the back of their minds and focus fully on beating Ebbsfleet United on Saturday.
Stags, who have not played in the league since beating Macclesfield 3-0 away on 20th November, are currently ninth in the BSP table and four points behind Dartford in the final play-off place.
But Mansfield have the chance to narrow the gap on Saturday and have been bouyed after recent results went their way, with Dartford losing their last two matches and Grimsby and Wrexham both failing to win at the weekend.
And, although a money-spinning FA Cup tie against Liverpool could be on the horizon. boss Paul Cox knows league results will ultimately define the success of Mansfield’s season.
“We need to put the FA Cup to the back of our minds and concentrate on Ebbsfleet,” said Cox.
“The lads have got to realise that the best way to stay in the team for the FA Cup is by playing well on Saturday against Ebbsfleet. Everyone has something to play for, there are some massive games ahead.
“We played very well against Luton, and should have won in my view, and we were excellent against Macclesfield before the break for the FA Trophy. In some ways the FA Trophy came at the wrong time for us.
“We need to keep that momentum going and get a few wins together to climb up the table. The results have gone for us in recent weeks and we need to capitalise on that. We want to be right up there at the end of the season.
“Ebbsfleet have had some decent results recently. The league is what counts and the players know that, I want us to go out there and get the win.”
Despite Stags being outside the play-off places, Cox is happy with how Mansfield’s season is developing.
“The league is a tight league and automatic promotion is still a possibility for a lot of teams,” he added. “There is not a lot between the teams and it is the team that is most consitent which will get promotion.
“There are area’s that we need to improve on, but I feel we are in a better position this season compared to this point last season.
“We are in a healthy league position and fighting for a place in the third round of the FA Cup.
“We are starting to get to an important part of the season now, the games are coming thick and fast and I can’t wait for the festive games.
“Some people are looking at a possible game against Liverpool, but there is a lot of football to be played before then.
“We need to show the correct hunger and the right mindset to make a game against Liverpool possible.”
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Weather for Mansfield
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
