Big decisions for Murray as Stags look to kickstart home form against Notts

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray said he is planning to try something different up front to end Stags' poor run of home form when local rivals Notts County come to town on Saturday (12.15pm).
Mansfield Town's Matt Green - Pic by Chris HollowayMansfield Town's Matt Green - Pic by Chris Holloway
Mansfield Town's Matt Green - Pic by Chris Holloway

Murray has some huge headaches over who to pick up front with star striker Matt Green dropped for the last three games to end a goal drought but coming on as a sub to snatch the winner at Port Vale in midweek.

Green’s replacement Pat Hoban had two fine games in his absence and Darius Henderson was excellent in midweek while Danny Rose has done nothing wrong.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I thought Hendo was terrific on Tuesday,” said Murray. “I know, who I am going to play. All of the players will prepare to play, all of them will want to play, all of them will expect to play, but unfortunately we can only pick two centre forwards, or three. “Because the home form needs to change we are looking at something bit different for Saturday where we want to have a right go.

“This is probably my trickiest thing for Saturday. It’s a tough one.

“I thought the boys who played on Tuesday gave us something different, but the boys who played on Saturday gave us something different to that.

“I have a few decisions to make, but I will base them on the game and the occasion.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Murray said, despite his dislike of the Checkatrade Trophy, Tuesdays’ win at Port Vale will have done his players the power of good.

“I didn’t need it personally but I think the players needed it more than anybody,” he said. “ Performances of late have been very good.

“Anybody that knows the game and understands it will know that. We’ve just needed that little bit of Lady Luck and we got that on Tuesday.

“The performance level was as high as it’s been and we had that little bit of quality and that bit of luck to get the win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was a good outing and It’s not that I am against the game. I just don’t believe in what the competition stands for. The game was good for us. It allowed us to work on a few things and get people minutes.”