When told that Mansfield were top of the pile after their fifth successive home win (a run last achieved in 2002), he said: "I didn't know that, but we will take it.

• Mansfield Town 3 Eastborne Borough 1

"But it means we are there to be shot at now, it will make each game a bit harder now. We knew this would be a hard League with no easy games, today proved that. Now they will be even harder as everyone will want to beat the team at the top.

"It is a long hard season ahead and we are grateful to have this many points now already.

"For a neutral that game was great stuff and I am delighted for the players, but it was heart attack stuff wasn't it?

"Eastbourne made us work very hard for the win and credit to them for that."

The manager was pleased with the Stags' work ethic as goals by Mark Stallard, Nathan Arnold (his first of the season) and Matt Somner (his first for the club) killed off a plucky Eastbourne, who were gifted a goal at the start of the second half.

A mix-up for a second successive match between defender Adie Moses and keeper Paddy Gamble cost the Stags a goal - but this time it only gave Borough a lifeline at 2-1 and the Stags eventually found a crucial late third goal from the head of Somner.

McEwan said: "We gave them a goal with some Micky Mouse defending and we have got to be better than that.

"I am delighted for Matty (Somner) to get his goal at the end from a great ball into the box and young Nathan (Arnold) is off the mark now, too."

McEwan was also full of praise for the Stags' groundsman Michael Merriman, whose efforts over the previous 24 hours ensured the game beat the torrential rain.

The pitch was passed fit to play on Saturday morning after 24 hours of heavy rain, and also stood up to further rain during the game.

Mcewan said: "We have got to give the groundsman and groundstaff praise, they worked fabulously to get the game on."

• Stags game on after pitch inspection

He added: "I am delighted with the five wins in five home matches, the lads worked hard. It was a bit nervy in the second half after we gave them a goal, but to be fair we hung in and got the third and decisive goal to kill them off.

"I thought when we had an effort blocked on the line it was not going to be our day, but we hung in . . . and as I say, don't leave this ground early as again today we got another late goal which finally killed them off.

"But we are giving away goals too easily, yet we have to work for ours. We can't keep giving soft goals away like that. Hopefully we going to learn that we can't give other teams a lift as we are doing at the moment.

"But at end of day we won 3-1, though it wasn't an easy 3-1."

Borough boss Garry Wilson said: "It was a poor first by us and we dropped below our standards which was really disappointing.

"We couldn't clear our lines at crucial times and looked very lethargic.

"We did improve after the break and got the response we wanted.

"We got the goal and raised our game another notch and I thought we had Mansfield on the back foot at times.

"Coming up to this division this season the tempo is much higher and quicker and we have to come to grips with that which we have done in recent weeks, but not today.

"We were slow to react and looked a bit flat-footed.

"But we have confidence in our own ability and we have to make sure we pick up the points at home. Anything away is a bonus. We know we won't finish top five or six - survival is our aim."