And on Thursday he also said that striker Jason Lee, missing from the midweek draw at York, would be given until just before the kick-off to prove his fitness.

The Sports seem to have now found their feet in the top flight of non-League football now after last season's promotion and have just won three straight games wthout conceding a goal, including victory over table-topping Forest Green.

A 6-3 hammering at Oxford and a 3-0 home defeat by Cambridge have been their low points, but Borough have already won twice away this season and McEwan said: "We know it will be tough as they have had some positive results against good opponents.

"We have won four at home on the trot but have no divine right to win a fifth. You can't look back, you have to look forward. We know we will have to battle and compete to earn the right to play the way we want to play on Saturday.

"No one should 'expect' us to win. If you expect it you are a fool.
"It is two months today since I came in and no one could have expected us to start this well.

"I am delighted with our start - 14 points from seven games is a good return.

"This a new set of lads and they have done well. But a lot of hard work has been done on the training pitch and we are reaping the rewards, though we know there is a long way to go.

"It is all down to hard work and good management. That is not blowing our own trumpet but most people only see what happens on the pitch but don't know how much hard work is going on behind the scenes all the time.

"It has been a team effort, players, board, fans, the excelen pitch by the groundsman, everyone has contributed."

Stags' only real injury worry continues to be striker Jason Lee (ankle). "He is still having treatment and we will give him until Saturday to see how he is," said McEwan.