Best back to back Christmas results of all time for Mansfield Town ponders Nigel Clough after glory night at Bolton?

Stags had 12 players not fit to start but somehow followed up the incredible 3-2 comeback win at Barnsley on Boxing Day with a smash and grab 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers tonight, despite further injury problems and one-way traffic for almost 90 minutes on their goal.

“It was an unbelievable result tonight,” he said.

“Because of the quality of the opponents, playing two ex-Premier League clubs, and what we had out there with players unavailable, it is honestly as good a two results as we have had.

“I don't want to personalise it and say in the last 27 years as I don't know the history of this club past the last five years, but if Mansfield have had two better results than these in their history over Christmas I would like to know about them.

“They have been incredible wins and just characterised by complete and utter effort and everyone giving everything. The players were all dead on their feet at the end of the game.

“The way the squad has been getting through this period is remarkable stuff.

“If you had told me a few days ago that we were going to win at Barnsley and Bolton, honestly I would have thought you were daft. I could not see that coming.

“We are so proud of the players and the supporters.”

A Rhys Oates header from a corner just before the break plus three great saves from Liam Roberts and some incredible back to the walls defending earned Stags unlikely back-to-back away wins in four days.

It was a revenge win over Wanderers three weeks after that narrow and contentious home defeat by them and it lifted injury-ravaged Stags as high as 11th in the League One table.

The win also ended the longest unbeaten home record of any side in the country at 17 games for Bolton.

“We knew exactly what sort of game it would be before we got here with 12 players unable to start,” said Clough.

“From the start it was going to be backs to the wall with set plays and breaks our best bet.

“We managed to nick a goal from a set play and we couldn't have tried any harder to defend it than we did tonight.

“We got away with one Bolton chance early on which was self-inflicted by Liam - I don't know what he was doing. But I don't think we got any more tonight than we deserved from the last few games.

“We felt we deserved something from the home game with Bolton three weeks ago. I know they were moaning they should have had a penalty towards the end tonight.

“I don't know if it was or not, but I know that handball should have been a penalty for us at home, so if you want any case of evening up with the decisions we have had go against us this season, then we have a lot more to come.

“Will Evans said their lad ran into him, so I don't think it was a penalty. But we still have a lot more to come.

“It was a little bit of evening up tonight.”

He added: “I don't think Rhys deserved to be sent off in the home game against them, but tonight he's popped up with the goal.

“The only words of inspiration we gave him before were just don't get sent off, try to stay on the pitch a bit longer than 10 minutes.

“Unfortunately he got cramp and had to come off. We were really struggling towards the end as we had made all our substitutions.”

With Louis Reed, Will Evans and Stephen McLaughlin declared not fit enough to start, they were all on the bench but were forced on with Stags losing Elliott Hewitt after 28 minutes followed by Rhys Oates and Max Dickov.

“Elliot had a problem with his glutes and couldn't carry on,” said Clough.

“It was a big blow losing him before half-time. Then we had Max Dickov with a dead leg just into the second half and all of a sudden we are down to just one more opportunity to make a sub.

“That's why we had to get through the last 20 minutes. Frazer Blake-Tracy kept shouting he had to come off, but we said he couldn't as we had no more chances to bring anyone off.

“Reedy did not start the game as he had a hamstring injury. We were advised he could not start – the same with Will Evans and Stephen McLaughlin.

“Luke Bolton has only had 10 minutes training since he came off injured against Wycombe months ago and he has had to come on for half an hour and do a job.

“Max and Kyle McAdam had to play tonight. It was needs must with the others being unable to start. But they did a job for us and did well.”

Clough had special praise for keeper Roberts, saying: “He has been unbelievable from the day he came in and made some fantastic saves tonight.

“He just looks assured and his kicking was good. He is still not 100 per cent after his rib injury, but he is getting there.

“He is a brilliant leader. When the back four or five turn round, there is a lot of assurance to see him between the posts.”

Stags continue a hectic festive period with the visit of Bradford City on New Year's Day and Clough said: “I think this was an extra game tonight that a lot of people in football did not want. We didn't want it either.

“It's a lot of cost for supporters with two away games on the spin at this time of year. And I think four games in nine days is far too many.

“Macca asked the other day who had sorted this out and I said it would be someone who has never played football before.

“It is too much for the players and too much for the supporters.”