Big win over Bradford City was exactly what the doctor ordered for Mansfield Town says midfielder Alex MacDonald

Stags dominated from start to finish and never looked back after Danny Rose headed an inch-perfect MacDonald cross home after only seven minutes.

Stags had only won once in 13 games and only two home league games all season, so MacDonald smiled: “That was a big win and an unbelievable performance from the players and the fans.

“It was just what we needed – that performance and a clean sheet. And the fans from minute one were just unbelievable.

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“When you start like that at home and you have the Stags faithful behind you, this place is a really difficult place to come for opponents.”

But MacDonald said the win was no fluke after Stags had recently failed to capitalise on other excellent performances.

“This was no fluke – it's everything we've been working on,” he said.

“It's all been there on the training ground for the last three or four weeks.

“ We have been so close in terms of performances, but just been a little naïve at the back.

“Today we were solid. I felt we could have stayed out there all day and we were not going to concede.”

MacDonald is now hoping they can build on today and move up the table.

He said: “We are where we are for a reason, but we've said in the changing room that now has to be a start.

“It's the benchmark of what we need to do and hopefully we can replicate that performance.

“We had the right mentality going into the game after another fantastic week on the training pitch.”

He added: “Our front three covered some miles today and when you have a front three like that starting the press off, as a team you have to back that up.

“We did that today and scored three great goals and, most importantly, we got the clean sheet.

“Today everyone has seen what we're capable of.”