Depleted Mansfield Town target loan signing for Rotherham trip as they chase fourth win in a row
Mansfield Town are hoping to secure a loan signing before Sunday's trip to Rotherham United.
The Stags were missing six players before today's magnificent 3-0 home win over Bradford City and could now also be without Will Evans and Kyle McAdam for Sunday's squad.
“Will has picked up a thigh injury – we are not sure on the seriousness of it yet.
“Kyle felt his groin in warm up so we drafted in Ollie Taylor.
“Elliott Hewitt is still struggling with his glutes, so we are looking to try to bring someone in on loan for the Rotherham game.
“Someone would have to be signed by 12 on Saturday to play at Rotherham, but we are going to try to give the squad a boost.”
Today's third festive win in a row has rocketed Stags from the relegation places up to ninth in the table and came against a Bradford side chasing automatic promotion and with five wins in six games before this one. But a Rhys Oates brace and a goal from Lucas Akins put the Bantams to the sword with Clough saying this was the best of the three superb wins following away victories at Barnsley and Bolton over the past week.
“You have to put this win in context with the other two and say it's been quite remarkable with the standard of the opposition we have been playing – top six teams and we got the three victories with clean sheets in the last two,” he said.
“I thought today was the pick of the bunch with the all-round performance.
“We scored two goals and looked after it. Then we had an iffy spell in the first 10 minutes of the second half, though they didn't have any clear cut chances.
“After that we got a third goal and could probably have had a fourth.
“Our all-round performance today to a man was fantastic.
“All the subs had an impact when they came on as well.
“We showed good work rate but also showed quality too.
“Bradford are a very good side and where they are in the league for a reason.
“So it was about stopping them and then imposing ourselves.
“Today you saw the confidence we had on the back of the previous two results and put it all together.”
Oates won man of the match with his two-goal return and Clough added: “That's what you miss when he is not there - he is a threat.
“He missed four games but then got the winner at Bolton and scored twice today.
“The Lucas Akins goal reminded us of the old days when he used to get up at the far post. It was an excellent header.”