Frazer Blake-Tracy optimistic Mansfield Town can soar to success this season with a little more consistency and belief

He is also hoping to keep his shirt and make a big impact in that promotion push after a disappointing time with injuries last season.

“It has been a respectable start,” he said ahead of this Saturday's return to action at home to Huddersfield Town after that 2-1 setback at Northampton Town two weeks back before the international break.

“At ninth out of 24 teams, statistically you are doing just above average.

“But in this league anyone can beat anyone.

“You have big teams in the bottom four that probably shouldn't be there and teams at the top that don't look too far away.

“You don't have the Wrexhams and Birminghams in there this season and I think we have played most teams this season and we think we can beat anyone.

“It is just about being consistent. Consistency is a massive thing.

“It's okay being all right for one or two games. But the best teams are consistent and the boys maybe need to have a little bit more belief in themselves.

“If you make a mistake or have a poor game, you can't let that go with you into the next game.

“You have to be 'mind-fresh' and try to go into every game thinking you can win.”

He added: “People see 'little old Mansfield' playing all these ex-Premier League teams in this division.

“But we don't feel like that. We have a squad here that is capable of doing really good things.

“Going forward we always look like we're going to score goals and have players who can create something out of nothing.

“After 15 games and sitting ninth in the league, you'll take it.

“But it's up to the boys now if they want to kick on and go for the play-offs or just be happy sitting in mid-table. I know what I want and that is to push up the table.

“It is a tough run of big games coming up as we head towards Christmas, but it is about our mentality and what we want to achieve.

“When I went up from this division with Peterborough, they did not let conceding a goal affect them and the boys just expected to win every week.

“Mentality is a massive thing in football and if we can be consistent then who knows where it can take us?

“We just need to focus on ourselves and on Saturday, as that is the next game and the only thing that we can control.

“We are raring to go against Huddersfield as it's been a long couple of weeks since Northampton.”

Stags had been on a decent run of results and led 1-0 at Northampton Town at half-time in their last fixture before last weekend's international break.

But they let the game slip in the second half and lost 2-1 which prevented them ending the day in fifth.

“It was especially frustrating with the international break being straight after,” said Blake-Tracy.

“We were good in the first half, dominated, and limited them to very little.

“But then second half, goals change games and we gave them a cheap first goal.

“The crowd plays into it and they get confidence and get a second.

“Away at a place like Northampton, if they've got a lead to hold onto it's a tough, tough job.

“At half-time 1-0 up away from home you are thinking you have a massive opportunity here to keep putting points on the board.

“But 45 minutes later you're in the dressing room wondering how did that get away from us?

“It has been a disappointing couple of weeks reflecting on it.

“If you are not going to win the game, then don't lose it – a point away from home in this league is not the worst result.

“As a defender, I really enjoy defending, so conceding sloppy goals and losing games does not sit right with me.

“We need to be more resilient.

“We need to show a positive reaction to that last game on Saturday – especially at the One Call in front of our fans.

“We seem to have a decent record at home – we just seem to have a go. Saturday will be no different.”

Stags recently lost 3-1 at Huddersfield in the Vertu League Trophy and Blake-Tracy said: “I don't know what their starting XI will be, but their principles will stay the same and we know they are a good footballing side.

“They like to play and so do we, so it will probably be a game the fans enjoy, but we will do whatever it takes to win.”

Blake-Tracy is fast putting last season's disappointments behind him as he cements a place in the Stags back line.

“I am pleased to be playing games,” he said.

“Last season was one that was unprecedented for me.

“I think I made 21 appearances in all last season and I have already done 19 this season and it's only just coming to the back end of November.

“My aim is just to play as many games as possible.

“I just enjoy being able to contribute to the team and long may that continue.

“Last season was a bit of a freak for me right from getting injured in that first game at Barnsley.

“First game of the season you are never fully match fit, it probably takes about five games.

“And in the last minute of that first game of the season I sprinted as hard as I could, got injured, and that was probably a knock-on effect to my season.

“I never really got up to the fitness that I wanted to at the start of the season.

“It was a strange season for me and had never really happened before in my career.

“I have not done anything too differently this season. I am just working hard and, touch wood, have no more injuries to come.”

Previously used on the left of defence, Blake-Tracy is enjoying a run of games filling in at centre-half from where returning players may now find him hard to shift.

“I really enjoy it at centre half as I really enjoy defending,” he said.

“At full back sometimes it is a different task where you might be one on one against a winger and I enjoy that challenge.

“But at centre back you might have more aerial duels and more tackles and you can probably lead more as you're closer to other people while at left back you're probably a little bit isolated out there.

“I did play centre half quite a lot at Swindon and it's something I enjoy.”

Stags boss Nigel Clough is a master of signing versatile players who can play a number of positions and Blake-Tracy said: “It is just the skill sets of the players that the gaffer brings in – they are adaptable.

“I couldn't play there, but I know exactly what he wants from the strikers.

“I know what he wants from the wingers, I know what he wants from his goalie – not that I would play there either.

“We all understand what he wants from every position and that helps.

“We have a lot of players that can play in many different positions and if it makes it tougher for the opposition to guess our starting line up then that's their problem.”

Blake-Tracy also had high praise for summer signing goalkeeper Liam Roberts behind him, who has been in superb form since he arrived.

“Liam has been really, really good - I can't sing his praises enough,” said the 30-year-old defender.

“He is not just a good goalkeeper but a really good person as well.

“He comes into training, works hard and is very personable, and on the field he is just top.

“He is a communicator, he is a good football player, he's a shotstopper and I think we are lucky to have him.

“Liam just gives you confidence and there have been times in the season, especially away from home, when he has made saves that, had he not, it could have been a very different game.

“He has been magnificent and has definitely saved us a few points this season.”