LOMAS ON STAGS: How quickly times have changed for Mansfield Town under Nigel Clough’s charge

A crowd of 8,583 watched a fantastic tussle between a class side destined for a return to the Championship and a promoted side going well beyond all expectations at this level.

The noise in the second half from the stands was absolutely deafening and the atmosphere electric – real ‘hairs standing up on the back of the neck’ stuff.

Less than five years ago for the last public home game before the Clough era Stags attracted 3,653 to a Saturday home game with Newport County and were going nowhere under the then manager Graham Coughlan.

The result left them 13 points from the bottom with 12 games to go and fans disillusioned with their club’s prospects.

Then came Covid and behind closed doors games for just over a season, during which time the wily Clough replaced Coughlin and started sowing the seeds of success he had so superbly cultivated at Burton Albion.

Increasingly near misses with promotion followed until last year when the task was finally achieved.

The first thought of everyone then was survival at League One level. But this manager and this incredibly talented squad – being touted by some as the club’s best ever – are giving cause for fans to dream of being involved in a scrap for a place in the Championship.

It’s hard to see past Birmingham and Wrexham for the automatic spots, but the play-offs are wide open and Stags fourth with a quarter of the season already gone. One Call Stadium has transformed into a joyous arena, the booing from the stands has gone, and the fare on the pitch is fantastic to watch.

Those who don’t remember the mid 1970s have never seen anything like this before, though the homegrown early 2000s side with Lawrence/Williamson/Disley/Hassell were a joy to watch.

But the strength of the current squad is frightening with very good players unable to even get into the matchday 16 as injuries clear up.

Let’s savour every minute as seasons like this do not come around too often.