Manager Graham Coughlan hoping Mansfield Town can climb a mountain and win at Plymouth Argyle

Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan hopes to make a winning return to his former club at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday but accepts it will be a mountain to climb against the in-form Pilgrims.
Graham CoughlanGraham Coughlan
Graham Coughlan

“It's a massive challenge and a massive arena,” he said.

“We know that – we're not daft. It's a big ground, a big club, a brilliant fan base.

“They are probably the best team in the division. So it's a mountain to climb. But I have come here to climb a mountain and change this club's fortunes to bring success.

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“There is no bigger and better challenge than going down to Plymouth to play an Argyle team that are in form and, let's be honest, will get promoted.”

Stags have yet to beat a side in the top seven this season and Coughlan said: “There is no better time to change our fortunes against top seven teams than Saturday.

“The couple of clubs we have played from the top seven, we have been more than a match for them and we aim to do that again on Saturday.

“But it's a very difficult place to go. A lot of teams get beat up with the five or six hour journey on the way down or by the size of the arena and the noise the fanbase generates.

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“It's a great place to play your football and we should be looking forward to going down there.”

He continued: “They have possibly two of the best players in the division in Danny Mayor and Antoni Sarcevic.

“They have stumbled across a system that Ryan Lowe has put in place that has worked really well for them.

“They're open, they're expansive and they play on a lovely pitch and they keep going. They have a good manager, a good squad of players and a lot of belief and confidence. They have all the ingredients to be successful.

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“But the tougher the challenge the more men can rise to that challenge. I am looking for the men and the leaders in the group and in the face of diversity maybe come up with an unexpected result.”

Plymouth are currently fifth, but only outside the top three automatic promotion places on goal difference.