Mansfield Town dressing room 'one of the best I've been in', says Stephen McLaughlin
Stephen McLaughlin says the Mansfield Town team are ‘solid’ as a group as they continue this final surge towards the end of the season.
The defender was crucial in Stags’ 2-2 draw against Barnsley at the weekend, scoring a stoppage time equaliser to scrape a hard-fought point against the promotion hopefuls.
At 35, McLaughlin is enjoying playing a regular role in Mansfield Town’s efforts this season and has stressed his age is no factor when it comes to the efforts he puts in on the pitch.
“I feel good,I feel fit and I’m happy to be playing as many minutes as I can. I always try to stay available and keep myself in good shape and thankfully I’m playing the minutes I want to play,” he said. “Age is just a number. I feel good, I feel fit, my body feels good and I’ll just keep turning out the performances, hopefully.”
McLaughlin is among the several senior stars Nigel Clough has at his disposal this season. Alongside the likes of Frazer Blake-Tracy and Deji Oshilaja, Stags have an impressive list of experienced players holding down the fort in defence.
“The experience is absolutely vital at any level, all throughout the leagues, and for him to pop up with such an important goal proves it,” Clough said ahead of the Bradford City game, reflecting on McLaughlin’s heroics against Barnsley on Saturday.
McLaughlin has also weighed in on things behind the scenes at Mansfield Town and says the Stags dressing room is one of the best he has been a part of during his lengthy career. The Irishman joined Stags in 2020 after leaving Southend United. He also previously played for Nottingham Forest for a stint, after moving to England in 2013.
“We are solid, as a group of lads we’re very tight,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a great dressing room – one of the best I’ve been in. On the pitch, we’ve had the same back five for the last couple of months and I think that unites us and everybody gets to know each other and I think we’ve been solid in that way.”
Clough also believes the relationship amongst his players and the close squad unit have been critical during big results this season.
“I think that’s what gets us the result on Saturday and at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup,” the boss reflected. “And times like that when you’re down and out and you’re behind and battling away, it’s the character of the squad without a doubt that gets you the result.”