CATLING’S CORNER STAGS BLOG: A chalk and cheese week

We started it with possibly the worst performance from the Stags in a long time, which in all honesty was backed up by the manager Adam Murray.

It ended with a brilliant performance and a ‘much more like it’ display than the shocking one on the Tuesday.

In the 2-0 loss to Exeter, all over the pitch we were absolutely shocking with nothing good coming from anywhere other than in my opinion Blair Adams, who stuck to the standards in which he had set previously.

In my opinion there was no need to change the team that won against Hartlepool on the Saturday and, if he had to, maybe just Yusuff would have been the only change for me after his starring role on the Saturday.

I didn’t think Exeter were that great to be honest, but they took the chances that they got and put them away, Brian Jensen only having one save to make.

Other than that, if we were playing to our normal standards then I think it would have been better.

I think the home form is still worrying and we need to start picking wins up at home and making it a fortress so that when teams come they know as soon as they walk onto the pitch there in for a hard game.

I’ll give Murray credit, though, as he came out after the game and said it was the worst performance since he’s been in charge - so fair play to him for speaking the truth.

I now move on to the Barnet game and as I stated at the beginning of my blog it was a real chalk and cheese week.

We had the worst performance followed up by a very good one against Barnet.

I didn’t manage to make it to the game but a friend said that all over the pitch we were good and controlled the game from the off.

Barnet tried to attack us down our right early on, but having Collins at right back and Rose’s energy in front of him it soon snuffed that out.

I don’t think there was a player who didn’t perform and stick to their job.

The first half was really comfortable but we knew the second half would be tough, even after the sending-off, because the wind was so strong and Barnet are Route One FC.

When Akinde came on he was a real handful, so the second goal came just at the right time, as did the third.

Man of the match for me, and for most fans I understand, was Reggie Lambe, who looked back to his best. Well done Reggie - keep it up for the home game in two weeks.

Also, Greeny looked sharp, took his goal well and played a massive part in the other two. All in all it was a good performance.

I think the way we set up suits us better away from home, but looking at the table it does for most teams.

We came away 3-1 winners and the only downside was the sending-off of Chris Clements, who will be a huge miss.

We now need to start picking up our home form now after the two week break and if that happens, we most certainly will be up at the top come the end of the season.

So come on Adam Murray’s Barmy Army and COYS!