Goal ace Clucas underlines his commitment to Mansfield

Clucas, just back from injury last week, set Stags on the way to a first home win in 12 games in a 2-1 win over promotion-chasing Southend United in terrible wind and rain yesterday and said: “That was much-needed and I thought we thoroughly deserved it.

“The last few games we have been unfortunate not to get the three points, but we managed it today in difficult conditions.

“We have been playing some very good football but just not putting the ball in the net.

“The whole side were heroes today, even the subs, who were shouting encouragement at us as we ran past them.

“The fans were great too. We went on to a great reaction and came off to a great reaction too so I want to thank them very much for that.

“The pitch was churning up in the second half, which made it difficult, but the boys just dug in.

“They (Southend) seemed to be be trying to chop me down a bit, but I enjoy that.”

On his goal, he said: “The wind held the ball up a bit which helped me and luckily it went under their keeper.

“I just focused on hitting the target and it went in, so happy days.”

Clucas also reaffirmed his commitment to the cause, saying: “I am 100 per cent a Mansfield Town player. I enjoy playing here and it was all just speculation in January.

“I just want to do my best for Mansfield and we will see what happens in the future.

“Hopefully we can now carry this on against Bury on Tuesday and get a little run together.

“All we’ve needed is a bit of luck or the rub of the green. The table is so tight it can go either way for us, so that’s why we need to put a run together to move up it.

“After Bury we have to play Oxford and Fleetwood, so we have some very difficult games coming up. But we have shown against a very good side today that we are capable of taking the three points.”