Let’s go on a run, says Cox ahead of Plymouth trip

Paul Cox called on his Mansfield Town players to go on another run of success to secure safety in what looks to be a wide open relegation battle in League Two ahead of tomorrow’s game at Plymouth Argyle.
Mansfield Town's manager Paul Cox  -Pic by:Richard ParkesMansfield Town's manager Paul Cox  -Pic by:Richard Parkes
Mansfield Town's manager Paul Cox -Pic by:Richard Parkes

Cox was told this week he won’t be allowed to bring in any more players this season, but, having already seen the current squad produce a superb run of form earlier in the season, he is not too worried by the transfer ban.

Stags have now lost just once in six and Cox, who always seems to get his sides on a roll in the second half of a season, said: “You look at this league and only the top seven are guaranteed staying in this division next season.

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“There will be a lot of twists and turns and a lot of anxiety between now and the end of the season.

“We are in a good place, working hard, looking very, very hard to beat and creating some good chances.

“This is the same group of players that only lost two of their first 13 games and they are quite capable of going on a run of results.

“It is all about sticking together and creating a one, especially at home games.

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“The majority of the games we have left now are at home and it’s all about creating a fortress.

“Win a game and you can jump up four or five places if other results go for you. Win two and you can be in the top 10.

“There will always be someone that gets pulled down into the relegation battle and always someone who comes out of the pack to challenge at the top end.

“It will be the team that keeps its nerve and focus that finished in a healthy position at the end of the season.”

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This is Stags’ third long haul away game on the bounce and Cox added: “At Exeter and Portsmouth, the boys have been ultra-professional. We have stayed in hotels the night before and they have eaten the right foods, got the right sleep and prepared properly. They have shown that desire to be top of their profession and got some good results

“We know it will be a tough one tomorrow. We had a bit of a disappointing result at home to Plymouth earlier in the season. It was another of those ‘should have’ games, but we fell to a goal in the 93rd minute. But you can’t change the past and we are hoping for a better outcome tomorrow.”

Stags’ home midweek game with Bury fell victim to a waterlogged pitch and Cox said: “It was disappointing as I feel we are picking up a bit of momentum. We’ve only lost one in six and we did enough on Saturday to win two football matches.

“But the whole country has got it at the moment and you can’t control the weather.

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“It’s (Stags’ current form) all in the mind. The players now seem to be in a good place, though no one is getting carried away.

“Anyone at the game last weekend (a 2-2 home draw with Wycombe) would say we deserved to win it on chances created. Once again we came up a keeper in inspired form, but I am tired of hearing that - we just need to be more ruthless.”