Mansfield Musings Blog: Stags overdue a convincing win

It was perhaps a result that could have been predicted, with Wycombe having drawn 10 League games this season, only bettered by York City.

I can only think that drawing rather than losing, combined with an excellent goalkeeper, is the only reason they are top of the League, as their display was woefully short of a team you would expect to be gracing League One next season.

By the end, Stags had gained their first point since Boxing Day against a top of the table side.

It was their first clean sheet since before Christmas and on paper, probably a point which we would have all taken before kick-off.

The worry for the Stags will be that it was another game in which they more than deserved three points but again missed gilt-edged opportunities.

Surely, sooner or later, somebody is going to get beat by two or three goals.

The frustrating aspect for Murray is that their are no obvious flaws in the Stags’ play, creating chances and on the whole, defending well.

The two changes he made definitely improved the side and Ricky Ravenhill as captain was excellent.

The only slight criticism I would have is that Murray was slow to act with substitutions.

Kee and Brown were pretty much anonymous in the second half, Kee clearly still not fully match fit and he should have been taken off instead of Oliver, and 10 minutes earlier.

Oliver, despite missing a couple of good chances, is at the heart of everything positive that the Stags create.

The long trip to Carlisle is the next stop as Mansfield continue to look for a win.

Ex-Stags boss Keith Curle will be determined that his team are not the ones to provide that, not to mention the fact that they are in a worse position than Mansfield in the League.

It really is a ‘six pointer’ and a repeat of the last two performances will surely see the Stags pick up a much needed win.

For the next game, barring any injuries, I would keep the same team.

I have to say though that should Billy Kee still look unfit in the next game, questions need to be asked.

He will have played three lots of 90 minutes and have four weeks of training under his belt.

Surely this is sufficient time for a player to be up to full fitness?

SAM BINCH