Rhead hoping home form will turn in Stags’ favour

Stags made it seven points out of nine away from home with last weekend’s fine 1-1 draw at Portsmouth and Rhead admitted: “We are doing well on the road. We just need to turn it round at home.

“We are picking up a lot of points away and, if we can get a few more at home, we can start moving up the table.

“Obviously with a lot of people there at Portsmouth it was a good atmosphere and I think we performed quite well under the circumstances. They were like a 12th man to them.

“But once we got the goal they turned against them. We just couldn’t hang on, but a draw was a good result in the end.

“This is an important week for us now with two home games and we are looking to get something out of both, hopefully six points.

“It’s crazy. But I am sure we will turn it round. The lads are working hard and away form has picked up. Our main aim is to get up the table and move away from the relegation zone.

“It’s a long time since we won at home and we want to start doing well for the fans.”

He added: “We are creating chances, we need to start converting them now.

“I have never played in a league like it. You can win one and move up but lose the next one and you are down there. We just need to find some consistency.

“The fans are massive to us. They pushed us to promotion last year and if they get behind us we should hopefully start moving up.”

Stags were booed from the field after their 2-0 home defeat by leaders Scunthorpe last time out at One Call Stadium, though they did play well at times, especially in the first half.

“We were on top for the first half hour, though Scunthorpe did score an unbelievable goal which deflated us a bit,” said Rhead. “But we have got to overcome stuff like that. We know the second half wasn’t good enough and we want to put that right on Saturday.”

Rhead knows competition for his place is likely to increase with the club chasing a new striker, but he said: “It would be a positive if we get somebody in as that puts the pressure on you to do better and makes the team stronger in the long run.

“I think I have done all right in the run I have had in the team and I hope that continues as I prefer to start every game, but I will do whatever the gaffer wants of me for the team.”