Stags boss Cox happy to be FA Cup underdogs

Stags manager Paul Cox is very happy for his side to be underdogs against League One opposition in the next round of the FA Cup.
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

Stags trounced non-League minnows St Albans 8-1 in round one on Saturday and yesterday’s second round draw paired them away to either Wolves or Oldham Athletic, who will replay a week on Tuesday.

“They are both good ties for their own reasons,” said Cox.

“With Wolves you are really talking about a Premiership club with their set-up and fan base while Oldham are former FA Cup semi-finalists.

“So both have a bit of romance about them.

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“I am sure our supporters will do what they have done all season and follow us in their thousands to either game.

“We took a lot down on Saturday and they were pro-active in getting behind the lads. They are true supporters of this club and deserve a massive pat on the back.

“We are underdogs which is a tag I kind of like. The tough games are the ones like St Albans and Slough last year. We are now in the same positions that Slough and St Albans were against us.

“We can relax and go and enjoy the next round. That doesn’t mean we will take our foot off the pedal and accept we are not going through, though. We want to get into the third round again.

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“I know what these boys are capable of when they are focused and hungry and their mindset is right as you saw against Liverpool last year.”

Cox was delighted with the way his side bounced back from trailing 1-0 for much of the first half at St Albans to bag two in the last minute of the half and then destroy them with with a ruthless six-goal second half.

He said: “It was a professional performance. In these kind of games you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

“Some people are saying you should win these games. If you lose they want your head on a plate.

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“But as you have seen elsewhere there were quite a few scalps taken. It just shows how hard these games are. So I think the boys deserve an incredible amount of credit.

“I said before the game it didn’t matter who we played, I just wanted a performance. To score eight goals is a feat in itself and I though the boys looked back in our mode and the mindset was good, especially in the second half.

“Credit to St Albans, I don’t think the scoreline really gives an indication of their level of performance. They are a decent side who were 11 games unbeaten in all competitions.

“The supporters who went down there know how hard we had to work, especially early on, to earn the right to go on and win it.

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“If I am going to be ruthless, I would say we could have scored more as we had a couple of one-on-ones with their keeper as well.

“Credit to my players, these are horrible games to play in.

“Games are played over 90 minutes and these boys work hard on their fitness so credit to them.

“A few things were said at half-time, but I would not be dong my job if I didn’t. I called for a response and the boys chucked it down my throat which pleases me,

“Now it’s all about consistent performances. These boys have set their levels and I am not going to let them drop below that.”

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Star of the show was youngster Sam Clucas, who netted four times in 16 electric second half minutes.

“Sam is a fabulous kid and I am his biggest fan. He now needs to add consistency to his game,” said Cox.

“But I thought Junior Daniel was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. In the first half I can remember a 70-80 yard run he made to get in a challenge that stopped them going 2-0 up. It is a fine line.”

Despite some superb finishes, Cox was in no doubt that Lee Stevenson’s 44th minute equaliser was the most crucial.

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“There were some sublime finishes in the second half. But it was the first goal that was so important to us,” he said.

“Stevo does what he does. Some people love it and some people hate it.

“But no one can question his goals to games ratio. I am chuffed for the kid as he has been up and down of late and I hope the goal has done him the world of good.

“The longer the game went on at 1-0, psychologically St Albans became invincible and hard to break down.

“That first goal put a chink in their armour and the second came at the right time.”