Stags boss Murray delighted with ‘massive three points’

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray was a happy and relieved man after Mansfield Town’s crucial 2-1 home win over relegation rivals Dagenham & Redbridge today.

Murray even twisted his ankle in the wild goal celebrations that followed Junior Brown’s 83rd minute winner.

But he wasn’t the only one in the wars as Ryan Tafazolli suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first half which was put back in and he soldiered on with a superb display at the back.

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To read the match report click HEREReggie Lambe had put Mansfield in front before Jamie Cureton’s 250th League goal levelled matters only for Brown to be the late hero.

As Stags went above Dagenham in the table, Murray beamed: “I am over the moon. It was a massive three points.

“It wasn’t the prettiest of games. It was a horrible first half. We had a galeforce wind in our faces and couldn’t get out our half.

“I tore into them and asked for certain ingredients at half-time and I got that. We came out and showed the great team spirit we have got.

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“We had to dig in. But that is the best month’s points total of the season.

“It was a very cagey affair. Everyone in the ground was on edge and that rubbed off on the lads. But they gave me everything I asked of them.”

On a tense afternoon, the home fans didn’t make much noise until later in the game when they saw their side pressing for a winner.

Murray said: “There was an eerie feeling about the place today. I didn’t like it but I understand. There was a real anxiety.

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“I know some people in football are not very patient and at times today the ground was silent. When that happens all you can hear are the negative things which is disappointing.

“At the end the lads were saying what a difference it made for them when the fans started making noise.

“We need that from the first minute, though I know it’s easier when we are on top. But they pushed us over the line in the end and I thank them for that again.”

He added: “At half-time I asked for someone to kickstart us and we got the goal and that kicked us on.

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“We went a bit more direct after the break with the wind behind us and scored from two second balls that we knew we would fall to us.

“To be honest I thought their equaliser was superb and a great move. We spoke about Jamie Cureton’s threat during the week and today we only allowed him one chance. But he showed what a quality striker he is and scored it.

“Now I would like to put this away form to bed as it is doing my nut in at the minute.”

In his 100th game in charge of Dagenham, manager Wayne Burnett said: “I thought we were worth a point today. We gave away two really sloppy goals, you can’t afford to defend like that.

“It was always going to be a game of concentration today.

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“I said to the players that the team that concentrated the best and for the longest would win the game.

“The conditions were difficult and we struggled at times to clear, but after falling behind we got ourselves back into the game with a fantastic goal by Jamie Cureton.

“It’s absolutely brilliant, fantastic for him to reach 250 League goals.”

He continued: “I didn’t think we were under any real pressure at 1-1 and I thought if anything we looked the more likely to go on and win it.

“At that stage there was nothing in the game.

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“There were very few goalscoring opportunities. I can’t remember them having a chance in the first half. They came out a bit quicker in the second half, but we got back into it.

“We have still got 13 games to go and lots of points to play for. Let’s not forget we have been on a decent run.

“We’ve been hard to beat and the players have put in a lot of good performances over the last four or five or six weeks. Let’s not take that away from them.

“It has been a tough few weeks. The players are working incredibly hard and doing everything they can.

“Now we have to go again, That’s when we need everyone, the players and supporters moving in the same direction.”