Stags boss Murray happy with selection headache for Cheltenham six-pointer

After so many injury problems this season, Murray finally has a stable squad to utilise and six changes to bring in fresh legs at Newport on Tuesday saw his side chalk up a second win in four days.

Now Murray has the headache of picking 11 to face fellow strugglers Cheltenham and smiled: “I’ve had headaches for three months now so it’s nothing new.

“I wanted to be in this situation. Everyone is in a high level of performances at the minute and it’s a great problem to have.

“It’s not about individuals or me. I am trying to create a selfless group here, sometimes having to give yourself up for the team. If that means horses for course, that’s the way it is.
“I looked to make a few changes on Tuesday for Newport to freshen things up. People were put in for a reason as I thought they were best to get the best out of the situation on that particular night.

“We’ve got a decent bunch of players here and we are okay on injuries at the minute. The lads who came in were superb

“It is important to look at a batch of fixtures and make sure there is freshness so we can play at a tempo and keep energy levels high. I trust these players, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”

Cheltenham currently occupy one of the bottom two relegation berths, seven points adrift of Mansfield and have won once in 10 games.

Murray said: “It’s another big game. We have had a good six weeks, now it’s important we continue that and put our foot down again.

“These boys are focused and there is a lot of confidence. We are getting these results because of our work ethic and the work and preparation we do on the training ground.

“We want to get as many points on the board as we can.”

Murray said Stags were going to Whaddon Road to win.

“We like to get on the front foot,” he said “It is about us trying to put ourselves on the game as quickly as we can.

“They have a new manager and new players down there and will be playing with a lot of enthusiasm. We have to go out and kill that and put our game plan onto them.”

Stags are now on 41 points and Murray said: “Safety has always been about 50-51 points, though I think it will be lower this year looking at the schedules teams in and around us as they have some tough run-ins, including ourselves. Teams have got to play each other and take points off each other.

“There are a few tired legs and a couple of niggles, but hopefully we will have everyone raring to go.

“Saturday will be a slightly different game plan that I feel would be beneficial for this game. That may be different to Tuesday, but it’s all about getting the three points.”

Loanee keeper Lenny Pidgeley is available again for Mansfield after being unavailable to play against his parent club, Newport on Tuesday.