Steve Evans thanks Stags fans for warm reception after winning start

Evans was overwhelmed by the reaction he got from people and said: “I came to the ground today and met some wonderful, humble people.

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“They must have thought I was the messiah when I arrived today such is the way people have received me and spoke to me.

“All I know is what they will get, as Rotherham United got, as Crawley Town got, is someone who lives it and breathes it, every minute of every day.”

Stags bossed the game from start to finish, but it took them 50 minutes to find the breakthrough before two more goals in the following 10 minute sealed Crawley’s fate.

“We were disappointed to be 0-0 at half-time,” he said. “We will go back on the training ground tomorrow and work hard.

“The boys have worked extremely hard today and that’s the minimum we ask. We are pleased with some of the things and unhappy with other things.

“You work hard and earn your rewards and that was our reward to the spectators today, and the players, the chairman and the chief executive. I am really pleased for them.”

Evans has said he has been told he can bring in new faces in January if needed but is hoping the current squad will have shown him their worth by then.

“We have got a wonderful opportunity between now and January for me not to ask the Radford family to spend some of their money,” he said

“My evening will be spent doing the analysis we will work on for Tuesday (next game at home to Blackpool) and breaking today’s game down. That’s my job.

“Let the players enjoy their evening and we will be back on the training ground tomorrow.

“I am never going to call the previous manager as I think he is a fine young man. But it’s quite evident that they have got a lot of work to do.

“Two or three things we tried to introduce in 48 hours didn’t quite come off today but one or two did.

“One of the things we spoke to young Chris Clements about was getting into the box and losing runners and if you watch the goals back tonight you will see how he lost his runners.

“The message at half time was to keep the concentration levels high. I thought we were a little sloppy defensively. I said if we can keep a clean sheet we will win the game.”

He concluded: “On a fair reflection of today we might have scored six or seven goals, but you will always take a win.

“As I said to my players since the first meeting I had with them, I’d rather win 6-5 then 1-0. It’s the way my teams play and the way we set up.

“The last 15 minutes I thought we could have managed the game more, and by doing that we’d have made more chances.

“But it’s three points. It’s a start and we will see where it goes but I am really pleased for am lot of people tonight.

“We will now go forward and try to produce the same energy levels we did today on Tuesday. That’s the minimum the supporters should deserve.”