Stevenson banking on busy spell to boost Stags

Mansfield have nine games ahead before the end of March with four of the next five at home – starting with tomorrow’s visit of high-flying Fleetwood Town – and said: “I think we have missed that this season – playing Saturday, Tuesday.

“Last season if we lost on a Saturday you would go out and batter a team on the Tuesday or if you won Saturday you couldn’t wait for Tuesday to come.

“It is something to look forward to and it’s what we get paid to do.

“We now need to try to bring our away performances into our home games as we are playing well away from home.”

Stags lost a breathtaking game 5-4 at Fleetwood in November and Stevenson said: “It was an amazing game – you only maybe get a couple of those in a year.

“If Anthony Howell hadn’t made his early mistake we could have been 2-0 up.”

Last weekend the Stags were wasteful in front of goal as they lost 3-0 at Oxford in a game they otherwise dominated and Stevenson said: “I don’t think I have played in a more one-sided three-niller to be honest. I should have scored at least one as should Sam Clucas. It was just one of those games really.

“But if we come back here on Saturday and win, everyone will forget about Oxford.

“Their keeper pulled off some good saves. All you can do is hit the target.

“You can always work on your finishing in training. I have got a lot of confidence in myself and my own ability. Give me chances and I am always going to be able to put them away – the posts don’t move. Scoring goals is my job and I should have scored on Saturday. I’ve not scored in the last three now, so I am due one.

“I am quite happy with my goalscoring ratio this season and I hope I can get into double figures.”

Stevenson is currently on six goals, but he knows he faces an uphill task to finish up top scorer with Clucas already on 12.

“It is a task for me. Take those four goals away that he scored at St Albans and I probably would,” said Stevenson.

“Sam is going to finish top scorer. He is our main goal threat. He is a good player and got us going when he came on against Wycombe. He wants to get on the ball and make things happen.”

Stevenson has had a couple of angry clashes with home supporters after being verbally abused following disappointing results this season, but says he has no regrets.

“The fans need to be our 12th man,” he said. “I have had a couple of run-ins, but it’s just a moment of passion.

“I don’t regret anything in my life. You just learn from things. You get up and get on with it.

“It just shows passion. Everyone here wants to win for the football club, for the manager and for ourselves to make sure we keep out shirts.”