Mansfield Town's Matty Blair back to his best at last

Blair has just played five successive games in a Stags shirt for the first team and last weekend scored one, made one and took man of the match.

Ahead of the trip to Newport on Saturday, he said that the 3-2 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge was his best game for the club since he signed.

“Without a doubt. I felt fit, I felt strong and I felt like the old me,” said Blair.

“So getting a goal and an assist felt pretty good.”

In the previous home game, Blair had claimed a deflected goal, but against Dagenham, he smashed home a half-volley off a post to double his tally for the club and said: “There was no doubt today. It was an all right strike wasn’t it?”

As the Stags head for struggling Newport, Blair added: “We are thoroughly thinking about promotion now – that’s what everyone in the changing room wants. We need to win games to do that.

“We have been better away from home as we are defensively a very solid team and the home team has to come and attack.”

Boss Adam Murray is delighted to see Blair finally hit top form.

“It was always going to be time with Blairy as he was out a long time,” he said.

We know he needed to get his rhythm, to get his game time.

“We played him in a slightly different position on Saturday, but his energy and his drive gives you a good threat.

“I thought he was superb on Saturday and will just keep getting stronger and stronger now.”