Matt Green believes Cobblers draw is a massive boost for Stags' confidence

Mansfield Town v Northampton Town, Monday March 28th 2016. Stags player Matt Green scores his 2nd goal of the game. Photo: Chris Etchells

Stags’ play-off hopes are almost gone after six games without a win following a very tough set of March fixtures.

But Green, who bagged a brace to take his season’s tally to 14, said: “It was a great reaction and that’s what the manager wanted. I think that’s the best way for the team to build.

“Our backs were against the wall. The faithful came to see if we could react as a team after the results we’ve had.

“We will take so much out of that game. We were men. We were soldiers and I think everyone could see that.”

Stags led 2-0 only to have Jamie McGuire sent off and then see a disputed penalty let the Cobblers back into the game.

“We should have got something out the game,” said Green. “But we went down to 10 men, dug in and showed our endeavour.

“Eventually it equalled itself out unfortunately with a couple of decisions from the referee as well.”

Green got his head onto two excellent free kicks by Mal Benning and Chris Clements and said: “They were great deliveries to be honest.

“We’ve been on to the boys about creating chances and to be fair they dug in and created some.”

The goals took Green to sixth in the club’s all-time top League scorers list with 68, overtaking Dudley Roberts.

This Saturday Stags head to much-improved Hartlepool United.