Nigel Clough challenges Mansfield Town squad to prove they're better than league position suggests

Nigel Clough wants his Stags to climb the table. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The new Stags boss has been impressed with his side's attitude and work rate since arriving at the club earlier this month .

It may have taken the players a frustrating 15 matches to claim their first win of the season, their first victory since a 2-1 success at Northampton Town in March, but Clough believes the foundations are already in place as he bids to move Mansfield further away from the relegation zone.

"You can sense the determination in the squad within the first week, that they feel they're better than their results," he said, keen for the players to now prove that by putting together a string of positive results.

"It's encouraging that they'd only lost four league games. As much as they hadn't won, they'd only lost four."

Clough says the squad's mission is to now improve upon those previous performances and, with a bit more solidity and nouse, turn those defeats into draws and draws into victories.

"The one thing that's stood out, the work rate is excellent within the squad," he added.

"It's got the nucleus of a good squad. It's got some potential but, obviously, they haven't (been winning) and there's reasons why we're towards the bottom of the league.

"That's our first priority, to identify those reasons and try to rectify it."Clough has not hidden the fact he wants to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window.

But the Stags squad still have several weeks to catch their manager's eye and make their case to be part of what he is attempting to build at One Call Stadium.

"We've inherited a good squad,” Clough continued.

"I think it'll need a few additions hopefully in January, and that'll mean a few going out on loan or permanent.

"We've got six or seven weeks to assess that.

"Outside the transfer window you can't change too much.

"It's working with the players we've got initially and trying to instill the belief.

"You've got to identify the problems and try to solve it them."

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