Nigel Clough happy with physical work-out as Mansfield Town slip to defeat at Barrow

Stags led 2-0 at the break through Michael Smith’s first goal for the club and a Regan Hendry strike as all players got another 45 minutes under their belt.

But Mansfield’s second half side found the going tougher with Barrow coming from behind to hit the front in the last ten minutes.

Will Evans levelled before Scott Smith gave the Bluebirds victory in the dying minutes.

“It is more about the physical data than the results or anything like that,” said Clough. “I’m delighted Michael Smith got off the mark with a goal. Nathan Moriah-Welsh did well on the right and made two goals for us.

“It was a good step up for us physically after Tuesday. The lads are into their second 45 minutes, though Barrow are a little bit ahead of us and most of their lads did 60 minutes.

“I’m very pleased with the workout, not so much the second half defending. We will look at that data and see, but they were both good physical halves.”

The Holker Street friendly also saw a surprise cameo from Stephen Quinn, now part of the club’s backroom staff, who came on with ten minutes to go.

“He was coming on for Ollie Taylor because we don’t want anyone playing 90 minutes at this stage,” revealed Clough.

“Ollie has been in for a week before the first team returned to training, so if anyone could do it he could. It was just to give Ollie a breather who I thought did very well again.

“He keeps impressing us in midfield, whether central or on the side. I thought he did very well today.

“Unfortunately we got one of two knocks, a couple of tackles were flying around which we don’t really need at this stage. We will see how they are in Scotland this week.”

David McGoldrick and Elliott Hewitt both missed the run-outs after picking up slight knocks.

Stags will now continue their pre-season preparations with a training camp up in St Andrews before facing Alfreton on July 28.