Nigel Clough keen to keep putting building blocks in place at Mansfield Town

Nigel Clough wants to keep putting the building blocks in place as Mansfield Town fine-tune ahead of a planned promotion push next season.
Tyrese Sinclair and Jason Law are two players expected to get more game time as Nigel Clough plots for next season. PIc by Andrew Roe.Tyrese Sinclair and Jason Law are two players expected to get more game time as Nigel Clough plots for next season. PIc by Andrew Roe.
Tyrese Sinclair and Jason Law are two players expected to get more game time as Nigel Clough plots for next season. PIc by Andrew Roe.

Stags have struggled since going on a record five game winning streak and have not won away since.

During that time Clough’s men have chucked points away following costly blunders and also struggled to find their shooting boots.

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But the experienced boss knows he now has the perfect chance to take a look at his players and plot the make-up of his 2021/22 squad.

“We are still building, we are always building,” said Clough. “We are trying to get the results to stay up this season, which I think we will, but at the same time putting things in place.

“Things like getting Jason Law on the pitch, taking a look at Aiden Stone and assessing every week who is going to be with us next year and part of what we are trying to achieve next year.

“Who is going to be good enough to be a part of what we are trying to achieve?

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“Players are playing for their place. No-one is guaranteed a place and I hope the players think like that as well.”

And Clough knows his side must learn to cut out defensive errors if they are to challenge at the top.

He is also keen to stress the positive aspects of Mansfield’s play and see his troops respond to individual errors.

“Having 20 years of doing this I know you go through these dips,” added Clough. “It’s much harder when you can't pinpoint why you are losing games.

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“When you know why you are losing games it is easier to try and focus on that.

“We want to focus on the good parts. We are doing a lot of good things such as creating chances and good situations.

“We have lost three away after making mistakes and not putting chances away and that's it.

“We are not hammering the players, but we have to point out the mistakes to individuals.

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“As an ex professional footballer I don't think there is anything worse than someone giving you a pat on the pat and saying bad luck when you don't deserve it, when it is not bad luck.

“Whoever it is, we have to point it out to them and, in pretty blunt terms, that they have made an error that they shouldn't be making.

“I hope they are up for putting it right and I am looking for a reaction, for them to get out on the pitch, put their chest out and say I'm better than that.”

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