Nigel Clough pinpoints crucial area Mansfield Town have improved in as League One unbeaten run continues
Nigel Clough is eager for his side to maintain their defensive efforts in these final games of a very competitive League One season.
With seven matches left before the curtain falls, Mansfield Town are up to 12th in the League One table with 53 points on the board. Clough previously highlighted the need to reach beyond the 50-point mark in order to guarantee safety from relegation, due to the level of competition in the league this season.
After the latest lot of results, there are just five points between Peterborough United in 13th place and Exeter City down in 21st, meaning the order of the bottom half of the table will change multiple times between now and the end of the season.
Stags are now unbeaten in eight games following their draw with Burton Albion on Monday. They have matched their longest run without defeat this season, with the previous eight-game stretch starting on Boxing Day with a 3-2 win over Barnsley. One more positive result for Mansfield will mark a new best streak set since their return to League One in 2024.
Following the Burton result and looking ahead to facing Wigan Athletic this weekend, Clough reflected on where Stags have improved over the last 12 months. The manager revealed the club had identified the defence as an area in need of improvement after they secured survival following their first season back in England’s third tier last year.
“It’s something we identified at the end of last season. We analysed the season and said ‘where do we need to improve?’ and it was without a doubt defensively. What we’ve got to do looking ahead now, is maintain that defensive solidity and get a few more goals and create a few more chances. We have done that at times but I don’t want the two to necessarily be at the expense of one another. If we’re going to be successful, we have to do both in equal measure,” Clough said in his mid-week press conference.
“It’s also about which players we can get on the pitch as well. We saw Tyler Roberts come on [against Burton], he’s someone who creates chances straight away. If we have him or somebody like him on the pitch a bit more often, he can make things happen for you, and that’s all we’ve been missing.”
Over the last 12 months, Stags have signed the likes of Liam Roberts and Kyle Knoyle, while Ryan Sweeney made his return to the One Call Stadium last summer. Key players including Frazer Blake-Tracy and Deji Oshilaja have also signed contract extensions in recent months – both players have been standout figures in Stags’ defence this season.
“If you turn four or five of our draws into wins, you’re looking at challenging for a play-off spot, so it’s not too much but we must maintain that defensive solidity. Everybody has played a part in that – strikers as well – you don’t just defend with your back four or back five, they play their part by restricting the team from getting started,” Clough continued as he reflected on Mansfield’s defensive efforts this season.
“Deji, after missing the start of the season, has come in and been brilliant, Frazer has been superb for us this season, Baily Cargill before he got injured, it’s Kyle Knoyle’s first season with us… then you’ve got Elliott Hewitt weighing in, Lucas Akins also coming back into the fold and playing well in a right wing-back situation. Then you can’t ignore people like Will Evans who has been a left wing-back at times and done very well. It’s been a collective effort.”
Indeed, Stags have one of the best defensive records in League One this season. With 41 goals conceded across 39 games played, only sixth-placed Stevenage and promotion-sealers Lincoln City have shipped fewer so far in this rollercoaster campaign.