Rhys Oates delighted to make scoring return for Mansfield Town, despite defeat

Oates was a surprise starting name on the team sheet and he said: “I have been champing at the bit to get back out there and do my part for the team. It's been tough.

“I was in a boot for four weeks and then couldn't really run for two weeks after that. I had to do all the strength work and everything.

“I trained once or twice and it's been good to get straight back into the team and play my part.

“It was great to watch the the unbeaten run side went on – the lads have been amazing. And it doesn't look great on me that we have lost the last two when I have come back.

“But it was good being out there again, though we are gutted to be out of the FA Cup so early. We thought we could maybe go on another cup run like we did in the EFL Cup.

“But we can concentrate on the league now and that is our main priority. We are still unbeaten in the league and we need to try to keep that going.”

He added: “We need to remember what we've been doing in the league – I think we've won the last three -and put this last few days behind us.

“I think have shown what we can do in the previous 19 games before these two defeats, even tonight we had spells where we were still creating chances. We just need to be better in front of goal and take more of the chances.

“I think we still had more shots than them tonight. I think Wrexham were just more clinical in front of goal.

“We didn't play badly, we just didn't take our chances. We should be going toe to toe with teams like this. We want to be top three this season.

“We have drawn a few. But we are still unbeaten in the league and it's a massive achievement for the club, players and staff to do that. We just need to keep doing what we have been doing.”