Stags boss believes penalty hoodoo will end

After Kane Hemmings had followed in the footsteps of Jimmy Spencer and Danny Rose at Carlisle United last weekend, Evans joked he would ask his wife to take the next one.

Back at work after a couple of days off ill, Evans smiled: “We practised when I had a couple of days off earlier in the week.

“I took her into the garden and she is on it – five out of five!

“I said when the pressure comes can she stick it in and then get a shopping trip in?

“If you don’t laugh sometimes you cry and it was a bit of a mixture on Saturday.

“You look at our penalty at Carlisle and it’s a good penalty and a good save – that doesn’t often get recognised.

“But the reality is when we are given an opportunity to score from 12 yards we need to do it. The boys have been working hard on it this week. But we look at it every week of every season and that will continue.”

New signing Hemmings remains the first choice taker, though Evans said that could change at any time.

“Kane’s penalty taking was magnificent during the week.

“The reason we selected Kane was that he didn’t miss one in training. He put them into every position of the goal against two very good goalkeepers.

“It happens, but we go again and let’s see if the referee can give us one on Saturday.

“We’ll have a fresh eyes approach to it today and tomorrow and we’ll see what it looks like.”

On Saturday Stags take on visiting Grimsby Town and Evans added: “The match referee, Paul Tierney, is a strong referee but I don’t think he’s ever given my team a penalty - so Saturday could be a first.

“I am sure whoever steps up on Saturday, if we’re given one, they will put it in the net.”