Tough season of pressure for Danny Rose as Mansfield Town battle for safety points

Rose has hit double figures, but the side has rarely fired on all cylinders in a disappointing season.

“I have never had this at Mansfield. I think the only time I had it was at Barnsley as a young lad,” he said.

“It was different at 17/18 as I didn't really know what was going on. I didn't really play much of a part.

“But obviously this season I have played quite a big part.

“It's not nice to be involved in this, but I am hoping next season we can kick on. The squad we've got this season is more than capable of being up at the right end of the table.

“It is a different kind of pressure. We have been looking over our shoulder a little bit - I will admit that as we've not been good enough.

“The win over Newport was a bit of a relief. We knew we'd been putting in the performances but not really getting the results to prove that.”

He added: “We just have not been good enough in stages. At the start of the season there was a hangover from last season, which ultimately did not stand us in good stead.

“But I feel we are doing better recently under the new manager. The performances have been good.”

With Andy Cook going out on loan to Tranmere in January and Craig Davies battling back from injury, Rose admitted the heat was on him and Nicky Maynard to keep hitting the net.

“Yes, Nicky and I do feel a little bit more pressure with Cooky gone,” said Rose.

“I don't think he'd played as much as what he'd have liked and that probably the reason he went out on loan.

“But we have also got Davo and Jimmy Knowles that are fighting to get in the team - that keeps pressure on us and is healthy competition and keeps us going every Saturday.

“I was a little bit surprised when Cooky went as his goal return was good, but he wanted to play games.

“I am quite close to Cooky and I still speak to him now.

“I knew he wanted to play games and a League One club coming in for him at this time of the season was hard to turn down.

“We can't blame him for going and we do wish him all the best. It's only a loan so I am sure we'll see him in the summer.”

However, Rose believes Stags still have enough under the roof.

“Touch wood, if we stay injury free we should have enough to see us through,” he said.

“Davo is looking good in training and we've got Jimmy Knowles, who scored against Oldham a few months ago and is ready to come in whenever he is needed.

“So we've still got four strikers and we also have Jordan Graham to come back. So I think we're all right in that department.”

Rose is enjoying his blossoming partnership with Maynard.

“It's good playing with Nicky. We link well with each other,” he said.

“He feeds off my flick-ons and he is the one that runs in behind most.

“Nicky is just a fox in the box and he's very good to play with as he just gets goals out of nothing.

“He could be quiet for 70/80 minutes but he could then come out with two goals as he did against Carlisle a few weeks back.”

Rose's winner against Newport moved him into double figures for the season.

“I think that is a satisfactory return when compared to last season,” he said.

“You always want to do better than last season and last season's goals return wasn't good enough.

“I set myself the standard of double figures this season and I have got that so far.”

He added: “We now want to just get a few wins and give the fans something to cheer about. We've not done that much this season with our league position.

“If we can get on a run to the end of the season and maybe get a mid-table finish, that's something to take out of what has been a disappointing season.”