'We want': Michael Smith discusses Mansfield Town targets in 'up-and-down' League One season

Stags are looking to work their way back up from two defeats in row and channel more of the energy put into their 5-2 win over Luton Town.

After finishing tenth last season, Nigel Clough’s side have been part of an interesting debate. Despite this only being their third season in League One since promotion, can they realistically challenge those in and around the top six for a flirt with the play-offs?

Last season’s sixth-place push went right down to the wire between Plymouth Argyle, Luton and Stevenage, with the latter just pipping their opponents to the last play-off position.

Following their strong finish to the second half of last season, Mansfield Town have now shifted their focus from guaranteeing league safety to how high they can climb. Michael Smith, who is no stranger to challenging for promotion, says it is a collective aim at the club to push towards the top six.

“We’ve got a lot of lads in the squad who have been promoted, so personally and collectively, I think we want to try and aim to be in and around the play-offs,” the striker said in his mid-week press conference.

“As a group, it’s a really positive place to be. We have a positive changing room with a lot of lads with experience as well as young, hungry lads – it’s only positive.”

Smith has won promotion with Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United during his career. When he signed for Stags over the summer, he made it clear he was hungry for another promotion push and he wants to achieve it with Mansfield Town.

“I’ve managed to get a few promotions over my career and I’m desperate for another one. So to come here and be part of this group, is something that I want to achieve,” Smith said in his first interview.

There have been plenty of upsets in League One already this season and these early fixtures have made for some surprising viewing. While Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town are competing right at the top as expected, Leicester City are currently below Stags in 18th, with just one win in five. Meanwhile, new boys Notts County are one of just two teams yet to be beaten so far.

“I think it’s going to be a real up-and-down season,” Smith continued. “You’ve seen some of the results so far from the so-called big guns in the league, so we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and I’m sure we’ll be alright.

“I’ve been away from League One for a while now, but coming back and seeing some of the other teams, I don’t see why we can’t be up there in and around the play-offs.”