After the Stags finished the first month of the new season unblemished, Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough expressed his’very delighted in the circumstances’ with how the Stags have started 2023/24.
Despite having several key players out with injuries and a demanding schedule of games, the manager’s team will go to Accrington Stanley this Saturday and currently hold a spot in the top seven of Sky Bet League Two.
“[I’m] Very pleased in the circumstances,” Nigel stated during a press conference at RH Academy.
“There are eight games in the first month of the season, or four weeks, which is a difficult start for all clubs.
After the Stags finished the first month of the new season unblemished, Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough expressed his’very delighted in the circumstances’ with how the Stags have started 2023/24.
Despite having several key players out with injuries and a demanding schedule of games, the manager’s team will go to Accrington Stanley this Saturday and currently hold a spot in the top seven of Sky Bet League Two.
“[I’m] Very pleased in the circumstances,” Nigel stated during a press conference at RH Academy.
“There are eight games in the first month of the season, or four weeks, which is a difficult start for all clubs.
Stags continue their unbeaten streak, which featured their first-ever Carabao Cup third-round appearance since 2005.
“Despite the setbacks we’ve experienced and the alterations brought on by injuries, I believe overall our defense has been strong.
“We’ve been unfortunate because a number of the goals we’ve given up were miracle goals.
“I believe that overall, our all-around play, tenacity, and character—comebacking from being behind—all those sorts of things enable you to build up an unbeaten run at this stage.”
Stephen Quinn, a midfielder, will miss three to four months due to a knee injury, and Rhys Oates, a forward, will miss two to three months due to an ankle injury, Nigel said following Saturday’s home stalemate with Bradford.
The gaffer continued, “It is actually amazing when you have eight or nine missing, and no two injuries are the same.”
“It tells everything about how hapless and random they are.
“Stephen Quinn and Rhys Oates will both be a colossal miss.
“This is a huge blow. On Saturday, I believed we had missed them.
“We’re going to have to fight on without Rhys’ dynamism to create something or score something and Quinny’s creativity.”
But a few of the squad’s players are almost back.
The good news is that Aaron Lewis and Hiram Boateng will likely be the next two players to return soon.
“Then, perhaps, Callum Johnson and Stephen McLaughlin will appear, and before you know it, Christmas will have arrived and Oatesy and Quinny will be back.
“Aaron Lewis is now recovering the best from his muscle problems. He plans to work out later this week in anticipation of rejoining the team on Saturday.
“Hiram Boateng possibly the following week.
“Callum Johnson will be the following week if everything goes as planned.”
The manager had this to say about Saturday’s opponents: “Accrington, we’ve played them in the Northern Prem with Burton all the way up into the league, and we’ve never had an easy game there.
They have returned to the 4-4-2 Accrington Stanley. They engage in rivalry.
They play somewhat—actually, more than somewhat.
It was one of our hardest away games, in my opinion.