Mansfield Town first team coach Andy Garner is not phased by a trip to high flying Leyton Orient on Saturday. The Stags travel to the Capital to take on an Orient side who have only lost once so far this season with the 55 year old stating to mansfieldtown.net “it will be a hard game, there’s nothing to fear, we’re no going down frightened. We go and play our game and see what happens”.
Sit 20th on eight points
The Stags ended a run of five successive defeats with a 1-1 draw last weekend against Rochdale. Substitue Danny Johnson netted the equaliser after Danny Cashman had given Dale the lead. Midfielder George Lapslie was pleased his side managed to “stop the rot” stating to mansfieldtown.net “it’s a good point first and foremost, going a goal behind especially against a team like Rochdale who are in good form. It’s a good point and something to build on”.
Mansfield started the season with seven points from the first three games but have lost four of their last five. Manager Nigel Clough revealed after the Rochdale draw the need to remove individual errors from their game. Speaking to mansfieldtown.net “we sat down and talked to the players last week about stop giving goals away, no one does that in the opposition teams. We’ve been working incredibily hard to get goals and we again give them away. Honestyly day after day we are drilling it into them”.
Defender Farren Rawson has been a main stay for the Stags starting every game so far and the 25 year old feels his side are coming out the other side of their bad run. Clough brought in a host of new signings in the summer and Rawson highlights the team are all behind the manager. Speaking to mansfieldtown.net “we’re learning every day, we’re all gelling. He’s putting his methods across and in alot of the games you can see that. It will take a little bit of time, performances are always high, results will come”
Despite Orient’s recent good form Garner is keen to highlight that Manfield will still be a big test for them in E10. The O’s have been free scoring in the last few weeks, netting nine in their last three league games. Striker Harry Smith is the joint top scorer in League Two with Garner stating “he’s been a massive part of their success at the moment, when you’ve got someone scoring goals. He’s a big lad, we’ve got to deal with that. They’re on a good run but no matter where Mansfield are in the table it will be a hard game and they will be prepared for us”.
Rawson, who is unbeaten on his two trips to Brisbane Road, is keen for his side to play their own game on Saturday. The 25 year spoke about keeping it back to basics against Rochdale in order to build themselves into the game. Speaking to mansfieldtown.net “personally I never really concentrate on the opponents, concentrating on ourseleves is most important. If we play well. it will take care of itself. It’s about us not them, we’re building something here, we’ve the utmost respect for them but we will go there and play our football”.
Team News
James Perch, Will Forrestor and Richard Nartey are all out through injury. Kellan Gordon (knee) and Ryan Stirk (ankle) will undergo late fitness tests while Stephen Quinn is suspended. Striker Danny Johnson will be hoping for a start against his old club after netting from the bench against Rochdale.
Head to Head – Mansfield 14, Draw 15, Leyton Orient 27
