Cox tips newboy Palmer to reach top

MANSFIELD Town manager Paul Cox tipped Ollie Palmer for the top after the striker notched his side’s first goal since their Football League return in the win over Wycombe.

Palmer struck 25 times for Havant & Waterlooville in the Conference South last season and scored nine minutes after coming off the bench when he tapped in after Chris Clements’ free-kick was deflected against the post.

It was Palmer’s first goal for the club and came 12 minutes from time to leave Cox in no doubt as to the 21-year-old’s potential.

“I don't want to put too much pressure on the kid as he's got to get up to full fitness and he has a lot of learning to do,” said Cox.

“But if he carries on the way he has started he has an excellent future ahead of him and not just with Mansfield Town but a career in football.

“He is an absolute dream to work with, as honest as the day is long and more importantly wants to be a top professional footballer.

“We had this monkey on our back where we hadn't scored a goal, but you saw what it meant to the players and more importantly to the fans and I'm glad that one is out the way.”

James Jennings came close early on for the Stags with a beautifully struck volley, forcing Ingram into a fine save.

Paris Cowan-Hall final- ly produced some class for Wycombe by first setting up midfielder Josh Scowen and then blasting a shot from long range but both were superbly saved by Mansfield keeper Alan Marriott.

Cowan-Hall was stretchered off on 65 minutes from a miss-timed late tackle from midfielder Jamie McGuire who was booked for the challenge before Ingram saved from Jennings.

However, Mansfield took the lead their play deserved when substitute Palmer poked in from close range after Martin Riley's header rebounded off the post with Jo Kuffour heading wide at the death for Wycombe.

And manager Gareth Ainsworth claimed there were few positives to take from the game. “We were unrecognisable, I didn't recognise a few of my players which is not nice,” he said.

“We didn’t start playing until Mansfield scored.We weren’t good enough with the ball on the ground, we went long too many times and they have some big lads.

“We didn’t deserve anything and we didn’t get anything.We move on next week but believe me that performance isn’t good enough for me and I’ll be making sure that doesn’t happen again this season.”