STEVE’S DREAM START AT STAGS
NEW Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans believes his players still have plenty to learn as he plots a tenth career promotion.
That is despite the former Leeds United boss kicking off his Stags managerial career in style with a demolition of his former side Crawley Town.
A Chris Clements brace and Pat Hoban’s goal during a devastating ten-minute second half spell did the damage for Stags.
But Evans, who replaced Adam Murray in the Mansfield hotseat on Tuesday, feels there is still plenty of room for improvement in the ranks.
“I am not going to criticise the previous manager, but it is evident the players have a lot of work to do,” he said.
“The players will make mistakes and we need to get on the training ground and let the players learn and work.
“Things that we tried to introduce in 48 hours didn’t come off, but some did.
“We will be back on the training ground working hard tomorrow. The boys have worked very hard, which is the minimum we ask.
“We are pleased with some things and unhappy with others, it is a learning curve for us all.”
Disappointed Crawley boss Dermot Drummy said his side must come together to avoid a freefall down the table.
“We have got to stick together, it’s very important that there is not an acceptance,” he said.
“We have to fight, we have to start getting the points on the table. We do not want to go into a freefall situation.
“We are going to have to pick ourselves up. That is my job, that is my responsibility and I will take that on and make sure it does not happen.
“It’s a very disappointing defeat. We didn’t deal with the header and they are one up and flying.
“The second goal is not good defending and the third goal is a mix-up where we gift them a goal.”
Ashley Hemmings, Matt Green and Jamie McGuire all went close as Mansfield enjoyed a good opening 15 minutes.
Hemmings had a fierce drive blocked by Jimmy Smith on 25 minutes, before Glenn Morris acrobatically tipped over a Hemmings’ header as Mansfield ended the first half on the front foot.
Lewis Young hacked Krystian Pearce’s header off his own line two minutes after the restart.
But Clements finally put Mansfield ahead on 50 minutes when he rifled into an empty net.
It was 2-0 when Hoban finished off Green’s cross after referee Carl Boyeson played a superb advantage four minutes later.
Morris was left embarrassed on the hour mark when an unmarked Clements made it 3-0 after the Crawley shot-stopper was beaten in a race for the ball on the touchline by Green. Rhys Bennett then headed into his own net to give the visitors a consolation goal on 81 minutes.