Rose nets twice as the Stags march on

MANSFIELD boss Steve Evans labelled his side’s display at Morecambe ‘outstanding’ as the Stags moved to within one point of the play-offs.

A double from Danny Rose and a strike from Ben Whiteman earned the Stags victory over the Shrimps, who lost for a sixth successive game despite an early goal from Paul Mullin.

And a beaming Evans believed his side could have won the game by a greater margin.

He said: “The performance was outstanding and even the most ardent of Morecambe fans will agree that we could have scored seven or eight.

“We won’t get any plaudits for winning but I know how tough it is to win here. I was at a meeting this week and a few people said this game might have been one too far but the lads have really done the business.

“We have to stay focused now and not get carried away, but we have a lot of players who are experienced at this level and won promotions in their time and that experience will stand us in good stead as we enter a vital stage of the season.'”

Shrimps boss Jim Bentley admitted his side’s losing run is becomming cause for concern.

Bentley said: “We have lost six on the bounce now and no one is more frustrated than me. It is a difficult time for us and things are catching up with us a bit.

“We have the smallest squad in the league and and we don’t have the physicality or experience of a side like Mansfield and that is taking its toll.

“We try and play a certain way and our pitch doesn’t help and we are caught in the middle a bit. When you try and play from the back you end up making mistakes like we did here and when you have no targetman against a side as big as Mansfield it is hard to not get caught in the middle like I think we did here.

“People will say we have done well to get the points we have so far but I don’t want to accept that. I want more.'”

Rose gave the Stags the lead with his first on four minutes after latching on to Alex MacDonald’s knock down.Paul Mullin levelled two minutes later after taking advantage of a Kyle Howkins error before Rose gave the visitors the lead for a second time after making the most of a Michael Rose mistake.

Ben Whiteman added a third on 39 minutes when teed up by Shaquile Coulthirst with the latter twice denied a goal by excellent second-half saves from Roche.