'No silly errors'! Nigel Clough delighted as graft pays off for Mansfield Town at Stevenage

Nigel Clough was a happy man after Mansfield Town ended their eight-game winless run with victory at Stevenage.

Ryan Sweeney's first half finish - netting from a set piece as the ball landed in his path - secured the three points for the Stags, moving them to 49 points and within a whisker of the total the manager believes will secure safety.

"The fact we haven't won for so long then, to get this one today - five games to go, clean sheet, three points - we're very close to that 50-point mark now," Clough said.

"It was the old game of two halves in many ways. I thought in the first half we were very positive, closed them down and nicked the ball numerous times just outside their penalty area.

"We didn't quite have the quality to make the most of those situations, but (we should have had an) absolute stonewall penalty after 20 seconds and then Jordan (Bowery), somehow, it bobbles to him and he puts it over from eight yards.

"We should have been ahead as early as that but nice to score from a set play (was nice) and then we looked after the lead relatively well after that."

After a tough run, Clough felt it was about time Lady Luck took a shining to his side.

But despite getting a break in the box, the Stags boss believes victory was down to hard work.

He added: "Two things today, that little break in the box (falling for Sweeney). Then we made no silly errors, just a couple of daft free kicks we dealt with, but they were the two things - we needed a break in the box and we made them work for every half chance they had today."

MORE STAGS: Stevenage 0 Mansfield 1 – report