View from the Dugout: John Dempster on Mansfield Town's chances in League Two

John Dempster
Mansfield manager

After the disappointment of the playoffs last season, the players were able to go away and digest what happened and move on. They’ve come back in good spirits and I have told them to use the frustration of last season to motivate them for the new campaign.

Pre-season has gone well. We had ten days in Portugal at an outstanding facility and had games against Rangers and Swansea. It was a test for the boys early on but they came through it with flying colours.

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When you’re playing the calibre of opposition we have in pre-season, you find they have a lot of the ball and we have had to defend. It’s been good to see the team shape and a number of formations because I want us to be flexible this season. The trip was good for fitness and helped the new signings get to know the current squad.

It is to be expected we are among the favourites for the title. We fell at the final hurdle last season so it’s up to myself, the staff and the players to go a step further this time.

If you look at the four teams who have come down and the two who have come up, I would say it’s probably a stronger division this season than last and that makes it a big challenge for us.

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Our squad isn’t as big as last season so we will be supported by our Under-21s but we have a strong group.

Nicky Maynard will be key but so will a number of our attacking players like Danny Rose and Andy Cook as well as a few in the treatment room. Nicky’s impressed me with his professionalism. He’s got a bit of class about him and his finishing skills are up there with the best I’ve seen.

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