Martin Drury has warned his Mansfield Town players that their promising start to the season counts for nothing. The Stags' boss, fresh from being named League One's manager of the month for August, is keeping his squad grounded ahead of a challenging fixture away to Burton Albion.
Drury, 40, took interim charge with Jon Stead last season and oversaw a final home game against Mansfield. He feels the upcoming appointment at the Accu Stadium, where Nigel Clough's side won 4-1 last term, will be a real measure of how far his group has come. "I feel there is a togetherness about the club and group, about the way that we train, the way that we work every day," Drury told reporters. He was quick to temper any early optimism, however.
Keeping perspective
"We've achieved nothing so far," Drury stated bluntly. His side currently sits 17th in League One with six points from five games, a position that belies their recent struggles. The Stags have lost four of their last five matches, including a 1-0 defeat at Bradford City last weekend. That run of form, which reads one win and four losses, has seen them slip down the standings.
Despite the recent results, Drury believes the foundation is there. The squad is getting healthier, with defenders Jack Whatmough and Sean Roughan back in training. Recent signing Samson Tovide remains unavailable for selection. The manager's focus is firmly on the next challenge, a trip to face a Burton Albion side sitting sixth in the table.
The task ahead
The match at the Pirelli Stadium represents a significant hurdle. Mansfield will need to improve on a defensive record that has seen them concede 11 goals already this season. Their last outing ended in a narrow loss, with Antoni Sarcevic scoring the only goal for Bradford in the 18th minute. Drury's message is clear: past accolades and early table positions are irrelevant. The real work begins now, with a tough away day awaiting on Saturday, 19 September. For a closer look at the squad available for the task, visit our squad section.
