Shirtliff Rocket

Although the performance wasn't on a par with the 1st two outings of the season, the Stags showed battling qualities to fight back and gain a point at home to Stockport on Saturday. Stags boss Peter Shirtliff had to lay down his thoughts at half time, as the Stags stuggled to get their game together, he told the Nottingham Evening Post ''The first half was a bit tepid. We huffed and puffed but never showed any real conviction with the play. The goal was ridiculous in terms of our defending. There wasn't much happening either end, in all honesty.

''If we upped the tempo a little bit, upped the quality and passing, we'd get something, and that's how it turned out."

The Stags now face a tricky trip to Grimsby on Friday night as they try to continue the unbeaten run.