'Why not just have a go?': Stephen McLaughlin brimming with confidence at Mansfield

Stephen McLaughlin says Mansfield Town are just aiming to “have a go” in League One.

Having won promotion from League Two last season, Mansfield are ninth and just five points outside the play-off spots.

Isle of Doagh man McLaughlin netted one of the goals in a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night.

“The bigger the team, the better,” McLaughlin said.

“Why not just have a go? Work hard and run hard and play your football. 

“All he (manager, Nigel Clough) will ever ask is just have a go. Somedays you get results and others you won’t, but you just dust yourself down and go again.”

McLaughlin and Lee Gregory found the net for the Stags at Field Mill. McLaughlin has scored twice in 24 appearances this term.

The now 34-year-old has had spells at Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, Notts County and Southend United since leaving Derry City in 2013. Previously, he played for Finn Harps after being recruited from Clonmany Shamrocks.

McLaughlin said of the New Year’s Day win: “It was very tough, but it was a very good victory and we deserved the victory.

“It took us a while to sort them out a bit, but once we got that done we played some lovely football, some lovely counter-attacking football. We scored two great goals and we deserved to go in 2-1 up at half-time.”

On his goal, McLaughlin added: “It just came out. I was going to hit it first time and, just because of how wet the surface was, I took a touch to settle it and I hit it well and hit it clean. I’m very happy with it. I’m happy it hit the back of the net.”

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Mansfield travel to face Stockport County on Saturday afternoon.

McLaughlin said: “It’s an opportunity to show how good we are. We’ll try go to Stockport and put on a show.”