IT was good to see the smiles back on the faces of both players and supporters at the Racecourse this afternoon, as Mansfield were beaten for the third time this season.

For manager Dean Saunders, it made a change to be speaking about goals scored rather then another defensive mistake.

"We started the game brightly and I tried to put out a team that would give us a solid performance, because most of all I want us to be a hardworking side," he said.

"I want players on the pitch who give it what they can, but obviously I had to take into account that we had played on Thursday.

"Some of the lads needed a bit of a breather, Silvio actually.

"We started the game well and Silvio got some early crosses in, which is just what I asked him to do.

"One of them caused a bit of panic and the referee gave us a penalty, handball I think!

"I was surprised to see Obi get up and step forward to take it, but for a 17-year-old he did great.

"He's got that goalscoring instinct and alright he blew up a little in the second half, when he hurt his knee, but that's two goals in two games for him.

"He kept his nerve and slotted the penalty away.

"Then to score straight afterwards with a great goal from Crofty, which has been coming for a while, was just what we needed.

"It was a great header and has been coming for a while, as he's put a few just the wrong side of the post recently.

"There was a great save from Gunnar in the second half, and they had a goal disallowed earlier for offside, but he's only had one save to make all day.

"It's been the same in recent months, but then we would have put in a short back pass or let a man run from a corner - and that was the difference today from Thursday, we didn't make that stupid mistake!

"We now have a new league table of six games left and if we can finish top of that, then we have a chance.

"If we are capable of going three games without a win, then all the teams above us are definitely capable of doing the same thing - as I believe we have better players than most teams.

"It's just not gone for us in the last couple of weeks, Marc getting injured and then Matt Jansen, plus you add in those silly mistakes and 93rd minute goals conceded, which have just happened at the wrong time.

"We went four and a half months with just the one defeat, things were going great, but I said there would be a slap in the face around the corner!

"I just hope we have now come out the other side of it and we can string another three or four wins together, and hopefully we come to the final day of the season and we need a win to get into the play-offs, which is probably the best we can hope for.

"It's amazing how your confidence does come back when your leading by a couple of goals.

"Not sure how many chances we missed against Salisbury at 1-0, which would have made them edgy and panicky trying to get back into the game.

"Today, you could see the boost in confidence that the second goal gave us and we saw the game out well.

"I sent on Nathan Fairhurst to try and stop Mat Somner getting into our box. You are a little concerned that you might be inviting pressure onto you - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

"Nathan going in their made us a little more solid, while the centre backs didn't give away any ridiculous fouls today."