Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox said he doesn’t want the season to end after a fourth consecutive victory, 3-0 over leaders Rochdale, took the Stags to within six points of the play-offs.

He said: “We’re enjoying our football at the moment and I don’t want the season to end.

“We are working hard and playing some good stuff. I think we have lost just three games since Christmas, that’s some run. We have been excellent.”

Cox defended his surprise decision to play man-of-the-match Colin Daniel behind the two strikers, away from his usual left wing back role, and said: “That’s where I played him when I first saw him at Eastwood. He has pace and power and it was a man-of-the-match performance.

“The way we are playing, we are a match for anyone when we are in this mindset.

“Today we came up against a very good side that I believe will go on and get promoted quite comfortably. They have good players throughout the side and have been very consistent.

“We just did what we have been doing the last couple of months. We are in a nice rhythm and playing on the front foot. The lads are enjoying their football at the minute.

“All three goals came from set pieces which we work hard on and the boys have put their heads on the line.

“I always enjoy the business end of the season. I really don’t want it to end right now.

“People are now talking about play-offs when only a few games back we could mathematically have been relegated.

“All we can do is keep trying to win the next game. It’s in the lap of the gods. I want to finish the season as strongly as possible, in the highest position possible with as many points as possible.

“You always finish where you deserve to finish in the table.”

Cox also had words of praise for the supporters and 17-year-old debutant Jack Thomas, who had his first taste of first team action as a late substitute.

“He wasn’t over-awed and will be a good player if he keeps his feet on the ground. The fans deserve a massive amount of credit. There was a tremendous atmosphere today.”