Delighted Mansfield Town player manager Adam Murray said Tuesday night’s 1-0 home over Luton Town, their second in nine matches, was a “huge pyschological boost” in their relegation battle.

Four days after letting a 1-0 lead slip deep into injury time against Northampton, the Stags hung on to end promotion-chasing Luton’s 10-match unbeaten run.

Rakish Bingham hammered in the 32nd minute winner from man-of-the-match Jack Thomas’ delighful crossfield pass.

Afterwards, Murray said: “That was a big step, not just the points, but mentally they needed to
go through a brick wall and get over the line. It will be a huge psychological boost.

“We have taken four points off two top teams. Luton are a team with a manager I respect. They epitomise him as they are hard-working, down to earth and quality. So for us to go and beat them I am over the moon.

“The crowd were very anxious. But I can’t ask any more from them with how they backed us. Some of my boys were dead out there tonight but the fans pushed us over the line.

“The most pleasing thing for me was our work rate and the pride my players showed in wearing the shirt. They gave everything for this football club.

“I am asking people to go through barriers and there were some tired legs out there. That fatigue has cost us with losing Reggie Lambe. We will have to see how he is tomorrow but it doesn’t look good.

“We don’t have the biggest squad and in an ideal world we would have freshened things up tonight. So absolute credit to all the lads.”