Steve Evans congratulates Kevin Nolan for great work at Notts County

Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans has praised Kevin Nolan for his great management of Notts County and admits tomorrow's derby is a benchmark for the Stags.

The Magpies have soared to the top of League Two after 10 games and boast a six-game winning run in which they have conceded just one goal.

Mansfield were tipped to be challenging for promotion but hit a snag in midweek as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town.

"First and foremost, congratulations to Kevin Nolan; what a job he's done,” Evans is quoted by the Nottingham Post as saying.

“He's added very selectively to the group and he inherited a good squad, it has to be said.

"People forget that the squad that was put together the season before last was to be a promotion squad.

"This is a real tough challenge for us. They're a squad that have been assembled for well over a season, we're a squad that are two or three months old.

"I know people want to dismiss it, but those that dismiss it really don't know what they're talking about when putting a squad together and how long it takes.

"This is the real test, this is the real benchmark. This is the league leaders who have gone around the country turning win, after win, after win in the opening weeks, so it's a big test for us."

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