Saturday 31 August 2013 21:01, UK
Paul Cox was delighted after his Mansfield side claimed their first home win back in the Football League, beating Dagenham 3-0.
The last time these sides met five years ago the Stags were already relegated to the Conference and lost their last league game at Dagenham in an ignominious farewell. But on this occasion, goals either side of half-time from Sam Clucas and Jamie McGuire and a 72nd-minute effort from substitute Matt Rhead saw Mansfield stroll to victory. Home boss Cox said: "I was happy with that. It was a scrappy first half and we looked a bit uncouth. But a lot of that was down to the strong wind and I thought our defending was excellent. "We were maybe a bit fortunate to go in 1-0 up. But our second-half performance was excellent and we might have won it by a few more goals in the end. "We changed to 4-4-2 at half-time, but it was down to the players still. Systems are just systems but it's footballers who win you matches. "We knew it would be tough as they are a good side, so we are more than happy to get the three points. "Eight points from our first five matches is a decent return, though there are still a million and one things I think we can get better at. But our team spirit is brilliant and we have some very good players champing at the bit to get into the side."