Nigel Clough was pleased to see his Mansfield side show a different side to their game as they came out on top against Wanderers.

The Stags defended stubbornly in the second half at Field Mill, restricting the Whites to few clear cut chances.

Clough felt they were good value for the three points and insisted that Lee Gregory’s return to the starting line-up made a big impact.

“A wonderful three points and I don’t think any more than we have deserved,” he told the club channels.

“We played well at Reading a few days ago and needed fresh legs out there today, and they ultimately they have made the difference.

“Having players back of Lee Gregory’s quality undoubtedly helps us today, the second goal wins us the game.

“We had to sit in a little bit more than we normally would like to, second half, but that is down to the effort we have put in recently and the quality that Bolton possess.

“It could have been 2-2 after 15 minutes! We gave the ball away a little bit sloppily two or three times or lost a tackle here or there, and they got situations from them.

“We had situations at the other end as well, it was a proper game right from the start. The three games we have had against them this season have been very good, entertaining games between two good sides.”

Mansfield have now won three of their last four games in League One and are up to ninth in the table – above Bolton on goal difference.

“We have been on the front foot, home and away, as much as we can but I thought we showed a different aspect of our performance today, which we haven’t had to show too often,” the manager added.

“I thought we were solid, they had one good chance where the lad (Dion Charles) got a foot on it and it rolled into Christy's (Pym) hands.

“Apart from that, not too much and I thought we were a threat on the break as well. Will Evans had a chance with a glancing header that went just wide.

“I think over the course of the game – and certainly over the course of the three we have played, we deserved to win one.”

Will Evans thought he should have had a penalty in the second half after going down under George Johnston’s challenge.

When asked about the incident, Clough replied: “The officials were adamant he slipped, but I am not so sure.

“I am going to ask him now if he got touched, he certainly wouldn’t have gone down trying to win a penalty unless he slipped or he did get touch.”