MANSFIELD Town manager Steve Evans claimed his team should have hit double figures on Tuesday night but he praised Newport County AFC for fighting until the end at Field Mill, writes Andrew Penman.

The Stags romped to a 5-0 victory over County thanks to an Alfie Potter hat-trick and further goals from Danny Rose and Alex MacDonald.

And it could have been more but for some fine saves from Exiles goalkeeper Joe Day and some near misses from the hosts.

“There was a lot of good work and on the front foot performances,” said Evans.

“In spells in the first half it was as good as we’ve had here.

“Many times a manager will stand here at five and think it could have been 10, and it should have been.

“But I’m never going to criticise a player for missing a chance as they’ve never stopped going in there. We were creating.”

Despite the result, Evans was impressed by the attitude of Michael Flynn’s team.

“We’ve beaten a good side,” he said. “Credit to Newport, they never stopped, despite it has to be said, a bit of a battering. They showed character in the second half.

“Sometimes you see an opposition fold, especially when the fifth goal goes in. But their lads never stopped running for their club and they go away with a lot of plaudits for me.”

Hat-trick hero Potter was delighted after such a comfortable victory over County.

“They might not have looked a great side but that’s a good side we’ve done that to,” he said.

“There was a feeling about the place from the first whistle. Everyone felt on it. The boys were up for it.

“You could sense from the first whistle we weren’t going to mess about.

“And it’s not like the team we’ve beaten were bottom. They’re in and around the play-offs so to put them to bed inside 15 minutes shows what we’re capable of.

“We’ve been saying for a while we will put five past someone soon. But to do it against someone of Newport’s stature, it’s a great night for us.”