Mansfield turned on the style to see off Grimsby 2-0 in the Carabao Cup first round and delighted Stags boss Nigel Clough believes a team could be in for a real hiding if they can reproduce that form.
Lucas Akins netted a 27th-minute penalty in a one-sided first half and Rhys Oates added a crucial second on 55 minutes.
But it could have been many more and Clough said: “I think you can see already that someone is going to cop for one sometime during the season.
“If we do put in a reasonable percentage of the chances and crosses then we will get four or five on occasions.
“I thought some of the football tonight was from a higher level. Some of our play from start to finish was excellent.
“The lads have set the standard in the first two performances.”
Grimsby goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright brought down Oates for the spot kick after a poor touch from a backpass and then Oates flicked home the second from David Keillor-Dunn’s pass.
Grimsby boss Paul Hurst admitted: “That was pretty much as good a performance as I’ve seen from a League Two side for some time.
“They (Mansfield) went very close last season and are a group that’s been together for some time.
“They played some very good football – Nigel Clough wants his team to play that way.
“We did contribute to that by inviting pressure, but there is no doubt about it they were the better team on the night by far.
“Harvey made the mistake for the goal but then made some good saves afterwards.
“And when we did have some good opportunities, Christy Pym made a good save from Danny Rose.
“Mansfield are one of the favourites in terms of that top group and on tonight’s evidence it suggests we are short of that.”
