Bowyer: Stags will enjoy honeymoon period under Evans

Evans, who was appointed Mansfield boss last Wednesday, began his reign with a 3-1 home win against Crawley on Saturday – the Stags’ first league win since their home win against neighbours Notts County at the start of October.

And Bowyer, whose side come into the game on a six-match unbeaten run, said Pool will have to be at their best if they are to extend that good run of form.

“It’s the same when any new manager goes in,” he said. “There’s a reflection time and the impact of a new boss going in.

“We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and that’s what we’ll do.”

Evans, who has won promotion nine times in his career, came in after the departure of Stags’ stalwart Adam Murray, who had left Mansfield 18th in League Two.

Before Saturday’s win, they had only won one of their last 11 matches, but a second half goal rush against Crawley was enough to see them climb up to 11th, just two points off Pool in seventh.

Evans was sacked by Championship club Leeds United in May and was also in contention for the vacant managerial role at Charlton Athletic.

The Seasiders now have two games in the space of five days as Blackpool look to cement their play in the league’s top seven.

The 2-1 win against Leyton Orient was only Pool’s second win on the road this season and the first time Bowyer’s men have won back-to-back league fixtures.

“It’s another tough challenge on Tuesday but we’ll get ready to go again,” Bowyer added.

“The games come thick and fast so we’ve got to recover as quick as we can and go again, buoyed by the confidence we’ve gone back to back and won away on the road. That should give us a massive boost.

“We’ve got two big games coming up now so we can go only go game by game. That’s 29 games left and 87 points to play for.”

A key component of Blackpool’s win at Leyton Orient on Saturday was the performance of striker Jamille Matt, who grabbed his third goal in as many games.

The 27-year-old had a tough start to life at Bloomfield Road after suffering an early injury, but Bowyer has been full of praise for his recent performances.

He said: “Things take time. People are very quick in this country to jump on people if they’re not immediately at their best, but we knew what we were bringing into the club.

“He had a few injury problems at the start but he’s a real handful, and that’s an outstanding goal he scored. It’s great strength and composure and a wonderful finish.

“There’s certainly more to come from him.”

Another player to draw praise from Bowyer was his side’s other goalscorer, Tom Aldred, who nodded home a Jack Payne cross to net his first goal of the season.

Payne himself impressed as he came up against the side with whom he spent last season on loan.

Bowyer said: “We’ve got a variety of players who can deliver a good ball in and I’m delighted for Jack Payne, who was coming back to Leyton Orient where he was on loan last year.

“It was a great ball and I’m delighted for Tom. It’s about time he got a goal because we’ve been needing more goals from our defenders from set plays.”