Mansfield Town boss insists his side should have scored five or six goals against Peterborough United
Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough was appalled at his side’s wastefulness as they slipped to a 2-1 League One defeat at home to Peterborough United.
It was a first defeat in 10 League One games for ‘The Stags’ even though they dominated virtually the entire game at the One Call Stadium. They delivered 27 shots on goal and won 19 corners, but they ran into an inspired goalkeeper in Alex Bass and a stubborn defence led by Tom Lees.
Mansfield were applauded off at the end of the game by the home fans, but Clough was only interested in an outcome that left his side in 12th places, seven points above the relegation zone and five points behind eighth-placed Posh.
“We want points, not plaudits,” Clough told the Mansfield Chad. “You could argue tonight was the best performance of our last 10 games, but it means absolutely nothing to me when you don't win the game.
“I would rather take a 0-0 and have the moans and the grumbles, but have another point on the board and another clean sheet. It is pointless playing as well as that and not getting anything from the game – what a waste of a performance.
“We should have been two or three ahead in the first half, but we weren't because of the wastefulness of the players out there and we should have scored five or six in the end. It is beyond frustrating.
“We are only six or seven points off relegation and I am only interested in earning points to stay in the league, nothing else.
“The two goals we gave away were bordering on criminal. We conceded the first from our own corner and then Frazer Blake-Tracy gives a ridiculous ball inside that goes against everything we have been building in the last nine games.”
Jimmy Jay Morgan and Harry Leonard scored the Posh goals before substitute George Abbott pulled a goal back for Mansfield late in the game.