He told Chad after the Stags' fifth home defeat of the season: "What worries me is that we don't seem to have enough character in this club to come back when we go behind."

Dearden added that the Stags had missed a great chance to climb out of the relegation zone.

• Mansfield Town 1 Accrington Stanley 2

Click on the green play icon to listen to a full interview with the manager by Chad's Stephen Thirkill.

"We got what we deserved today," said Dearden.

"We huffed and puffed but didn't create much or defend well enough to get anything out of the game.

"We were second all round - at the back, in midfield and up front. We just didn't play like we can do for whatever reason and not many of them came out of it with much credit like they did on Boxing Day.

"I thought Accrington deserved to win on their second half show. We had a good chance to get out of the bottom four today and we didn't take it.

"I couldn't see if their first goal was offside. My keeper said it was but it doesn't matter, the goal was given.

"What worries me is that we don't seem to have enough character in this club to come back when we go behind. Yet when we score first we can go on and on."

Stanley manager John Coleman added: "I was delighted with our performance in testing conditions for both sides.

"We defended really well and to win away twice on the bounce is very pleasing.

"In a game like that, if you are going to be successful you have got to get the ball down and pass it which we did today.

"When Paul Mullin scored the first thing I did was look over at the linesman. I couldn't tell if it was offside but I would not have been surprised or upset if it had been given.

"But we have had some horrendous decisions against us this season so it was nice to get one and I was glad we scored a second."