Bad refereeing decisions have cost us at least 10 points says Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough

Both Rhys Oates and Tyler Roberts looked to have good shouts for a penalty in the second half to no avail as Stags went a seventh league game without a win while City were going 16 games unbeaten with a sixth win in seven games.

A Rob Street penalty broke the deadlock on 40 minutes after Will Evans had tripped Jack Moylan and, after Mansfield had two penalty appeals turned down, City sealed the win in added time through a close range finish by Tom Bayliss.

“It was a tale of three penalties really,” said Clough.

“The first one was definitely a penalty just before half-time and it was a poor decision by Will Evans.

“We had battled away with not much in it and almost went in 0-0 at half-time.

“They were probably a bit better than us but we had defended brilliantly.

“Then we gave the penalty away.

“Second half I thought we were absolutely brilliant and we gave everything.

“We forced them back with a lot of good play.

“So to have two very good shouts for a penalty as well as a free kick on the edge of their box and not get any of them was incredible.”

He added: “Conservatively now that's 10 points this season that decisions have cost us.

“Most teams might say they've cost us two or three points, but not 10.

“This is pretty blatant stuff now and we're talking about in week in, and week out. And this was an experienced referee today.

“We have lost three games on the spin now and the last two have been down to decisions and it is incredibly frustrating in our position.

“I am fed up talking about it as I would rather talk about the endeavour of my players.

“Whether their keeper got a touch on the ball is irrelevant. He still then took out Rhys Oates.

“Then Tyler said he was about to pull the trigger and was taken down. We could have won the game on those two decisions.”