Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan slams 'car crash defending' after late Carlisle United fightback

Nicky Maynard's second half brace looked to have secured a crucial win for the Stags, until a moment of bad luck and a moment of bad defending cost them dearly.

With nine minutes to go Elliot Watt's cross caught on the wind and sailed over Bobby Olejnik before a stoppage time free kick saw Watt's ball in touched home by Joshua Kayode.

“It's car crash defending,” said an angry Coughlan.

“It should not be happening at this level. It's not good enough. It feels like a defeat.

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“Okay, the conditions took the cross over our goalie's head into the net.

“But you don't give the foul away in the 94th minute, then fail to shut down the front post and let the ball bounce into your box. I am just asking us to see out the last free kick of the game.

“The first goal had gone in with a bit of luck, but just defend the free kick.”

He added: “Our lads' confidence is low and they have been beat up all season.

“But those are the moments that hurt us and kill us.

“If we can see those moments through – and I say this when I am absolutely fuming – we will have long term success.

“As soon as that ball sailed in over the keeper's head chaos set in and confidence went. It was panic and 'here we go again' – that type of mindset. We have to clear that from our heads.”

Carlisle United boss Chris Beech said: “I was really pleased with the boys' character to come back. We didn't definitely deserve to lose it.

“The lads said 'we're not getting beat' and rolled their sleeves up.”

Mansfield now face another huge game away at more fellow strugglers, Morecambe, next weekend and will check on the fitness of midfielder Alex MacDonald, who limped off this afternoon.