Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough still angry over refereeing standards as Stags head for in-form Plymouth Argyle

Clough now believes a quarter of his side's games this season have been adversely affected by poor decisions.

Stags led 1-0 at Stevenage on Saturday with Clough already fuming over how much time had been added at the end of each half.

Then skipper Ryan Sweeney was ordered off after taking an elbow to the face, for which he required no treatment and no foul was given.

Stags believed the restart was their throw. Instead referee Ben Christopher awarded an uncontested drop ball to Stevenage from which they levelled.

“We are looking forward to Plymouth, as we do every game,” saud Clough.

“But we should be going into it on the back of six straight victories, not five and a draw.

“That will rankle for some time unfortunately – as do five other games this season.

“It seems strange that in a quarter of our league games the result has been affected by decisions.

“It seems an awfully big percentage and an awful lot of points that have been lost because of that.

“Hopefully that won't happen again tomorrow and not too many times between now and the end of the season.”

He continued: “Saturday was incredibly frustrating.

“It was a poor game all round – but that is how it is sometimes at this time of year.

“But to go 1-0 ahead and then to be faced with six minutes of added time due to a change in the directives and rules that referees have now, all of a sudden, been asked to include yellow cards and general stoppages.

“The referee said they are now also being asked to include 'ceremonial' free kicks in calculating added time which maybe someone could write in on a postcard and ask what that means? “I have been involved in football for 50 years and I don't know what that means?”

Tomorrow's opponents were in the drop zone and struggling early in the season but have turned things around since then.

Three successive wins were followed by a home loss to Reading on Boxing Day.

But two draws followed and then came four successive wins which has moved them up to 14th, only behind 11th-placed Mansfield on goal difference.

“Plymouth are a completely different proposition now to what they were a few months ago,” said Clough.

“It was only a matter of time before they got things organised because of the quality they have within the squad.

“They have made some big signings as well.

“They are getting almost full houses at home, so it will be a very stern test for us.”

Despite it being a winter Tuesday, Stags will be followed by another army of 500 travelling fans and Clough was quick to praise their backing and criticise the EFL for the logic of such a trip on a Tuesday night.

“I can't believe the time and money they spend,” said Clough.

“I don't know the last time we played at Plymouth and it is so unfortunate the EFL have decided to play it on a Tuesday evening.

“It seems somewhat harsh on supporters and thoughtless towards their well-being and financial situation.

“So it is unbelievable we will have 500 or so down there and we will do what we did on Saturday.

“We will put our bodies on the line. We will head everything. We will defend as if our lives depended on it. Hopefully it might be enough to get us a result.”

Stags will be without Louis Reed after he was sent off for dissent at the end of Saturday's defeat.

He was shown two quick yellow cards so they hope it will only be a one game ban but are awaiting confirmation.”

With the transfer deadline approaching next Monday, Stags continue to try to identify a midfield player to replace the departing Jamie McDonnell.

From Clough's comments today, it seems they may also be looking at bringing in a temporary back-up keeper, having allowed Owen Mason out on loan.

They are not using one on the bench at the moment but could need one to start for them a game later if Liam Roberts were injured.

“We have got to be conscious about numbers, but we are working on one or two options as well as the goalkeeping situation as well,” said Clough.

“Kyle Knoyle came down and did the warm up with the players on Saturday and is back in limited training.

“Everyone else is pretty much as it was.

“We picked up a couple of knocks on Saturday too, so we have a couple more doubts.”