Flitcroft proud of his players, despite frustration for magnificent Mansfield Town

But he was left frustrated how they failed to score in a one-sided 0-0 home draw with resilient Oldham Athletic

“Genuinely, how we’ve not gone four or five up I don’t know with the quality of the performance,” he said.

“Apart from the finish, that display was better than League Two level in my opinion.

READ THE MATCH REPORT“We have never looked so comfy as we did in that first half and they never got near our box.

“The longer it went, it got more desperate, but we have to score in those early stages.

“Their keeper made five or six outstanding saves – the best keeping performance I’ve seen in League Two this season.

“I know it will be unpicked and we’ve not scored a goal so it feels like a defeat. But I am proud of my players and gutted for the supporters.”

He added: “That performance was miles better than Saturday and we scored four goals then. That ranks alongside the Accrington performance without the goals.

“It was a completely one-sided football match and that group of players have done everything except finish them off.

“It was probably the most one-sided game I have been involved in for a long time.

“They had to make two subs at half-time as we were that dominant.

“We were positive. The players are making really good decisions.

“We have played with a purpose and real verve to go and win this football match. We have spoken about really going for teams’ throats and we did that tonight.”

Flitcroft took further heart from comments made by Oldham skipper Peter Clarke after the game.

“Peter Clarke is a phenomenal professional and a fantastic person,” said Flitcroft.

“I have worked with him and coming off the pitch he just said to me – what a team, we’ve been dragged everywhere.

“He is the kingpin of their team and when he talks you listen. “He said they’ve not been pulled about like that all season.

“But they are unbeaten away from him and are very resilient. By hook or by crook tonight they have earned a point.”