Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough admits this week's two games are 'cup finals' for his struggling side after a 2-0 home loss to Lincoln City on Saturday saw them slip to just five points above the drop zone.

Stags, who had two spot kick appeals turned down on Saturday, have now failed to win in seven successive league games and lost three in a row, despite some excellent performances.

They host AFC Wimbledon on Saturday before heading for struggling Rotherham United on Tuesday and Clough said: “After losing three games on the trot we are now in a perilous position and these next two games are like cup finals for us.

“We have now been stuck on 39 points for three games.

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough furious after two penalty appeals were turned down against Lincoln. Photo by Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media

placeholder image — Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough furious after two penalty appeals were turned down against Lincoln. Photo by Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media

“Psychologically, we have to get over that 40-point mark in these next two games.

“If we don't win on Saturday the pressure just builds. But we had it this time last season just the same.

“And if you look over the course of the season we are probably not far off where we'd expect to be in terms of things, though we'd have hoped to be a little bit higher.

“I think we should be in the early 40s with our points now without doing too much different.

“Arguably we have played as well or better in the last few games than we did in the nine game unbeaten run.

“The reaction of the crowd at the end of Saturday's game was brilliant.

“They know the players have given absolutely everything and the runnng stats are as high as they've been all season.”

Stags are down in 16th place now and Clough said: “We have not got our rewards in a lot of games, like the last three, and it's also down to the strength of the league.

“The side fourth from bottom is on so many points, which they are not in other leagues. It's a combination of things.

He added: “The last three games we've lost, we have been in every one of them.

“Decisions are not going our way and haven't in a lot of the games we have lost and it's incredibly frustrating.

“It is having a huge effect on our season again.

“We did give a very silly penalty away. But we were very pleased with the second half performance against a team that are second in the league and probably going to get automatic promotion.”

The Dons arrive on the back of a 3-1 victory over Bradford City and Clough said: “Wimbledon had a great win on Saturday with what I am told was probably their best performance of the season.

“So we are expecting a confident side to come here.

“We had a very even battle with them down there and should have won the game – we still can't see any reason why Baily Cargill's goal was disallowed.

“But we will need to be close to our best to get anything.”

On Saturday's squad, he said: “Rhys Oates and Deji Oshilaja have had problems with their toes which they have just had sorted yesterday (Monday). They have been playing in a lot of pain.

“So they won't be doing any training but should be fit for the weekend.

“Regan Hendry was given a rest at the weekend as he has played so much football but he will be in the squad for Saturday too.”