Nigel Clough confident Mansfield Town away form 'started today' in Burton Albion comeback

The Brewers, who Nigel Clough described as ‘unbelievably difficult’ to beat ahead of the game, will be frustrated they couldn’t hold onto an initial 2-0 lead at the Pirelli Stadium.

A spirited Stags side were able to fight back for a valuable point as the match ended 2-2 but they also saw two additional goals chalked off. David McGoldrick hit the back of the net twice throughout the afternoon but neither stood.

Michael Smith halved Burton’s deficit just before half-time and Stags pushed hard for a result in the second half. Lucas Akins found the equaliser on 70 minutes with a sweet strike as Mansfield Town kept pushing.

McGoldrick’s second disallowed goal came as Stags thought they’d netted a winner but it was deemed offside.

Speaking to the media after the match, Clough said his side ‘deservedly’ head back to Mansfield with a point in their pocket and a draw was ‘about fair’ for both sides.

“I thought in the first half an hour, you could tell exactly why we were low on confidence in the final third and weren’t creating much,” Clough said, reflecting on Stags’ recent goalless run. Prior to the Burton clash, Mansfield had not found the back of the net in three games.

“That’s why Michael Smith’s goal was so important for us. But it’s nice to get a couple of goals and a point to go two unbeaten.”

The point at the Pirelli marks Stags’ first positive result on the road this season, having lost to Peterborough, Reading and Bradford in their three away games prior. The manager believes the Burton performance is where their away form will change.

“We’ve had two draws in two different circumstances but it doesn’t matter. Our three home performances have been brilliant but we have to do better on the road, and I think that started in the second half today,” Clough said.

Mansfield Town now have some time off, with their fixtures against Leyton Orient and Wigan both postponed due to international call-ups.