Nigel Clough frustrated as 'fluke and scrappy own goal' leave Mansfield Town beaten by Bolton Wanderers

Stags boss questions why side weren’t awarded ‘stonewall’ penalty...
Nigel Clough. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Nigel Clough. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Nigel Clough. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Nigel Clough was left rueing a 'fluke and a scrappy own goal' as Mansfield Town lost their first League Two contest since mid-December.

Bolton Wanderers ended the Stags' eight-game unbeaten run with three goals in the final 11 minutes to turn the game on its head, securing a 3-2 win at One Call Stadium.

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"We know exactly why we didn't win the game. They've scored a fluke and a scrappy own goal off Mal Benning's knee, which has got them back into a game which they were never in in the second half," said Clough, referring to Declan John's brace which cancelled out finishes from Ollie Clarke and Jamie Reid.

"You can't legislate for somebody putting a cross in that's flown in the top corner."

Arthur Gnahoua had the final say with a curling 20-yard finish in the 88th minute, but Clough was left questioning why his Stags were not awarded a spot kick early in the first half after Stephen Quin n went down in the Trotters box.

"I thought there was two turning points," Clough added.

"The penalty in the first half was absolutely stonewall on Stephen Quinn and that gives us a good start in the game.

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"I'm puzzled why that wasn't given. And then obviously the fluke that got them back into the game.

"All of a sudden their tails are up and they've got a lifeline they didn't deserve.

"You can't control those things. All we can do is control our performance and there was lots of things that was good tonight."

Clarke opened the scoring with a powerful drive that Matt Gilks palmed into his own net while Reid added the final touches to a well-worked team move which saw Mansfield storm into a 2-0 lead

"Two different goals," Clough stated.

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"Although it might look a bit fortunate the first one, he's hit it with such ferocity and he's hit the target.

"If it goes two yards either side of the keeper he's got no chance anyway. The way the balls move, it's ended up in the back of the net.

"The second goal was a lovely move, reminiscent of a few moves we had this evening and a lovely finish from Jamie Reid. It should have won us the game."

MORE STAGS: Mansfield 2 Bolton 3 – report