Nigel Clough says Mansfield Town need to stop conceding soft goals after defeat at Bradford City

Nigel Clough was again left disappointed by the way in which his side lost the game. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

He was once again left disappointed at his side’s defending following the 1-0 defeat at Bradford City

It is the second midweek away defeat in a row where the Mansfield manager has been angered by sloppy defending costing his side the game.

“Performance wise I didn’t think there was an awful lot wrong, it is just a very soft goal again,” said Clough.

“We played better than we did at Harrogate but the result is the same because we have conceded a soft goal.

“I thought we were in control and then one ball over the top from the halfway line, they win two balls and we lose the game.

“On Saturday we didn’t give anything away like that and we won the game, it is such fine margins.

“If we play like we did on Saturday and don’t give the opposition any real chances you end up winning the game.

“It is a frustrating goal, it is no different than Harrogate. Teams are having two or three chances against us and we are controlling the game.

“It doesn’t matter how much you control the game if you are going to give away soft goals. “We have to stop giving those goals away, we have not had enough clean sheets.”

Jason Law hit the post early in the game as Mansfield started well.

But Danny Rowe bagged the winner on 32 minutes as the hosts made it five wins on the spin.

Mansfield have now picked up just five points from a possible 21 after going eight games unbeaten.

And their defeat was compounded by skipper Ollie Clarke being sent off late on at Valley Parade.

Although frustrated Clough was keen to point out it is not all doom and gloom at the moment.

“We started the game brilliantly. Jason Law hit the post and we are inches away from being in front,” he said.

“Ollie Clarke was inches away from equalising from a corner in the 89th minute.

“It is not all doom and gloom, but we can’t give those goals away.

“At 0-0 mabe you get a goal, but if you are 1-0 down it is hard to get back in it.

“A lot of teams can defend that lead at this level when they are organized, like we do when we get 1-0 up.

“Don't give that goal away and if it's 0-0 in the 89th minute away then we will take it.

“The general play was good and I thought Jason Law played well once again.

“We just need to do more in the final third attacking wise, but the priority is keeping clean sheets and that is why we lost the game tonight.

“It is difficult to eradicate it. We seem to be a bit more vulnerable away from home and we just have to keep working on it.

“We want to see the performance we saw on Saturday where we don’t give away errors like we did tonight.”