Nigel Clough says Mansfield Town should have beaten Colchester United

Nigel Clough was disappointed by Mansfield Town's failure to see the game out. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

James Perch seemingly secured victory with his first goal since October at the JobServeCommunity Stadium when he found the back of the net on 81 mintues.

But Frank Nouble’s leveller two minutes from time ensured the Stags travelled home with just a point following a 2-2 draw.

Match report: Colchester 2 Stags 2

Tommy Smith’s fourth minute own goal had handed the visitors the lead before Callum Harriott ended Colchester’s 450-minute wait for a goal as they came from behind twice to snatch a point.

“I thought we should have won the game. When you go ahead twice, I think there is always going to be disappointment when you don’t get the three points.” he told IFollow Stags

“We’re more disappointed with the first equaliser as we didn’t get out quick enough to the edge of the box – we should’ve dealt with that much better.

“We’re disappointed because of the nature of the equaliser (second goal) – both the timing and the deflection,” he told iFollow Stags. “I thought we played okay today on a very difficult surface.

“We took the lead twice and held it going into the 89th minute. Faz [Farrend Rawson] has thrown himself in for the challenge, it [Nouble shot] has hit the top of his foot and flown in the far top corner.”

It means Mansfield are now eight games without defeat as the prepare to face Bolton Wanderers at home on Wednesday night.

“I think it’s been an exceptionally good run,” added Clough. When you come here [Colchester] and have a battle like today, yes, we could’ve won it, but it’s still a good point in lots of ways. It’s just the lateness of the equaliser.

“We have two points on the road, which could’ve easily been four after today’s game. But we’ve scored three goals away from home [this week].

“I think we’ll score goals home and away. We’ll look forward to a bit of rain this week and a few more softer pitches now.

“It’s an absolutely brilliant run. It’s now two defeats in 15, and those two defeats are the only games we haven’t scored in.”

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