Nigel Clough says he was encouraged by Mansfield Town’s attacking play during tonight’s 3-1 defeat to Derby County.

Mansfield went in level at the break thanks to a fine equaliser from Michael Smith before second half goals from Charlie Smith and Cruz Allen sealed victory for the Championship side.

But Clough felt he saw plenty of things to be positive about with the new-look attacking trio of Smith, David McGoldrick and Tyler Roberts creating plenty of good chances.

“It was a good game for both teams and I thought there was a lot of good stuff,” he said. “We are a bit disappointed with the defending for a couple of the goals but I thought we could have scored more than one.

Nigel Clough was encouraged by aspects of Mansfield Town's attacking play during the defeat to Derby County.

placeholder image — Nigel Clough was encouraged by aspects of Mansfield Town's attacking play during the defeat to Derby County.

“We hit the post and the bar and created plenty of opportunities. It was a different formation tonight and we are still looking at a few things and whether we can do it in the league or not week in week out. I’m not sure, but there was a lot of encouraging play tonight.”

But Clough admits that Stags still need to find the right balance to any extra impetus they may take into games.

“We have to balance that and be a little more solid at the back,” he said, “I thought they closed down better than us tonight and got a lot of blocks in. We have got to do a little bit more of that as well as playing as well as we did at times.”

The defeat brought Mansfield’s official pre-season campaign to an end though Clough revealed the squad will play another 90 minute game at the training ground before the visit of Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup.

Stags will go into the new season without defender Baily Cargill after he tweaked his hamstring at Alfreton, while Liam Roberts is expected to have recovered in time for the start of the season on August 15.

Clough also revealed Mansfield are close to adding one final player to the squad with discussions to bring in a midfielder at an advanced stage.

“I’ve said it for a few weeks that we keep thinking we are close and I think we are close now,” he said. We will try and get it done as soon as possible.”

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