"They didn't have to work hard for those goals!" Cheltenham boss Michael Duff says 'silly mistakes' costly at Mansfield Town

Stags came from behind to beat leaders...
James Perch wins the header against Cheltenham's Sam Smith. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTDJames Perch wins the header against Cheltenham's Sam Smith. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD
James Perch wins the header against Cheltenham's Sam Smith. Picture: Andrew Roe/AHPIX LTD

Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff believes his side gifted Mansfield Town their three goals as they sunk to a 3-1 defeat at One Call Stadium.

The Robins manager said his team 'weren't quite at it' and on another night would have killed the Stags spirit.

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While Mansfield boss Nigel Clough was left praising a terrific all-round team performance, his opposite number saw the game very differently.

"We weren't quite good enough tonight," said Duff told the Robins website.

"The first half wasn't particularly good. We weren't happy about a few things but then we scored a really good goal in the second half, then made some silly mistakes."

Sam Smith headed the Robins in front before three goals in eight minutes - a brace from Jordan Bowery and a close-range finish from Jamie Reid - competed the comeback.

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"They didn't have to work hard for those goals," Duff added.

"When you take the lead against a struggling side, you don't start trying to play out from the back for 10 or 15 minutes.

"If we'd have kept them quiet, with how resilient we've been, they would have started to lose belief. It would have killed their spirit.

"We made the mistakes so we weren't quite at it today."

A late equaliser for Morecambe at Forest Green Rovers meant Cheltenham held on to top spot.

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