"We've gone toe-to-toe with top of the league!" Mansfield Town didn't have the ruthlessness of Cambridge United, but Nigel Clough saw promising signs in 3-0 defeat
Nigel Clough wants his Mansfield Town squad topping the League Two table within a year - and he believes that today's 3-0 defeat to Cambridge United has proven his dream can become a reality.
The U's League two leaders left One Call Stadium with the points, but Clough doesn't believe the victory was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.
"It was a little bit harsh on us, 3-0, certainly," he said.
"We've gone toe-to-toe with top of the league for most of the game and I'm really disappointed with the goals we've conceded.
"Their front three are as good as we've got in the league, we've seen that today and they've caused problems.
"The disappointing thing was the commitment in both penalty areas. We didn't really get in the right areas at the right time. They showed a ruthlessness we didn't."
Clough, however, believes the differences between his side and United aren't that vast.
"It's not a great deal judging by today. it was a very event game," he added.
"Difficult conditions but we went toe-to-toe with them.
"I'm hoping in 12 ,months time, less than that, it's us in that position, but you can see why they're top of the league.
"We matched them for long periods of the game today. I don't think they were that better in open play. We created as many chances a them, they just finsieh theirs."
MORE STAGS: Mansfield 0 Cambridge 3 – report