Just In: Boss Nigel Clough expresses ‘total relief’ on Colchester united match

Just In: Boss Nigel Clough expresses ‘total relief’ on Colchester united match

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough says he felt ‘total relief’ at full-time as Stags left it late to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to ten matches with a 1-1 draw at Colchester this afternoon.

Davis Keillor-Dunn struck on 90 minutes in what the gaffer described as a ‘below par’ performance in Essex.

 

 

Speaking to iFollow Stags post-match at JobServe Community Stadium, the boss said: “[I feel] Total relief to get the point and stay unbeaten.

 

 

“Ten games now, we’re in mid-September, double figures in games and we haven’t lost.

 

 

“[That was] By far the worst we’ve played today.

 

 

“In a silly sort of way it’s a good sign that you can play as poorly as we did and get a point but I don’t want too many performances like that in the next nine months.”

Analysing the display further, Nigel said: “I’m not sure how we got a point after the performance today.

 

 

“I didn’t think we deserved anything.

 

 

“I thought it was very very below par compared to what we’ve been in the last nine games.

 

 

“Everything that we’ve done well in the previous nine games, we didn’t do today.

 

 

“We didn’t have an intent to go and hurt the opposition.

 

 

“When we did get in the final third we gave the ball away.”

 

 

 

The boss was asked about Colchester’s first-half opener and said: “It was a blatant error from Lewis Brunt unfortunately,” he said.

 

 

“He’s read it well and he’s miscontrolled it on the halfway line and then lost the tussle and the tackle.

 

 

“Once you’ve miscontrolled it, don’t let your mistake cost you a goal.

 

 

“Don’t lose the ball. Obviously, we’re vulnerable once he does lose it but he’s a young player, learning.”

 

 

 

Attacker Davis Keillor-Dunn rifled home the equaliser from Aden Flint’s headed flick in the area.

 

 

 

“We get back into it [with] a very unlike-us-goal in terms of a good ball into the box and Aden Flint nods it down and Davis has smashed it into the top corner.

 

 

“If there’s one person you want it to fall to at the moment it’s Davis.”

 

 

 

George Maris missed the trip to Colchester. Thankfully, the gaffer revealed the injury is not serious.

 

 

 

“He [Maris] had a scan on his knee this week,” Nigel said.

 

 

“It’s bruising, no serious damage but [will be out] probably a couple of weeks.