Manager Nigel Clough admitted moments of Mansfield’s thrilling 3-3 League One draw at home to Burton would give him and the fans nightmares for a while.
In a game strewn with errors and excitement, Mansfield twice led then trailed, only to equalise in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage-time from a Lee Gregory penalty.
This was Mansfield’s first home game at this level for 21 years and Clough said: “If they are all going to be like that in League One here, there is going to be some entertainment.
“It was very entertaining but will give us all nightmares for a few days.
“But I would rather have a 3-3 than a 0-0 and have the crowd on their feet for the first League One game back here in 21 years. It’s another one they will remember.
“Both penalty areas is where the game is won and lost and we were very poor in both areas today.
“Yet we have still come out of it with a point and three goals.
“The draw was the least we deserved in terms of chances created, but it was probably fair in terms of the wastefulness and the goals and mistakes at the other end.
“I didn’t see many of their players arguing over the penalty for holding on (Aden Flint) Flinty so I think it was a good decision.”
A thrilling start saw Will Evans punish a poor pass out by goalkeeper Max Crocombe after four minutes only to see Billy Bodin blast in a 20-yard equaliser, three minutes later.
Evans then hit the Burton post before Stags retook the lead in added time as Jack Armer turned a low Lucas Akins cross into his own net.
Evans failed to net a one-on-one after the break and after 69 minutes, Ben Whitfield made him pay with an equaliser that deflected in off Deji Oshilaja after an Aden Flint error.
Davis Keillor-Davis wasted a second one-on-one for the home side and three minutes later, Bodin finished at the other end to give Albion the lead for the first time.
But when Flint was held in the box at the death, Gregory sent Crocombe the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Burton boss Mark Robinson said: “I have mixed emotions after that. We were nowhere near as good on the ball as we need to be.
“We need to be more confident. We showed a lot of naivety and we have a lot of players out there who have not played at this level before.
“Mansfield’s side have thousands of games experience at this level between them.
“So we have to take the positives.
“I can’t talk about the penalty decision at the end. I must have been in a different league referees meeting to everyone else. At the moment we just can’t catch a break.
“There is a lot to work on and a lot of players to come back.
“If we can get through this next three or four weeks and pick up points and have the squad back available, we will be more than all right.
“We have limited bodies and down to the bare bones with 10 or 11 injuries so I hope the fans will stick behind us.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
