Mansfield boss Nigel Clough labelled his side’s error-strewn display in a 5-1 home hammering by Reading “embarrassing and inexcusable”.
Stags, knowing a point will ensure their safety – barring an extraordinary goal difference swing to Bristol Rovers – matched the promotion-chasing Royals for long periods but gifted them goal after goal.
Louis Reed’s stray pass led to Jayden Wareham’s 35th-minute opener, half-time substitute George Williams scored an own goal four minutes later and another loose pass by Keanu Baccus saw Lewis Wing smash home from 25 yards on 57 minutes.
Baccus pulled one back only to see Wareham net a second after a poor kick out by Christy Pym on 74 minutes.
In added time Deji Oshilaja’s misplaced back-pass saw Billy Bodin make it five and Clough said: “It was four horrific mistakes and an absolutely stunning strike.
“You can’t do anything about the stunning strike but the four mistakes for the goals were absolutely horrific.
“It’s obviously down to players probably not being good enough.
“They had a good first half of the season but can’t sustain it and now it’s 11 goals in three games conceded – but today was by far the worst.
“I thought for 35 minutes we were absolutely brilliant in terms of our football. Then the next level is having the quality in the final third to hit the target instead of putting it in the stand.
“Then we made one of the first horrific mistakes with Louis Reed, their lad gets one shot from 20 yards and it goes into the bottom corner.
“I find it quite embarrassing and inexcusable.
“We need one point from three games to stay up – it is as clear and stark as that.
“But I think today has been very clarifying of what we have struggled with. Maybe performances and victories in the first half of the season covered up a little bit.
“It has been a difficult afternoon with the mistakes but shows everything clearly – exactly where we are short and what we need.”
Reading have now only lost twice in 17 games and manager Noel Hunt said: “That was a really strong performance today and we now have to back it up next week.
“It did not start easy – Mansfield have a big strong side with a really good, experienced manager. We had to be at our best to get on top of them and take over.
“We had a really good team meeting this morning about the opportunity we have given ourselves after our hard work this season, and there are three ways it can go.
“We can turn and walk home, we can stand still and watch it or we can step forward and embrace it and take it on. I think we have done the latter today and I am delighted.
“I thought the boys were outstanding today and were brave in their play.
“If we get the balance right we will have a full-strength squad as we head to the end of the season. You don’t often say that.
“I think we are getting stronger, fitter and faster.”
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