Graham Coughlan ‘heartbroken and annoyed’ after Mansfield lose to Forest Green

Posted Sunday, January 12, 2020 by PA

Mansfield boss Graham Coughlan vowed to turn the tide with some new faces after Aaron Collins’ last-gasp strike earned Forest Green a 4-3 win against the struggling Stags.

CJ Hamilton reacted quickest to put the Stags ahead after three minutes and Danny Rose headed home Alex MacDonald’s long throw to double their lead in the 40th minute.

But centre-half Farrend Rawson headed in a Joseph Mills free-kick in first-half added time and after the break nodded home a 52nd-minute corner by Jack Aitchison to level.

Carl Winchester put Rovers ahead on the hour from 20 yards, only for James Clarke to set up Nicky Maynard to level in the 90th minute.

But substitute Collins lashed home a Mills cross in the sixth minute of added time to snatch the win and leave Mansfield with just two home league wins all season.

“I am crestfallen, I am heartbroken and I am really, really annoyed,” said Coughlan after seeing his side squander a 2-0 lead.

“Sometimes in football you have to hit rock bottom to bounce back and that for me today was rock bottom.

“You can’t concede goals we keep conceding, you can’t sink the way we do and you can’t keep taking the easy option and just kicking it forward.

“Only hard work and maybe new players will be able to dig us out of that mindset.

“But this window is very difficult getting bodies in and out.

“We won’t go daft in the window as it’s a window when players and clubs can benefit massively from our desperation.

“But we will be OK as a club as there are plenty of footballers out there who want to represent Mansfield Town and play for me and Joe Dunne.”

Rovers boss Mark Cooper said: “It’s a good way to win as you know there’s no way back for the opposition because it’s that late.

“We have been so strong defensively this year, then we now can’t buy a clean sheet.

“But we scored four goals and three points is the main thing as we continue our quest to be the little village team trying to get into League One.

“I have full belief in this squad of players and still want to add to it.”

Cooper was upset by some chants at 2-0 down, saying: “Sometimes you do find yourself down in the game and don’t need the fans to start singing ‘the manager out’ – it’s embarrassing. Forest Green towards the top of League Two? Wake up and get a life!

“The majority of them are really good but a few of them are deluded and need to get behind the players.”