Nigel Clough relieved to still be in FA Cup as Mansfield edge past Stevenage
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough admitted he was relieved to still be in the FA Cup at half-time against Stevenage before edging into the third round with a narrow 1-0 win.
Boro had dominated before the break but crucially could not find the breakthrough, and they were punished three minutes into the second half by Stephen McLaughlin’s fine finish.
“We couldn’t wait for half-time, said Stags boss Clough. “Stevenage were very good indeed.
“I told my players I couldn’t believe how bad we were after the previous three games and I also said we were fortunate to still be in it. But games change at half-time and I thought we started the second half much better.
“Generally we looked after it very well indeed and had one or two very good situations to double the lead.
“It was a great finish through a crowd of bodies and that lifted us, and when you’ve had as much go against you as we have in the last three games, then it’s nice to get something positive.
“The goal lifted us and we played all right after that.”
Stevenage manager Alex Revell admitted their failure to capitalise on their first-half dominance was crucial to the outcome of the game.
“We should have been out of sight,” he said.
“The big criticism we’ve had is we haven’t created enough in games and we had a focus on trying to move the ball forward and shoot.
“We had 11 in the first half and it was all us but, ultimately, when you don’t take those chances, you give teams hope and you give teams oxygen.
“Second half we stopped doing the things that got us our success. We stopped moving the ball as quick as we did in the first half and stopped switching the play or running in behind.
“We should be in a draw but we’re not. It’s extremely frustrating.”