Mansfield Town

Boss rues goal which saw us slip to defeat on opening day.

Manager Paul Cox was unhappy with our defending in the build-up to Northampton Town’s goal in today’s 1-0 defeat at the Sixfields Stadium.

The Cobblers earned maximum points on the opening day of the new Sky Bet League Two season courtesy of Kaid Mohamed’s close-range header from Darren Carter’s corner-kick on 26 minutes.

“I’m disappointed to lose the game from a re-start,” said Cox. “It’s something that we work on in training and is usually one of our strengths. It was ultimately that goal that decided the game.”

When asked if shot-stopper Sascha Studer was fouled in the build-up to the goal, our boss continued: “No. We didn’t defend it properly and the lad had a free header.

“It’s unlike us because we’ve got our roles and responsibilities and we switched off. At that point I thought we were on top in the game and not under any pressure whatsoever.”

He added: “There’s a lot of food for thought. I thought we looked a little bit ‘leggy’ in the last third, but that’ll come with Liam Hearn getting more game-time and getting Matt Rhead back.

“We played some good stuff in the first half, but we became a little bit erratic near the end. It was that grey area in the final third which cost us.”

A miserable afternoon for us was made even worse shortly after the re-start when Ollie Palmer limped off with suspected ankle-ligament damage.

Cox has confirmed that the young striker is set to be out of action for approximately two to three weeks.

“It was a big shame to lose Ollie,” continued our boss. “I think [he injured] his ankle ligaments, so it looks like he’ll be out for two or three weeks, but it’s something that we’ve just got to get on with.”