Mansfield Town

The Stags felt hard done by when the visitors were awarded a penalty in the first half after John Dempster was judged to have brought down Josh Carson inside the area.

Ryan Bowman stepped up and sent Alan Marriott the wrong way with the subsequent spot-kick, which proved to be the decisive winner.

Referee Darren Drysdale awarded York another penalty late on, but this time Marriott dived to his left to deny Wes Fletcher.

Cox was disheartened with the referee's performance tonight, but was encouraged with his team’s desire throughout the 90 minutes. 

“The boys gave everything, especially in the second-half,” said Cox. “I thought there was one team trying to win it.

“We lacked quality going into the box, but saying that I don’t think we got a lot of help if I’m totally honest.

“I think our final ball tonight was poor. I’ve just said to the boys we played with our hearts tonight but we should have played with our heads.

“We swapped it around early on playing two wingers and got two centre-forwards up there, but the final ball into the box and anticipation of balls dropping into the box wasn’t good enough. 

“Saying that, I believe realistically the game should have been 0-0, because once again, both teams were scratching their heads at the penalty which was given.”

He added: “I’m disappointed for the boys that have worked really hard tonight. We have huffed and puffed in the last third and on other days we would have done enough to win the game. 

“I felt a point was the least we deserved tonight.

“I thought we played on the front foot. The second-half was one-way traffic apart from the penalty late on. Once again, everyone was bemused by why and how.”

Despite tonight’s defeat, our side remain five points above the relegation-zone and only four points off Hartlepool United in 10th position.

Cox believes our 10 remaining games are all important, as he urges his players to get back to winning ways against relegation-threatened Northampton Town on Saturday.

He continued: “They are all massive games; we never thought we would be sailing into the sunset. We always knew there would be up's and down's and I’ve said before that the table will turn on a week to week basis. 

“We have got to be resolute now and comeback from the disappointment of tonight and back to winning ways. 

“I thought we worked hard tonight and were on the front-foot. That’s what we like to see at home, but that final ball and pass needs to improve.”