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Interviews

Dominant Stags disappointed with Luton draw

26 August 2017

Interviews

Dominant Stags disappointed with Luton draw

26 August 2017

Stags' boss Steve Evans says he was 'wholly satisfied' by this afternoon's performance in the 2-2 draw at home to Luton Town, but was disappointed with the five-minute spell in which the Hatters scored two goals.

A first half goal from defender Rhys Bennett gave Stags the lead at the break, before striker Lee Angol doubled their advantage in the second half.

However two goals in five minutes from Luton strikers James Collins and Danny Hylton drew the Hatters level, before substitute Jimmy Spencer missed an injury-time penalty for the Stags.

And the gaffer was left disappointed with the result after watching his dominate 'from start to finish'.

"I was wholly satisfied with all of it, apart from two or three minutes when they get two goals. We were just so dominant.

"[In the] first half we were very dominant and in the second half even more so. We get the second goal and it looks as though it could be three or four.

"[In the] first half we were very dominant and in the second half even more so. We get the second goal and it looks as though it could be three or four."

Steve Evans, mana

"We played some fantastic football, in spells. We're 2-0 up and we're cruising.

"We've dominated a good side – these are a good side, Luton. We've dominated from start to finish, we had a four or five minute spell when they get a goal and it always happens, you get your tails up and then they get the second one.

"Look at the reaction after that; we're the team that went on the offensive, we're the team that missed a good half chance. It was a great ball in and maybe Jimmy should follow that one in as well – he doesn't.

"Then we get the chance to win it at the end and we certainly go away the most disappointed team."

The former Leeds United manager believes the Hatters should have been down to nine men this afternoon, during a game in which both sides received six bookings each.

"They should have had nine men on the pitch today. The referee's been as lenient with a team, the opposition, as I've seen in a long time but that doesn't excuse us from being 2-0 up with five or six minutes to go and then have a penalty to win it.

"They should be down to nine men in open play. They've handled balls, they've pulled people back, I'm not going to name the two players individually but Nathan Jones, if he doesn't accept there should be nine men on the pitch today, then he's not as honest as I think he is because his team's given him everything late on but he knows they should've got beaten today."

The two late goals which Luton scored were, according to the gaffer, individual errors by the Stags and he believes the Hatters rode their luck as they snatched a point at One Call Stadium.

"You can account for it because you can take them out but those lads played particularly well.

"They've had a bit of a battering here this afternoon and they've rode their luck, but that's what good teams do. They're a good team, they've got good players."

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view the manager's post-match interview.


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