Manager Nigel Clough says Stags can hold their heads high after a last-gasp goal and a controversial decision not to award a penalty saw Mansfield leave AFC Wimbledon empty handed.
Stags played much of the contest with ten men after Jordan Bowery was deemed to have denied a goalscoring opportunity on 20 minutes.
The Dons then took the lead in first-half stoppage time before Will Swan’s sumptuous strike levelled the game for Mansfield on 62 minutes.
Stags were then denied a stonewall penalty in time added on when Davis Keillor-Dunn was dragged to the ground inside the box, and in the game’s dying embers, Wimbledon snatched the points with a second goal.
Offering his thoughts on the game, boss Nigel Clough said: “There was only one reason why we leave with nothing and that’s because of the decisions made by the referee all afternoon, nothing else.
“You get nothing for your efforts but we hold our head up high. We couldn’t have done anymore as a team to get a result.
“Sometimes officials make result-defining errors for whatever reason and that was the case today. We haven’t done anything wrong to lose that game today.
“I was pleased with the way we started the game, no problem at all with eleven men.
“The sending off was nowhere near as blatant as the one on Davis Keillor-Dunn on Tuesday night at home to Sutton. Jordan should not get caught in that position and should be a little bit cleverer once he is. But I don’t think it’s a clear goal scoring opportunity by any means. We’ve got two players running back. It’s not as if the ball’s been played through, but I wasn’t surprised at all that he brandished a red card. “
Omar Bugiel put the hosts ahead and Nigel said: “I think we had a couple of chances to clear it.
“I think Ollie Clarke, on the edge of the box, should have put his foot through it and didn’t. It’s then dropped to the lad and he’s put a very good finish in.
“We said at half-time, ‘just stay in the game’. We’ll have chances, we’ll have situations. Swanny will get half a chance on the break or whatever and that’s how it worked out.”
Swan levelled for Mansfield shortly after the hour.
“He’s looked sharp in training,” said Nigel. “We’ve been very close to starting him. We thought today would be an ideal opportunity to get two up there with Lucas and George Maris behind. Davis Keillor-Dunn had a tight hamstring this week which is why he didn’t start.
“He’s never out of our thoughts, Swan. The games just haven’t been quite right to get him on.
“After that, in the last 15 to 20 minutes I thought there was only one team that was going to win it.
“They cause you a few problems with high balls into the box but playing wise I thought there was only one team who were going to create the chances.”
Controversially, Stags were denied a stoppage time penalty when Keillor-Dunn was obstructed and brought down inside the area.
“You won’t see a more blatant penalty than that this season,” said Nigel. “He’s turned the lad lovely and about to get his shot off and has been dragged to the floor. The only thought is, was it a red card or not, that was our only thought. Once again, I was unsurprised by the decision, even as blatant as that.”
