Manager Nigel Clough says Stags had more than enough opportunities to add to their points tally at Prenton Park this evening.
Instead, Mansfield were made to rue missed chances as they left Tranmere on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.
Stags, however, should have converted more of their opportunities in front of goal, and summing up the game, Nigel said: “The performance I thought was alright tonight in general.
“Again, we created numerous situations and chances throughout the game. We’ve been defeated by a deflected goal, twenty yards out, similar to MK Dons.
“There are nothing in these games; sometimes it’s a bit of luck, sometimes it’s a good finish. Tonight, again, it’s gone against us, the second time in two weeks with those deflected goals.”
Stags fell behind to Regan Hendry’s 12th minute strike before Will Swan levelled the contest with a delightful finish on 39 minutes.
“It was a brilliant goal,” said Nigel, speaking about Swan’s strike.
“[It was] A great throughball from Reedy and Swanny’s tucked it away.
“From that point you come in at half-time and think come on, let’s take it on.
“[But] I didn’t think we started the second-half so well. I thought we made a few bad decisions in the first ten or fifteen minutes, but the deflected goal is difficult to take.”
Rob Apter then restored Tranmere’s lead in the second period but Stags still had chances to again level.
“I was surprised how many we had. Sometimes teams can really shut up shop and make it difficult for you, but we got in numerous times. Swanny had a one-on-one, Davis had a one-on-one, hit the goalkeeper. Quinny had one at the far post, so we had enough situations.
“We just needed somebody with that bit of quality.
“I thought Hiram was unlucky a couple of times in and around the penalty area. And that’s the difference, just whether someone can get you a goal or not.
“We’re not quite getting a break. All the defeats this season have been so close. There’s an argument to say in every one of them we could have had a draw, at least, in those games. “
Despite the loss, Nigel was encouraged by results elsewhere in the division this evening, adding: “The brilliant news when we’ve come in [to the dressing room] is Grimsby have done us a favour [by winning against MK Dons] and the gap between us and fourth place has stayed the same, so it’s another game ticked off.
“We’re still five points clear of fourth, with a good goal difference.”
