MANSFIELD Town chief Nigel Clough says sloppiness has crept into his side after they missed the chance to go top of the table.
Crewe struck arly and held on to end the Stags' unbeaten home record and strengthen their own promotion claims.
Joe White's finish inside two minutes proved enough for Lee Bell to make a winning return to his former club and prevent them going top.
Clough was upset by the early goal conceded and said: "We are bitterly disappointed to lose for only the second time in 24 games or not get even a point. Sometimes even a point at home is a good result.
"The goal we conceded after 90 seconds or so cost us the game today. I don't know if complacency is the word, or sloppiness crept in.
"The reason we have the best defensive record in the league is that we don't give goals away like that.
"The ball is in our penalty area, it goes away - it's cleared, no second thoughts or questions whether it's 90 seconds in or 90 seconds to go.
"That has been our principal and why we haven't conceded.
This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
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This story is from the January 07, 2024 edition of The Football League Paper.
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