BEARING BRUNT But Cowley flattered by ‘cheating’ chants
CLINICAL FINISHING GIVES BOSS HIS PHIL
SCHEMING Danny Cowley saw his Colchester side branded “cheats” by angry Mansfield fans but then insisted: “We’ll take it as a compliment!”
Cowley’s men are scrapping to avoid relegation from League Two and this point at tabletopping Mansfield could prove priceless.
The Essex outfit led at the break through Harry Anderson’s clinical first-half strike before the Stags hit back through Lewis Brunt’s scrambled equaliser after the break.
Yet the home faithful constantly vented their frustrations at what they perceived as time-wasting tactics by Cowley’s battlers.
Chants of “cheat, cheat” rang out at the end of the first half and again at the final whistle as Mansfield failed to win for the third time in five games.
Yet Cowley said: “I’m not sure if they were getting frustrated with us or their own team.
“If people expect us to come here, lie down and let them roll all over us, over my dead body.
“I’ve had maybe 850 games in football and home supporters, when they really respect and admire an away performance, boo and get really frustrated and angry.
“That’s football’s way of actually giving you a pat on the back. Yes, the boos were the biggest compliment.” Draw-specialists Colchester led
PHIL PARKINSON was delighted by Wrexham’s ruthless edge during an emphatic victory over League Two strugglers Grimsby.
The visitors – whose progress under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney drew a nearcapacity crowd to Blundell Park – produced the kind of Hollywood performance which made a mockery of claims their push for a second straight promotion may be fading after a patchy run of form.
“I thought the focus we showed,
By in the 12th minute when Anderson showed neat skill to fire a low right-foot shot into the far corner.
Mansfield upped the tempo and were rewarded when Brunt scrambled home from a corner in the 63rd minute but Colchester substitute Samson Tovide saw his shot pushed onto a post late on.
Visiting goalkeeper Owen Goodman – who made two outstanding second-half saves – went down with cramp in the first period.
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough felt referee Simon Mather could have been firmer with the visitors.
He said: “We play our way and they play their way.
“The referee came and apologised in the second half and said, ‘I got the time wrong in the first half, I’ll get it right second half ’.
“That was a very strange thing to say – I would’ve hoped he would get it right from the first minute and not the 45th.”
Cowley, who headed straight to Notts County to watch them play Salford, sarcastically applauded the home supporters at the final whistle.
He added: “I just wanted to thank them for coming because without these supporters in our pyramid then football would be nothing, would it?
“We want to be winners and today you saw a team that were really determined, resilient and streetwise. We have fought for everything we’ve got and we’re not about to give up our Football League status easily.”
Andy Cannon (left) in the fifth and 36th minutes, and another by Paul Mullins three minutes before the break, ensured the match was over before it even reached half-time.
Substitute Arthur Gnahoua claimed a late consolation for Dave Artell’s team, who remain perilously close to the relegation zone despite starting the afternoon unbeaten in six.
“We didn’t hit our usual standards,” said Artell. “But we can reach those again.”