CLOUGH LAUDS SUPER STEPHEN
NIGEL Clough was left delighted with Mansfield goalscorer Stephen Quinn, though felt his Stags should have beaten promotion-chasing Tranmere Rovers.
Clough’s men netted a deserved equaliser through Quinn’s sensational volley and created several chances on Merseyside.
Rovers winger Kaiyne Woolery had put his side in front just before the half-time whistle.
But the Stags responded in style through Quinn’s magnificent volley to leave Clough pleased.
“It was Quinn’s first one for us and it took a quality strike to get us that goal,” he said.
“Quinn was as good as anyone on the pitch today and his intelligence and desire stands out by a mile so we’re delighted it dropped to him.
“We had a good opportunity to get a win so were a bit disappointed, but we’re pleased with a point coming to a team challenging for automatic promotion.
“It was a disappointing goal to concede, especially the timing of it, but to come back and get a 1-1 is in some ways a good point, but I thought we could have won.”
Tranmere captain Scott Davies was stretchered off within the first 15 minutes after falling awkwardly when claiming a cross under no pressure.
Mansfield striker Jamie Reid then excellently carved an opening, but couldn’t test Davies’ replacement goalkeeper Joe Murphy.
Rovers soon began to threaten, with defender Peter Clarke twice heading agonisview ingly wide of Aidan Stone’s goal.
And they did get the opener when Kieron Morris set up Woolery to fire home a powerful low effort in first-half stoppage time.
They pushed for a second after the break, but Ali Crawford blazed over from point blank range.
That allowed the visitors to fight back, with Burton loanee Quinn netting the equaliser, and with it his first Mansfield goal 13 minutes from time minute with a sensational dipping effort. The hosts threatened to steal a win through both Paul Lewis and Otis Khan, but were held by Clough’s resilient side.
Tranmere assistant boss Ian Dawes was disappointed to be held to a point, though they move into the automatic promotion places.
“You have to kill the game and if you don’t you just give the opposition that bit of hope and they scored something out of nothing,” he said.
“The lad scored a fantastic volley from their point of and there was not much we could have done to stop it. The goal wasn’t the problem though; it was that we didn’t get a second to see the game out. The team played really well and everyone worked hard. We did enough to win.”