Sunday People

BEARING BRUNT by ‘cheating’ chants

But Cowley flattered

- AT FIELD MILL

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 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.”

 ?? ?? LEW BEAUTY: Lewis Brunt celebrates his equaliser
MAIN MAN: Brunt scrambles home for Mansfield
LEW BEAUTY: Lewis Brunt celebrates his equaliser MAIN MAN: Brunt scrambles home for Mansfield

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