Stags boss Clough left amazed by record win

NIGEL Clough hailed his record-breaking Mansfield side as they reeled off an eighth win in a row to overcome Orient.

The in-form Stags have now recorded 14 wins in 16 games and sit three points off the automatic promotion places with two games in hand.

Clough said: “It’s remarkable at any level and to do it in those conditions today – I defy any team in the country to be able to play football with that wind.

“Ideally, we wanted a nice calm day with a bit of rain and it was the exact opposite. But despite all that we managed to dig a result out and I think it’s one of our best clean sheets of the season in terms of restricting the opposition to so few chances.”

On a windy afternoon in a first half of few chances, the game erupted in the 44th minute when the Stags took the lead with a controversial opener.

Rhys Oates lifted a pass to Jordan Bowery in the box and the ball struck his arm before he poked it home from close range. Orient protested but after speaking to his assistant, the referee allowed the goal.

Earlier, Lawrence Vigouroux had been well placed to save efforts from Ollie

Clarke and Oates, while after 38 minutes Ruel Sotiriou fired wide with a low 20-yard shot.

The visitors rarely looked like levelling but Mansfield eased any nerves in the 72nd minute as a half-cleared Stephen Quinn corner was drilled home first time from 18 yards by Ollie Clarke.

Two minutes later, sub Aaron Drinan hit the outside of a post, and after 78 minutes he unluckily headed against the bar from close range amid a scramble.

Orient boss Kenny Jackett felt the first goal shouldn’t have stood but wasn’t too disheartened by his side’s performance.

He said: “I thought their first goal was handball. None of us can really understand the decision. The linesman was that side as well.

“But in the second half, we had chances to get back in the game as Drinan had hit the bar and the post. We needed one of those big chances to go in as the second goal really cost us and gave us a mountain to climb.

“It’s a frustrating run and a run that has put a distance between ourselves and the top of the division that hasn’t been there for most of the season.”