Darren Way laments Yeovil defending after Mansfield battle back for draw

Posted Sunday, August 12, 2018 by PA

Darren Way was unhappy with the defending from Yeovil after they twice threw away a one-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw against Mansfield.

Diallang Jaiyesimi gave the Glovers the lead after six minutes but they were pegged back by Craig Davies’ strike soon afterwards.

Yoann Arquin then made it 2-1 just after the quarter of an hour mark but the lead lasted just nine minutes as Matt Preston headed in.

“I was very disappointed,” Way said. “We talked about set plays and at what point do you switch on?

“No matter how you look at it, it’s cost us. The players have got to share responsibility and be accountable for that. To go 1-0 up and then go to 1-1, you’re deflated, but then we bounced back 2-1 and then it’s a weak goal to concede.

“You look at that Mansfield team from back to front, it’s got experience and the owner has ploughed a lot of money into that football club. They were expected to get promotion last season and for the amount of money they’ve spent, they’ve probably got to get promoted this year.

“I feel this team at the moment are growing. I saw a real hunger and a real fighting spirit and I thought the quality of football within our play matched that. I thought the supporters appreciated that performance.”

Stags boss David Flitcroft was pleased that his team came from behind to rescue a point at Huish Park.

However, with Davies having a header knocked on to the bar in the second half and also forcing a fine save from Yeovil goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, Flitcroft felt that they could have left Somerset with all three points.

“We had gilt-edged chances in the second half to win the game but I’m happy with the goals we scored because you come to Yeovil and they’ve got hungry players,” Flitcroft said. “They’re an awkward team to play and they carry a threat. They’re brave and they play four players up the pitch.

“We came down here only to get three points, but we showed fantastic character. We came away from home and were resolute. We’re going to make mistakes but it’s how you respond to that and certainly I’ve seen that.

“We’ve gone behind twice but the boys have fought really hard to get back into the game. They gave it everything they’ve got to then go and try and win it. The chances we created in the second half were clear cut and open and it just needed that final finish.

“That’s the characteristics our team will have to have all season to be successful.”