Cooper bemoans three points dropped as Forest Green rescue draw - 7M sport

Cooper bemoans three points dropped as Forest Green rescue draw



Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2019 by PA

Cooper bemoans three points dropped as Forest Green rescue draw

Mark Cooper felt Forest Green should have taken three points from an enthralling top-of-the-table clash with promotion rivals Mansfield.

David Flitcroft’s Mansfield opened their account in the 14th minute, with Nottingham Forest loanee Jorge Grant breaking the deadlock as he pulled the trigger from Nicky Ajose’s assist before substitute Reuben Reid restored parity for Rovers with 20 minutes remaining of the 1-1 draw.

Reid spurned a late chance to pinch it for Rovers, which left Cooper ruing the miss.

Cooper said: “I felt it was a game Reuben Reid could give us something in and he got us an equaliser and could have very easily got us a late winner as well.

“I thought we were the dominant team in the second half against a really good team, who are second in the league and have some really good attacking players and you have to be on your guard the whole time.

“We have taken a point, but we could have easily got two in the end.

“We didn’t move the ball quick enough in the first half and took too many touches. I knew what to do in the second half and made the change at the break with Lloyd James coming on and we gained control of the ball and moved it quicker and made some really good chances.”

Earlier, Rovers survived a 32nd-minute reprieve. Grant arrowed over a cross for the unmarked Ajose to glance his free header against a post, with James Montgomery rooted to his line.

Mansfield struck the frame of the goal for the second time in the match as Tyler Walker’s 25-yard drive clipped the underside of the bar on 39 minutes.

Rovers were forced into a goalkeeping change on the hour, with Montgomery sustaining a facial injury when Mansfield substitute Gethin Jones’ boot caught the goalkeeper in the face.

Rovers levelled in the 70th minute, substitute Reid coming in from the cold to flick home from a Liam Shephard delivery for his seventh of the season.

Grant and Reid both missed late chances and Smith got a touch to a stoppage-time strike from Reece Brown.

Stags boss Flitcroft felt his side should have been given a penalty in the first half when Grant took a tumble under a challenge from Farrend Rawson.

He said: “The referee bottled it for a penalty in the first half when Grant went down in the box under a challenge from Rawson.

“We should have put the game to bed in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice.

“I was disappointed with the marking for the goal Reuben Reid scored, but overall I’m happy with a point against a really good Mark Cooper side, who like to play football.”

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