Mansfield Town manager Nigle Clough criticised his players for ‘inexcusable mistakes’ after they were thrashed 5-1 by Reading.
The Royals ran riot at Mansfield to keep their play-off hopes alive as a double from Jayden Wareham and goals from Lewis Wing and Billy Bodin helped them put five past their opponents.
Heading into the final two games of the season Reading are outside the top six only on goal difference and are relying on Leyton Orient to drop points if they are to secure a place in the play-offs.
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough said: “The mistakes are absolutely inexcusable. Louis Reed for the first one playing a blind ball after being asked not to play it.
“The second one was George Willliams, a double mistake with the clearance and putting it in his own net.
“The third, ducking it in the midfield with his wrong foot and the worst for me, the game is over on 94 minutes and Deji does that. For a player of his experience to do that, criminal.
“For 35 minutes that is as well as we have plagued and I thought we were the better team, quality in the final third and decision making let us down.”
Noel Hunt’s team face their final away day of the campaign on Saturday at relegation battling Bristol Rovers before they host Barnsley on the final day.
