Stags boss feels 'cheated'

Mansfield manager Paul Cox was livid with referee Darren Drysdale as York reeled off a fourth successive away win courtesy of a 1-0 triumph.

Drysdale awarded York two controversial penalties in the League Two clash at Field Mill on Tuesday night, but waved away two big penalty shouts for the Stags and also dismissed calls for a red card against matchwinner Ryan Bowman after the hosts felt he had elbowed John Dempster. Drysdale was booed from the field at both the half-time interval and full-time, and Cox snapped: "I am not usually scathing of referees as I think they have the hardest job in football. But I think something has to be done at the FA with people who are consistently poor. "The referee should have a good look in his mirror and analyse his performance. "He missed so much stuff in their box, including two blatant penalties. When you see Matt Rhead's shirt being pulled above his chest in the box, you expect something to be done about it. "Rheady was also kicked in the head in the first half but nothing was done about it. "He wouldn't give us penalties, yet he was brave enough to say to me at half-time that he was unsighted for their first penalty and blamed his lineswoman for giving it, yet she never raised her flag or put it across her chest. "Once again, both teams were scratching their heads for the second penalty. Everyone was bemused why or how. "I am feeling a bit cheated to be honest and I feel sorry for the fans as they were cheated too. They are not stupid. They could see things happen. "You want referees to be honest with you and I don't think he was honest with us."