Fuming Mansfield boss Nigel Clough says goal-line technology must be introduced into the English Football League after his Stags missed the chance to go top of Sky Bet League Two by losing 2-1 at Walsall.
Mansfield were convinced Aden Flint’s first-half effort crossed the line but the goal was not given – and Clough’s men lost out in a roller coaster second half.
They should have been out of sight – but Will Swan spurned three golden chances.
However, it was the Flint controversy that irked Clough, who said: “We should have goal-line technology at this level. I thought the assistant was probably unsighted with a defender in the way.
“But this is what everyone is fighting for because the Premier League want to keep 85% of the TV money instead of 75-25%, which would mean we could then get that sort of thing introduced.
“I would have thought with the money in football they could provide watches for the officials so when the ball goes over the line everyone knows.”
Clough admitted, however, his side should have made their chances count, following up Tuesday’s club-record 9-2 win over Harrogate with a profligate display in front of goal.
“Certainly those six chances we missed in the first half were as big as anything,” he added.
“I would argue we created better chances in the first half than on Tuesday but didn’t take any of them.
“The performance was fine, just the crucial things of putting the ball in the back of the net and keeping it out at the other end.”
Mansfield remain a point behind leaders Stockport after Isaac Hutchinson deliveries set up headers for Jamille Matt and Football League debutant Emmanuel Adegboyega, who is on loan from Norwich.
Stephen Quinn briefly pulled the Stags level after Matt’s opener, but Walsall earned a first league win since New Year’s Day.
“We got that little bit of luck at the right moments, which I think we earned in the end,” said boss Mat Sadler, whose side remain 16th, but have beaten all of the division’s top four at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
“I thought for the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, we were very, very good, really high-energy, really front-footed and it turned into a really good game for the fans to watch.
“I feel really proud of the lads – most importantly, the hard work they put in. We’ve given everything for the shirt and that’s what this group does. Now we have to back it up.
“I think we are the only team in the division to do that this season [beat the top four].
“We’re a good team but a young team, and results like tonight only adds another yardstick on to where we want to get to and where we want to be.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
