Mansfield moved three points clear at the top of the League Two table with a 1-0 win at Newport but Nigel Clough warned his side that they will have to improve to stay at the summit.
George Maris scored the only goal of the game five minutes into the second half but the visitors wasted a host of chances to make the three points secure.
Maris could have doubled the Stags’ lead, while Hiram Boateng, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Ollie Clarke and substitutes Jordan Bowery and Aaron Lewis all failed to kill off the battling hosts.
And Clough warned his side, who scored 20 goals in five matches last month, that they will have to be more clinical if they want to earn automatic promotion.
“We controlled the game but we weren’t very good in the final third – especially in the first half,” said Clough.
“We got the goal and we had chances to kill the game off. We couldn’t quite do it, so the clean sheet was by far the most important thing.
“The two centre-halves and the back four as a whole were very good and protected Christy (Pym) brilliantly – I don’t think he had a shot to save, which is some going against Newport, who put a lot of balls into the box.”
Mansfield host fifth-placed MK Dons at Field Mill on Tuesday and Clough wants to see an improvement from his team.
“We’re not getting carried away,” he added. “We’re under no illusions that if we don’t play better than that in the next few games then we’ll lose one or two.
“We’ve done enough today but I want us to be better over the next 12 games.
“We’ve got more; we can play better than that. So, it’s a good lesson, but it’s nice to get the three points while having that lesson.”
Exiles boss Graham Coughlan was convinced that referee Adam Herczeg should have awarded his team a free-kick in the build-up to the winning goal.
“It was two really good teams going head-to-head, both cancelled each other out and in these big games you are always going to get those moments,” said the Irishman.
“When it comes to big games you need people in charge who understand and know the game. Unfortunately, the game hinged on a refereeing decision.
“Other than that, there wasn’t a lot between the teams, there wasn’t a lot to get excited about to be honest.
“It’s sad after all the hard work that we have put in and you come away from the game talking about decision-making.
“We got beaten 1-0 and the game hinged on a moment that should have been a free-kick, but the referee decided to give the advantage to Mansfield.”
Carragher lambasts Salah's 'selfish' contract talk
Jamie Carragher has criticised Mohamed Salah for being “selfish” after the Liverpool forward indicated he would more likely than not leave the club at the end of the season.
Salah suggested he was “probably more out than in” following his match-winning brace at Southampton that sent league leaders Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
His second goal of the two was his 100th away from Anfield for Liverpool in all competitions, but with his contract up at the end of the season, Salah is yet to receive a new offer.
Carragher was disappointed in the Egyptian’s decision to cast doubt on his future with clashes against Real Madrid and Manchester City fast approaching.
"Right now, there's obviously a big difference in the valuation. What Salah and his agent value themselves at, whether that's financially or in terms of length of contract, to what Liverpool do,” Carragher explained on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
"So the reason Liverpool wouldn't have offered a contract yet is because Salah will turn it down, so they're still in talks. I'm desperate for them to meet in the middle, but I am very disappointed with Salah.
"Liverpool have got Real Madrid midweek and they've got Manchester City at the weekend, that's the story for Liverpool right now.
"We’re all quite aware, certainly the local reporters are in Liverpool, that in the seven years he's been at the football club he's stopped in the mixed zone twice, which is his right, which is absolutely fine.
"But he decided to stop for the third time away at Southampton on the back of winning Liverpool the game and putting that out.”
Liverpool came back from behind to win 3-2 on the south coast with Salah sealing the three points from the spot seven minutes from time.
The right-winger has 16 goal contributions already this season (10 goals, six assists), leading Liverpool for goals and assists. He also boasts the best goalscoring rate in the squad, with a goal every 106 minutes.
His form has been invaluable to new boss Arne Slot, who has won 10 of his 12 Premier League games in charge of Liverpool (D1 L1), the joint-fastest any manager has reached double figures for wins from the start of their career in the competition.
It places the Merseyside team in a strong position to reclaim the league title.
"Now the most important thing for Liverpool this season is not the future of Mo Salah, it's not the future of Virgil van Dijk and it's not the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold,” added Carragher.
"The most important thing is Liverpool winning the Premier League. That is more important than any of those players, and if he continues to put comments out or his agent keeps putting cryptic tweets out, that's selfish, that's thinking about themselves and not the football club."
Arsenal must be 'ruthless' to earn statement win at Sporting, says Arteta
Arsenal need to be ruthless to secure a win against Sporting and snap their negative run of form away from home in the Champions League, manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of Tuesday's clash.
Winless in their last four European outings, Arsenal arrive in Portugal following a 1-0 defeat against Inter Milan at San Siro earlier this month.
Arteta's side currently sit 12th in the new Champions League 36-team format, where the top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16, and the next 16 enter a two-legged playoff to join them.
The Spaniard acknowledged that improving their away form is key to his team's chances in Europe's top-tier club competition.
"It's certainly something we have to improve. We have the right steps, and looking back at the way we played against Inter, we dominated the game and should have won," Arteta told a news conference on Monday.
"But the reality is you have to make it happen, and we didn't. Those steps are what we need to take next - be ruthless and much more efficient in the opposition box.
"We wanted to be higher (in the standings), but it's the position we are in right now.
"We have to play in a way that's going to give us a chance to win the game and fight to do it as quickly as possible. Tomorrow we have a great opportunity to do that."
It will be the seventh meeting between Sporting and Arsenal in European competition. The Portuguese side are still looking for their first victory over the Gunners (D4 L2), though each of their last three meetings have ended level.
Sporting, who thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in their last outing, are enjoying an outstanding campaign, remaining unbeaten in second place with 10 points. However, they are now without former manager Ruben Amorim, who has departed to Manchester United.
Arteta acknowledged the Portuguese champions pose a major challenge for Arsenal but also offer an opportunity for a morale-boosting triumph.
"The run they are on is incredible, which tells you it's not only about their qualities but their ambition and the team energy they have. That's the great challenge we have," he said.
"To come here tomorrow, make a statement, and show that we are capable against this kind of opponent by being ourselves and winning the game."
USWNT goalkeeper Naeher to retire from international football
United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is to retire from international football next month.
Naeher has won 113 caps for the USWNT and was a regular between the sticks during their most recent World Cup-winning campaign in 2019, also starting for Emma Hayes' Olympic Gold medallists in Paris earlier this year.
The 36-year-old, who has represented the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL since 2016, will link up with Hayes' side for their upcoming friendlies against England and the Netherlands, but that will be the final camp she attends.
Naeher said in a statement posted to her Instagram account: "With immense gratitude and very thoughtful consideration, I have decided to retire from the international game.
"Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honour.
"This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime.
"I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish."
Hope Solo (202) and Briana Scurry (175) are the only goalkeepers to make more appearances for the team than Naeher, who made her debut versus Argentina in December 2014.
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