Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft '˜won't be intimidated' by Lincoln City's Danny Cowley

In fact, Flitcroft took the Imps manager’s comments as a compliment.

“It doesn’t matter what football match a Mansfield Town team takes on,” said the Mansfield Town boss.

“If we’ve got an opportunity to win a football match then we will be over-committed to everything we do.

“I think that the statement ‘abuse the rules’ was a little bit strong. But it doesn’t surprise me from Danny (Cowley).

“We saw some afters after the game.

“It’s really important that the Referees’ Association gets a really tight grip on the situation.

“You need strong referees down at Lincoln.

“When a referee doesn’t make a good decision, or a positive decision in Lincoln’s favour, it’s like they deserve every decision.

“It’s like it’s expected because they’ve been on this winning curve.

“I think the Referees’ Association are probably getting wise to it and making sure that strong referees do turn up at Lincoln.

“They’ve got the crowd, they have the noise behind them. If it’s a referee with no experience, he can become unstuck there.

“That’s certainly one thing I will never become - intimidated - by anyone, and certainly not Danny Cowley.”

Stags were shown six yellow cards in the tie, which the won 2-1, while Lincoln had Michael O’Connor sent off.