Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray rues missed chances in York City draw

The Stags did have to come from behind after a slow start in the first half.

But after the break they twice hit the bar, Matt Green somehow finding it from five yards when it seemed he had to score, while York keeper Scott Flinders was in heartbreaking form.

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“It was the story of our last three weeks – frustrating,” said Murray.

“It was a sloppy goal to concede and we caused our own problems with it.

“For a start I think it was a soft free kick. From there it’s gone through a gap in our back line and a ball in that area is always going to cause you problems and any touch and it’s a goal.

“We don’t look like we are going to be opened up by teams. The only time we look like we will concede is from our own lapses of concentration or mistakes.”

Murray had to change things round at half-time which led to a one-sided second half for the home side.

“First half we kept Westcarr closer to Green up front so it was more of a two and it didn’t work,” he said. “We got beat up in midfield for half an hour.

“Then second half we have got to win the game. You can’t have chances like that and not win.

“We must have spent 70 per cent of the half in their box without taking our chances.

“If we don’t take our chances we won’t win football matches. It’s not like we are not creating chances or putting people on the back foot. But we need some goals and that’s the key factor at the minute.”

He added: “Normally here at home for the first half hour we dominate possession and play. Today they had the extra man in midfield and we didn’t deal with that.

“When we play with Westcarr a bit deeper in that No.10 role we control the game a lot more. And second half we did that. How we haven’t scored second half I don’t know.

“The amount of ball we go into the final third second half, we need to be more positive.

“Sometimes we need to get it forward a little bit quicker, especially at home, but that’s got to be done with quality.

“I won’t allow a team to just bang it up there as we are not about that. When it goes forward the link-up play, intelligence and instinct has got to be better.”

On Green’s missed sitter, he said: “Nine times out 10 you have just got to let that hit you and it goes in – Greeny knows that. No one needs to tell him.

“We need goals right now. If that just hits him on the so-and-so’s and goes in he doesn’t even have to try.

“I think he got too much of a good connection on it and he’s hit the bar.

“Reggie has also hit the bar and the keeper’s save from Adi Yussuf’s header fair play, it was a great save.

“But these are games we need to be winning. We are still in a great position. It seems like this season has gone on for six years already and we have still got half of it to play. But we have got to be better, especially at home.

“One thing I will say is I thought the fans were superb, even when we went that goal down, they lifted us and they backed us and they’ve seen the difference in the second half.

“They stuck with us and kept going and I was really pleased as that made a difference, not just to the team but to me personally, to have that noise and that backing constantly and I am just gutted we couldn’t give them a win.”