'Lincoln do that to you' - Mansfield boss David Flitcroft left with mixed feelings after draw with Imps

Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft says his side’s display against Lincoln City has given them “unbelievable hope” ahead of their remaining eight games.

The point lifted the Stags back into the League Two’s automatic places, but only on goal difference ahead of MK Dons, who host Flitcroft’s side on the final day of the season.

After falling behind the Imps and Bury in the race for the title, the Stags are in a three-way fight for third with the Dons and in-form Tranmere.

Flitcroft believes his side should carry plenty of belief into their final eight games.

“There’s so much football to play,” he said. “That was a spirited performance and it’s given us unbelievable hope for the next eight games.

“Three points would have been phenomenal, but we’re back in the top three and we’re now ready for that charge.

“The whole town has come out to support us and our owners, who have been brilliant for this town and this football club.

“It was a proper night of football under the lights and I enjoyed it. Our players didn’t freeze on the night.

“I’ve probably said it too many times about the [players’] connection with the supporters, but it’s important.”

Flitcroft admitted he was “gutted” not to inflict the leaders’ first league loss of 2019 after taking an early leader through Krystian Pearce’s header.

But the Town boss was pleased to restrict Danny Cowley’s side to just a John Akinde penalty with 15 minutes remaining.

“We got that early goal and we’d been working on that set-piece,” said Flitcroft, whose assistant is former Imps defender Ben Futcher.

“It gave us a fantastic start and it set the stadium off. I thought we played well and we influenced the game really well.

“They were always going to get a rocket at half-time, which they did, and they came out and gave us a tougher time in the second half.

“Lincoln keep coming at you and that’s why they are where they are in the league. That’s why they win so many games.

“I think you have to go 2-0 up against Lincoln to take that fight away from them. At 1-0, they always have the opportunity to win a football match and they got the better of us in the second half.

“But Lincoln coming here and only scoring a penalty just shows you how well we’ve done.

“In the first half, when we were on top, that was the opportunity missed in terms of us really dominating the game.

“There were 20 minutes where we just didn’t have that calm aura about us. Lincoln do that to you.

“I’m absolutely gutted that we’ve not won. I think our owners probably deserved the win. Our support was phenomenal and I’m gutted for them [the fans].”