Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough hailed the quality of the goals his side scored in their 4-3 FA Cup third round victory at Sheffield United, calling them ‘outstanding’
Steve Wollaston and Press Association Sport Reporters
13:00, 12 Jan 2026
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Mansfield boss Nigel Clough hailed the calibre of his side’s strikes during their thrilling 4-3 FA Cup triumph over Sheffield United.
Louis Reed netted a brace against his former employers, whilst Lucas Akins and Rhys Oates also found the back of the net. The Blades responded through Gus Hamer, Patrick Bamford and a Nathan Moriah-Welsh own goal.
Sheffield United saw a late penalty claim dismissed when Bamford tumbled following a challenge in the box.
Clough remarked: “Wonderful day for us, for everybody, and no more so than the supporters. When you bring nearly 5,000 fans, although it’s just up the road, there’s a responsibility that comes with that to put on a performance and have a go, and the players certainly did that.
“I thought the quality of the four goals we scored – their first one as well – was outstanding.
“It is a great surprise to us because he (Reed) maybe gets a goal a season or something like that. Two controlled strikes. Hit the target and they’ve got a chance.
“I think for the first time for, I don’t know, 18/20 years, the club’s got to the fourth round, I think, first of all. And it’s the first time, somebody’s told me, for 55 years we’ve beaten somebody from the league above or the Championship. So it means an awful lot, I think, to everybody.”
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder bemoaned the “individual errors” that ultimately cost his team.
He commented, “More than disappointing. I didn’t pick a team to get knocked out of the cup.
“There’s some enforced changes there. I think it just cements how important some players are to this group at this particular moment.
“The goals are just ridiculous. Poor goals from individual errors.
“One player gets himself blocked in on the corner. It’s obviously a really good finish and it happens again.
“We give away a lazy free-kick on the edge of the box and it goes out for a corner. The same player gets blocked in again and shouldn’t because that’s an organisation – he’s got a job to do.
“We knew the approach of the opposition, which is absolutely fine. They’re going to sit in and try and hit us on the counter.
“It’s up to us to break them down, and we did at times, without finding that last little bit. But when you’re doing that, you just can’t concede really poor goals.”