Darren Moore demanded more from Port Vale, despite seeing his side snatch a last-gasp 2-1 win over 10-man Mansfield.
Vale looked well on their way to a welcome first home win of the season after Devante Cole’s opener, the visitors having had Ryan Sweeney sent off inside the first 15 minutes.
Rhys Oates grabbed a late leveller, but Ronan Curtis’ dramatic penalty six minutes into added time earned the hosts a welcome three points in front of their home fans.
Moore said: “There have been some choice words said by myself in the dressing room to the players because their goal should never have happened.
“The sending-off from them made it really difficult because they ended up with all 10 players behind the ball.
“The game ended up being about Port Vale winning the game. We needed that impetus to find the goal, because we knew they were sitting deep in and around their box.
“We were looking for that one goal really and we got that with Devante’s goal as the cross comes across.
“The changing point was we handed them a goal. The players know. The words I’ve said will remain in the dressing room. The words that were chosen, the players know it should never have happened.
“From a learning point of view they’ve seen it. It’s not for me to critique them out here, but they’ve seen it and they understand.
“I knew we would get another chance after that with the way the game was going.
“Credit to Ronan for keeping his composure. The boys kept going.
“I’m really pleased because we’ve got the three points. We spoke all week about getting the result, especially at home.”
Defeat meant Mansfield have not won for almost a month.
Boss Nigel Clough said: “The officials’ mistakes have dictated the result. The red card was right, but every single other decision was wrong today.
“I spoke to the head of referees Mike Jones who was out to speak to the referees and told him that. Even the assistants.
“I would be interested to see what happens now, because we have always been told, if the referees have bad games, then they will be suspended or taken out for a while.
“So it will be very interesting given the head of referees has been up there watching it today.”
