Kevin Nolan: 'Notts County were beaten by the better side'

Kevin Nolan has claimed that Notts County were beaten by the better side as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The League Two table-toppers were undone by Danny Rose's brace and a Richard Duffy own goal as the Stags claimed the inaugural Matt Salmon Trophy at the One Call Stadium.

"I thought they were the better side from start to finish," Nolan told the official Notts website.

"We didn't get going, we didn't do what we normally do and we didn't handle their strengths.

"You have to give credit to them but we could have done a lot of things better and with a lot more efficiency.

"I don't think I can knock the lads' attitude and application to the game, I just think Mansfield looked a bit sharper and were buoyed by the crowd.

"We have no excuses. We were beaten by the better side."

Despite the defeat, Nolan is still delighted with County's run prior to the Mansfield loss, adding: "We've had a fantastic run and what we've done this week can't be taken away from us.

"Not many teams will only have two losses in their first 11 games and a lot of Notts fans would have taken six points from this week.

"I'm delighted with the output of the boys so far this season but today it just wasn't our day and sometimes you have to accept that."

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