Clough unhappy at 'sarcasm' from fourth official

Nigel Clough is the longest-serving manager in League One and is currently in his fifth season with Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough has claimed fourth official Ruebyn Ricardo was "sarcastic" towards him during the Carabao Cup tie at Everton on Wednesday.

Clough complained that Ricardo had not believed him when he told the official that Stags captain Louis Reed had sustained a groin injury and needed replacing.

Mansfield were beaten 2-0 in the first cup tie played at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It's funny because I was trying to arrange a substitution for him straight away for George Maris," Clough said.

"I shouted at Louis to go down so we would get time and I said to the fourth official: 'he's injured'. And the reply was: 'yeah, course he is'.

"You don't need the sarcasm and that sort of thing. I don't think he'd have said that to David (Moyes)."

Reed, who was replaced in the 66th minute, is now a doubt for Mansfield's League One game against Lincoln this weekend.

"I'm not sure how he is but I would think he would be a doubt for Saturday unfortunately," said Clough.

PGMOL - the body responsible for refereeing games in English professional football - has been approached by the BBC for comment.