MANSFIELD Town boss David Flitcroft says his side's game at Colchester United had been 'built up' by some of the U's players.

The U's surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to the Stags, in the clash of the promotion contenders at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Goals from Tom Eastman and Courtney Senior had put the U's in control but the Stags roared back to win, thanks to strikes from Nicky Ajose, Tyler Walker and CJ Hamilton.

Flitcroft said: "Colchester had been building the game up.

"Some of the players had been talking about our budget.

"I said to some of the players afterwards, 'concentrate on being a player'.

"When I was a player, I never bothered about someone's budget - I just played the game.

"John McGreal is a top person and a top manager and I've got every bit of respect for him.

"This team he has got here is a fantastic team, with the young talent he has here.

"They're top players and he has a good team.

"It was a big game for Colchester and they built it up as a big game. "We had to come and match their ethic and willingness.

"We didn't do that in the first half but we did in the second half and it was a great win.

“It was too intricate in the first half; it was too soft and there was no punch or impact.

“It wasn’t us but in the second half, we impacted more.

“It was outstanding really – you have to ask questions of any team.

“We didn’t do it in the first half but we certainly did, in the second half and the lads deserved that win.

“There’s been a collective team ethic all season and the new players who have come in have really fitted into the squad really well."

Meanwhile, Flitcroft believes the serious injury suffered by defender Hayden White in their win at Colchester could have been prevented by 'better game management' by referee Brett Huxtable.

It is feared that Stags defender White has suffered a broken ankle after he was stetchered off following what Flitcroft described as 'horrific' challenge by Frank Nouble in the closing stages of the match.

Flitcroft said: “I feel numb – we’re 99 per cent sure that Hayden (White) has a broken ankle.

“Even though we’ve had a win, it’s taken all of the shine off it.

“My thoughts are with Whitey and what he’s put into the game and how he’s trying to improve.

“He’s just had a little baby and his family I care about – I have that to think about now.

“It’s part of the game but a million per cent, it could have been prevented by better refereeing game management because it boiled over and it didn’t have to.

“The game worries me – referees have a duty of care and their first duty is to manage situations.

“It was the whole build-up to it and Frank (Nouble) feeling as though he had been wronged of a decision and it’s a horrific tackle.

“From minute one to minute 96, you could feel something happening out there and the referee is there to manage the game.

"The referee didn't have the last 15 minutes and that's what's happened.

"The players are the most important people on the pitch."