FRANK Forest Green boss Mark Cooper insisted his side threw a point away at League Two leaders Accrington Stanley.

The former Swindon Town manager marked his 100th game in charge of Rovers with a frustrating defeat at a perishing Wham Stadium.

His side were caught cold in Lancashire as Callum Johnson third-minute strike got the Reds off to a flying start.

Former Exeter City striker Reuben Reid netted parity on 65 minutes, but Accrington’s Jordan Clark struck with eight minutes to go and Kayden Jackson rubbed salt into the wounds as he made it 3-1 in added time.

Pointing the finger at his defence, Cooper said: “We can’t keep conceding goals like that.

“ Instead of clearing it, the first goal bounces three times on our six-yard box.

“We deservedly equalised and had all of the possession and got back to 1-1, but then the defending for the second goal was horrendous.

"We let them turn and run and walk into our goal and our defenders have gone into the houses outside the ground to get a cup of tea instead of defending the lad, who runs in and scores.

“Our midfielder players are chasing shadows and doing our defenders jobs for them.”

With nine games to go, Rovers are six points clear of the drop zone and Cooper gleaned positives in his side’s performance, he added: “We came to a top of league team and have put on a dominant performance and played well. I never like getting beat, but we have thrown a point away.”

Rovers travel to lowly Crewe on Tuesday night.