But he was also angry with himself for not quickly bringing the midfielder off after his first yellow card 11 minutes before and said that is a mistake he won’t make again.
Boateng had put Stags ahead on 34 minutes and they looked in charge and on course for all three points.
But Boateng’s dismissal on 70 minutes encouraged Bolton to open the floodgates with three goals in 10 nightmare minutes and Clough said: “That was three points thrown away.
“It was my fault, I should have brought Boateng off when he was on a yellow card.
“I usually would. Andy Garner asked me if I was going to and I said I was going to give it five minutes – but then he goes and makes a tackle like that.
“They will come off in future every time. I really don’t trust players ultimately.
“Hiram is not renowned for his tackling so the lesson I have learned tonight is don’t wait to make the change.
“For an experienced player to do that when you are on a yellow card is quite incredible.
“It totally changed the game.
“I do think it was a harsh second yellow card – the referee was very inconsistent with his yellow cards this evening.
“Every time we pulled someone back it seemed to be a yellow card yet I saw a couple of Bolton players do the same without the same punishment.”
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