Two home goals in a lacklustre first half by the visitors sealed the points as the gap at the bottom widened to seven points with only eight games left.

• Holland bullish after Bury defeat

Bottom side Wrexham are also level on points with Stags after a draw but just behind on goal difference.

Holland took charge after Billy Dearden left the club and there was an immediate upturn in performance. He was given Easter to continue to impress, but two defeats in three days have left his CV at one win and three defeats in the four games and increasingly desperate Mansfield could now look elsewhere for the last eight games.

Former Stags player Billy McEwan is still a prime candidate.

An away following of 414 Stags fans saw their wide fail to test the home keeper in a poor first half.

And when Stephen Dawson struck the post and Simon Brown miskicked right in front of goal early in the second half you could sense it wasn't going to be their day.

It was a better showing in the second half but Stags could not find a lifeline and the task ahead now looks an absolute mountain after a disastrous weekend.

Holland made two changes. Jon D'Laryea was dropped to the bench with Keith Briggs returning to central midfield and on loan Neil Wainwright was given a full debut on the left in place of fellow loanee Will Atkinson.

Mansfield's other new loan signing Kevin Horlock is still well short of full match fitness and was not considered ready to start a game.

Jefferson Louis missed the game to go on international duty with the Dominican Republic. But both Bury's expected international absentees, Darren Randolph (Republic of Ireland) and David Buchanan (Northern Ireland) were named in the home side's starting XI.

The game survived a 9am pitch inspection and bright sunshine greeted supporters as they arrived at Gigg Lane though light snow was falling again by kick-off.

Sodje did well to get in the way of Wainwright's flick at goal from an early Hamshaw cross.

Hamshaw then robbed Buchanan on the by-line but over hit his hurried cross as Stags applied the early pressure.

Bury hit back with Bishop forcing a corner on four minutes. Barry-Murphy curled that in dangerously from the left and it sailed over White only for Hamshaw to provide a crucial goal line clearance behind him.

Soon after Bishop had a shot blocked by John-Baptiste wand Adam was well wide as the ball ran loose towards him.

A poor Barry-Murphy shot was straight at White as Mansfield had more defending to do.

Dawson conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal on 10 minutes which Bennett floated in and home skipper Scott was allowed to jump unchallenged and plant a free header past White from seven yards, the keeper getting his fingers to it but unable to keep it out.

Once again the Stags had been undone by a free header from a set piece and given themselves a tougher task.

Briggs got away a decent 20 yard volley which forced a save though the whistle went for an infringement as he shot.

Hamshaw's pass released Wainwright in the box and his low pull box narrowly evaded the reach of both Boulding and Dawson in front of goal. Seconds later Hamshaw fizzed another ball across goal from the other side but again no one was there to capitalise.

Stags cleared a second Bury corner and when it was put back in, White produced a superb save from Sodje's header unaware the offside flag was raised.

Another home raid saw Bennett try an overhead kick from Haslam's cross and it dropped well wide of the target.

Wainwright looked set to break clear from a Boulding flick but, although Buchanan looked to be playing him on, up went the offside flag, such is Stags' luck right now.

Stags were probing hard and playing some neat stuff without being able to find a way into the home box.

And on 37 minutes a flowing move saw the Shakers increase their lead. The ball was played along the ground to Bennett just outside the box and his flick found Rooney who turned to steer a low finish just inside White's left hand post.
Adams was well over with a first time looping effort from almost 30 yards after the referee waved on play despite a foul by Jelleyman on Bishop.

Dawson put a ball across from the right which Wainwright met with a flicked header that was always well wide.

Boulding was even closer with a first time effort from Hamshaw's flick on 42 minutes which passed narrowly wide of the near post.

White caused Stags hearts to flutter when he raced out his box to challenge Bishop but failed to get the ball properly clear, both Bishop and then Adams seeing pots at the open goal blocked by defenders.

The half=time whistle brought boos from the away following and the players could have little complaint.

Dawson almost pulled one back within three minutes of the retsrat after good work from Arnold but his low shot came back off the left hand post.

Randolph punched clear the visitors' first corner as the snow began to come down again.

The keeper then punched away a Hamahsaw cross which Dawson poked back into the box and Jelleyman was too high with an overhead kick six yards from goal.

With the second half just six minutes old Brown was sent on for Wainwright.

Boulding broke to the left by-line on 54 minutes but overhit the cross. Hamshaw retrieved it and got it back to the far post where Boulding nodded back to Brown five yards from goal who would have scored had he not kicked at fresh air and missed the ball.

A rare Bury threat saw Rooney screw a shot well over.

On 61 minutes Horlock entered the action in place of Briggs.

White did well to punch clear as Bishop tried to get on the end of a long Bennett cross, then Scott was well wide from 30 yards.

Stags then found themselves three on three at the back as Bury broke on them and it took good covering by Jelleyman to force Rooney wide as he tried to look for a chance to finish.

Stags won another corner which saw Arnold have a far post shot charged down and Horlock put the follow-up over the bar.

Barry-Murphy was only just too high with a curling 25 yard free kick after Dawson conceded another needless free kick in dangerous territory.

A low Hamshaw cross from the right saw Sodje almost slice into his own near at the near post on 84 minutes, Haslam saving him with a goal line clearance.

The game's only yellow card was shown two minutes from time as Scott went in late and hard on Horlock.

BURY: Randolph, Scott, Futcher, Haslam, Bishop (Hurst 90), Barry-Murphy, Buchanen, Adams, Bennett (Parrish 84), Rooney (Baker 69), Sodje. Subs: Provett, Rouse.

STAGS: White, Mullins, Jelleyman, Dawson, Hamshaw, M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Arnold, Wainwright (Brown 51), Briggs (Horlock 61). Subs D'Laryea, Muggleton, Atkinson.

REFEREE: Steve Tanner of Somerset.

ATTENDANCE: 2,779 (414 away).