It was a fourth defeat in five for Billy McEwan's fast fading side who simply are not working opposing keepers enough recently and conceded two minutes from the break.

• Time to bolster squad says manager McEwan

Former Stags skipper Jake Buxton was barracked all night by the 714 visiting Mansfield fans, but had the last laugh as he earned the Man of the Match award with a solid display in the Brewers' first clean sheet of the season.

Mansfield again did play some nice stuff at times, particularly in the first half, but home keeper Kevin Poole had little to do to earn his corn.

• To view a slideshow of match action photos by Chad's Roger Grayson, click on the green play icon

McEwan made three changes to his 4-3-3 line-up as he tried to get his side back to winning ways.

Left back Alex Jeannin and Mark Stallard were dropped to the bench while central defender Max Chanot was serving a one game suspension.

Jason Lee replaced Stallard up front, skipper Adie Moses returned from a calf injury to the heart of defence and versatile winger Michael Blackwood began the night at left back in a 4-3-3 formation.

New signing, goalkeeper David Knight from Swansea City, was among the Stags substitutes with under-pressure Paddy Gamble retaining his place.

Blackwood cleared a dangerous early cross by Gilroy after he had shown a burst of pace on the left.

Gamble was unable to keep in a firmly struck backpass from Silk which gave away a corner. But Gamble was there when the ball came in to grab. Stags broke quickly from that and home keeper Poole was down to gather at the incoming feet of O'Connor.

Goodfellow produced the first goal attempt of note on eight minutes with a low 20 yard effort that an uncertain Gamble blocked at his near post for a second corner.

A long Goodfellow ball down the centre saw the visitors' defence part alarmingly, but the chasing McGraths's first touch let him down and the moment had passed.

The Brewers won a third corner which was taken short and drew a foul by Blackwood on Pearson which saw the corner become a free kick just outside the box which Blackwood cleared at the near post.

D'Laryea tried to release Arnold at the other end but Poole was alert to the danger and came out of his box to clear.

Buxton was warned for a late full blooded tackle on former team mate D'Laryea but escaped a caution.

On 25 minutes Morris laid the ball back to Goodfellow for an instant low snapshot which was on target but Gamble safely held onto.

But four minutes later Stags were denied what looked a blatant penalty when Arnold tricked his way past two in the box and seemed to have both legs taken away as he went past Corbett. But a TV replay suggested Corbett to be innocent and the referee correct as no contact was made. McEwan was unconvinced.

Gamble was worked again on 35 minutes as he held onto a curling left foot shot from Morris from the edge of the box. A minute later he again held on as Goodfellow tried a low one from 25 yards.

Hurren tested Poole from almost 30 yards soon after and the keeper held on at the second attempt. But he had to show better quality on 37 minutes as O'Connor broke down the right and, instead of crossing, tried a low hard shot which Poole turned round his near post.

The enterprising Goodfellow finally beat Gamble with one of his long range pots on 42 minutes but the low effort curled wide of the far post from 25 yards.

But the deadlock was broken from 18 yards a minute later as McGrath unleashed a low shot from Goodfellow's pass after Pearson had got past Blackwood down the line and his well struck finish found the net between the post and Gamble's fingertips.

Morris was even more ambitious as he turned outside the box and, from a tight angle, blazed over the top.

But, despite some good attacking play from Stags, the Brewers were in charge at the interval.

Albion began the second half on the front foot and Silk's obstruction on Gilroy conceded a free kick on the byline which was sent into the box where Pearson tamely poked into the side netting.

After Burton easily cleared Stags' second corner of the night, McEwan changed things around and brought on Jeannin for Somner and pushed Blackwood forward onto the wing, O'Connor partnering Lee in a 4-4-2 formation.

Almost immediately Blackwood was given a run into the box and showed a great burst of pace but a poor touch as the ball ran away from him and Burton happily conceded a corner.

Poole safely grabbed a Hurren shot that took a big deflection after the referee allowed play to go on following a late challenge on Silk.

A deflected Simpson shot on 64 minutes finished up a corner but could have been worse as he had time and space to attack a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Goodfellow was a constant menace on the right and after seeing a low shot fly into the side netting, he ran past Jeannin soon after on 66 minutes and was upended which earned the Frenchman a booking.

The free kick came over from McGrath to the far post where Stride's deep header was on target and D'Laryea had to hook off the line.

Stallard replaced Lee as Stags looked for inspiration up front on 67 minutes.

The striker's first involvement was a challenge with Stride which left the big defender limping and he had to come off to be replaced by Bailey.

Burton took three attempts to clear a long, early ball in from Jeannin but Arnold eventually sent a poor overhead effort well wide.

With 11 minutes to go McEwan's last roll of the dice saw Robinson on in place of O'Connor.

A Moses header almost put Harrad away until O'Hare stepped in to retrieve the situation.

Silk and then Hurren both desperately pumped high balls into the danger zone but the Brewers got them clear while Robinson was wide with a header from Arnold's looping cross.

Gilroy curled one just over the far angle from the left with five minutes left.

D'Laryea got the ball back into the Burton box after a corner was half-cleared but Robinson flashed a good opportunity wide of the near post.

Four minutes were added on and in that time, with Stags pushing everything forwards, sub Holmes broke away. But as he tried to finish, Moses slid in to block and Holmes put his follow-up into the side netting.

In the last of the four minutes the hard-working Hurren was high and wide from distance which summed up Stags' attacking prowess on the night.

BURTON: Poole, Webster, Simpson, McGrath, Stride (Bailey 72), Corbett, Gilroy, Goodfellow, Buxton, Morris (Harrad 76), Pearson (Holmes 89). Subs: Banim, Newby.

STAGS: Gamble, Silk, D'Laryea, Moses, O'Hare, Arnold, Somner (Jeannin 55), Lee (Stallard 67), Blackwood, Hurren, O'Connor (Robinson 79). Subs: Wood, Knight.

REFEREE: Steve Rushton of Stoke.

ATTENDANCE: 2,871 (714 away).

CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Gary Silk.