Stags had given a stirring display for caretaker boss Holland in defeat at home to Hereford on Tuesday but, with an announcement on the new manager expected this week, they pulled out all the stops away from home again with a sixth away win in seven trips and seven unbeaten away from Field Mill.

• Holland 'quietly confident' for Stags' survival hopes

They looked to be heading in at half time deservedly ahead at the plush Valley Parade until ex Stags striker Barry Conlon rattled them with a stoppage time equaliser.

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But Mickey Boulding's 21st goal of the season early in the second half restored their advantage and they hung on to inflict City's fourth home defeat in five games.

The win was all the more crucial with relegation rivals Macclesfield and Wrexham taking maximum points too, though Notts County could only manage a point.

Stags made only the one enforced change with White taking over from the injured Muggleton in goal for his first League start since 25th August at Morecambe.

With no reserve keeper on the bench, Briggs returned from injury to make up the five subs.

Stags had City under immediate pressure on the right though the whistle had gone for ball out of play before Atkinson poked home on 50 seconds.

City replied with a corner which White cleared with an unconvincing punch and Stags broke quickly with Arnold just unable to get through the centre in the end.

As on Tuesday night Stags were already playing some quick one touch passing and looking full of running.

It almost paid dividends on 13 minutes as Arnold's touch set up Boulding for a curling effort that dipped just over the far angle.

But two minutes later Stags were deservedly ahead with a goal of the highest quality.

Jelleyman played a low ball down the left which Boulding dummied as he stepped over it to confuse the defence and race away. He then played it inside to Arnold who confidently shaped up and let fly with an unstoppable finish from 18 yards that was helped home with a deflection.

It should have been 2-0 within 60 seconds as Hamshaw got down the right and his centre picked out Boulding five yards from goal only for the striker to send a free header wide.

White had his first save to make on 18 minutes as he turned Conlon's 20 yard drive aside and then half blocked Evans near post header from the corner before the ball was scrambled clear.

Then Rhodes got goalside of Hamshaw and held off his challenge to fire across goal and wide of the far post from 20 yards.

Stags' response was a forward ball from Hamshaw that hit the back of Boulding's leg and Atkinson quickly flashed the loose ball well over the top.

White successfully punched the Bantams' second corner kick clear on 32 minutes and repeated the feat three minutes later from their third.

On 38 minutes D'Laryea cleverly lifted the ball over the defence towards Dawson's run. He was left with the tightest of angles but still managed to hook the ball over the keeper only to see it drop wide of the far post.

D'Laryea rode two tackles before setting up Arnold for a shot that was blocked and almost straight away Arnold's through ball for Atkinson was just over hit and the keeper was safely there first.

But Mansfield suffered a bitter blow in the second minute of stoppage time. Atkinson was penalised for a high kick, even though Johnson had appeared to put his head down into the challenge.

And when Heckingbottom's free kick was launched into the box former Stags Conlon flicked a dipping header over White who was just far enough off his line to be caught out.

It was a completely undeserved goal for the home side and scant reward for an excellent half from the visitors.

But within six minutes of the restart Mansfield had regained that advantage.

Arnold put in a low bal from the left which ran loose towards Dawson. He looked set to shoot but instead squared a deft ball to his left to Boulding whose neat finish went in off the inside of the near post.

Immediately City piled on the pressure and White had to save smartly from Rhodes at his near post while seconds later Jelleyman and Mullins got in vital blocks.

On a counter attack Arnold could have sent Mullins clear but chose the wrong option and passed to the marked Boulding who lost control.

Conlon was just too high with a flicked header from a Colbeck cross from the right on 62 minutes.

Louis replaced Atkinson on 65 minutes with Arnold dropping deeper.

Bradford again turned up the heat and from a 69th minute corner Weathall's near post header went across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

City quickly threw on all three subs while Mansfield sent on Briggs for Hamshaw as the clock continued to run down.

Stags survived a real scare on 80 minutes as Topp beat two men in a fine dribble into the box before blazing a powerful shot just over.

Daley then saw a low shot deflect into the arms of White on 82 as the Stags hung on.

In stoppage time Penford was denied by a great Mullins tackle in the box and was then too high with a 20 yard pot shot from a half clearance.

BRADFORD: Loach, Williams, Heckingbottom, Evans (Penford 62), Wetherall, Johnson, Conlon, Thorne, Rhodes (Daley 71), Colbeck (Topp 69), Moncur. Subs not used: Bower, Nix.

STAGS: White, Mullins, Jelleyman, Hamshaw (Briggs 76), Dawson, M. Boulding, Buxton, John-Baptiste, Arnold (Martin 90), Atkinson (Louis 65), D'Laryea. Subs not used: Wood, R. Boulding.

REFEREE: Scott Mathieson of Cheshire.

ATTENDANCE: 13,611 (569 away fans).