Lapslie sees red on debut as Mansfield Town drop into bottom two following Bradford City defeat

George Lapslie was sent off on his Stags debut. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Winless Mansfield Town slumped to their heaviest league defeat of the season - going down 3-1 at home to Bradford City.

Graham Coughlan's side have now gone nine matches without a victory in all competitions this term, dropping into the bottom two after Oldham Athletic’s last gasp winner at Bolton Wanderers.

And the afternoon was made even worse for the Stags when debutant George Lapslie - who joined on loan from Charlton Athletic on Thursday - was sent off in the 79th minute.

The Bantams stormed into a 2-0 lead within the opening 14 minutes.

The warning signs were there when Dylan Mottley-Henry hit the side netting in the second minute, but the Stags also had a golden opportunity to take the lead.

Jordan Bowery pounced when Richard O'Donnell slipped clearing, but the keeper recovered well to stop the effort.

Rollin Menayese headed Stephen McLaughlin's ball over before an own goal handed Bradford a seventh minute lead, keeper Marek Stech unable to hold Connor Wood's corner and forcing the ball into his own net.

Menayese forced a save from O'Donnell following another headed effort before the advantage was doubled when Wood netted after beeing teed up by Harry Pritchard's neat back pass

O'Donnell pulled off further saves to deny Bowery, Corey O'Keeffe and McLaughlin as the hosst couldn't break his resolve before the interval.Stags boss Graham Coughlan made three changes at half time, Mavind Benning, Harry Charsley and Andy Cook replacing Farrend Rawson, George Maris and Nicky Maynard.

The first chance of the second half saw Stech deny Callum Cooke while, at the other end, a free header from Cook was saved by O'Donnell.

Clayton Donaldson put the game beyond doubt with a third for the visitors in the 69th minute, volleying home Wood's delivery at the near post.

Lapslie's dismissal, awarded for his second booking of the afternoon, only rubbed salt into the wounds.

Cook, however, attempted to give the scoreline some credibility with his 85th minute consolation, heading home Benning's corner.

STAGS: Stech, Menayese, Rawson (Benning HT), Sweeney, O'Keeffe, Perch, Lapslie, McLaughlin, Maris (Charsley HT), Maynard (Cook HT), Bowerry; Subs (not used): Stone, O'Driscoll, Reid, Sinclair.

BRADFORD: O'Donnell, Hosannah, Richards-Everton, O'Connor, Pritchard (Longridge 89), Cooke, Novak, Donaldson (Samuels 86), Watt, Wood, Mottley-Henry (French 76); Subs (not used): Hornby, Clarke, Coisin-Dawson, Guthrie.

MORE STAGS: Lapslie joins on loan