Magnificent fightback as Mansfield Town win at Barnsley after trailing 2-0 early on​​​​​​​

With 10 players sidelined, this was one of Stags' best results of the season so far as they simply refused to give up against the odds.

A disastrous start to the game saw Stags go behind with less than two minutes played to a Reyes Cleary goal and then 2-0 down in the 13th minute as Davis Keillor-Dunn netted against his old club.

But the visitors did not let their heads drop and Louis Reed pulled one back from the penalty spot on 25 minutes and Stags were then aggrieved not to be given a second penalty soon after for a foul on Stephen McLaughlin, who again played an advanced role.

The fightback was complete on 58 minutes as McLaughlin bravely headed in from close range as three players painfully collided trying to reach an Elliott Hewit header across the box.

And with only seven minutes to go Aaron Lewis delivered the killer blow with Mansfield's third to crown a magnificent fightback.

The 11 players who started battled through to the end without a change and ended the day heroes for over 2,000 travelling fans, ending a run of six games without a win and securing a first away win since mid-October.

With no returnees from their lengthy injury list, Stags remained unchanged.

Tykes boss Conor Hourihane made three changes to the side defeated last Saturday at Exeter City.

Former Stags loanee Caylan Vickers returned against his former side, alongside Josh Earl, back from injury, while Vimal Yoganathan completed the changes, with Adam Phillips, Neil Farrugia and Tennai Watson dropping to the bench.

Also, veteran David McGoldrick re-entered the home 18.

Mansfield made the worst possible start as they conceded within two minutes.

Kelly threaded an inviting pass into the box behind Hewitt and Cleary ran onto it and, from a tight angle, slotted a low finish between the legs of Roberts into the net.

Another Kelly run on 12 minutes saw him square to Keillor-Dunn only for the ex-Star to send a tame shot straight to Roberts.

However, a minute later Keillor-Dunn was celebrating the Tykes' second goal of the afternoon.

A superb move saw Kelly play the ball towards Vickers who backheeled a pass towards Keillor-Dunn, and he struck home an unstoppable low finish inside the left hand post.

Connell whipped an 18 yard free kick over the Mansfield wall and over just over the angle on 19 minutes as the Tykes looked to rub in their superiority.

However, Barnsley scorer Cleary gave Stags a way back into the contest on 25 minutes.

Moria-Welsh swept the ball out to the right where Hewitt raced onto it and crossed, seeing the ball halted by the outstretched hand of Cleary.

The Barnsley man could have no arguments as the referee pointed to the spot.

Reed stepped up and, although Cooper went the right way and got a hand to it, there was just enough power on the kick to ensure the ball still found the net.

Stags looked like they had won another penalty within three minutes as Cooper seemed to catch McLaughlin as they challenged for a loose pass in the box and the Stags man went down, the referee this time giving the Tykes the benefit of the doubt.

Hewitt was booked for a tackle on Earl on 33 minutes, both players sliding in for the challenge and Earl getting there fractionally before the Mansfied man.

In first half stoppage time an ambitious Keillor-Dunn tried his luck from almost halfway but Roberts was well positioned.

Then Cleary cut in from the left and fired across goal and just wide of the far post as Stags went in still very much in the game.

Bland forced Roberts down to his left to save a low 20 yard effort in the first goal threat of the second half on 49 minutes.

At the other end Blake-Tracy sliced well wide from Evans' square pass.

On 53 minutes Kelly was afforded lots of space to run at the defence and got away a good shot that Roberts could only parry to his right, Vickers then sending the loose ball well over the bar with his follow-up.

But Mansfield were back on level terms on 58 minutes.

Reed spotted the run of Hewitt on the right and sprayed a great pass out to him.

Hewitt headed that across goal first time and McLaughlin went in bravely with Cooper and Roberts to get the decisive touch off his head from close range.

McLaughlin, Roberts and Cooper all collided and all stayed down and needed treatment, but were all able to continue.

Barnsley should have gone back in front three minutes later as Cleary crossed from the left and Keillor-Dunn failed to get enough on his glancing header and guided it wide.

Lewis then should have put Stags ahead on 67 minutes.

A Moriah-Welsh cross was cleared to his feet 12 yards out only to see him sky his finish well over the bar.

Connell had a 25-yard shot deflect wide on 70 minutes and, soon after, a low Cleary cross skidded through everyone in the six yard box.

McLaughlin was booked on 72 minutes after he was fractionally late on keeper Cooper as he tried to capitalise on a home mix-up and slid in.

With just seven minutes to go Mansfield finally took the lead for the first time.

Moriah-Welsh crossed from the right and Evans controlled at the near post and made space for a low shot that Cooper saved with his legs.

But he was helpless as Lewis then drilled home the loose ball from 12 yards to spark wild celebrations, despite Bland's attempt to block on the line.

Cargill was shown a yellow card in the last of the 90 minutes for a trip on Farrugia to halt a home break.

There was still work for Stags to do as eight nervy minutes were added on.

Moriah-Welsh became the fourth visitor booked in the second minute of that added time for delaying a restart.

On 96 minutes Kelly put in a low cross that reached McGoldrick at the far post after Sweeney missed his diving header clear, Roberts there to deny him from close range.

That proved to be the home side's final threat on an afternoon to savour for Nigel Clough's men.

BARNSLEY: Cooper, Roberts, Shepherd, Vickers (Farrugia 67), Cleary V 85), Kelly, Bland (McGoldrick 85), Earl, Keillor-Dunn, Yoganathan (Phillips 67), Connell. SUBS NOT USED: Flavell, de Gevigney, Watson.

STAGS: Roberts, Oshilaja, Sweeney, Cargill, Hewitt, Reed, Lewis, Blake-Tracy, Moriah-Welsh, McLaughlin, Evans. SUBS NOT USED: Mason, McAdam, Taylor, Chambers-Morgan, Dickov, Goodman, Dwyer.

REFEREE: Martin Coy.

ATTENDANCE: 12,865.