Magnificent Mansfield Town pull off sensational win to halt Bolton Wanderers’ proud home record​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Despite still missing eight key players, Stags produced a defensive masterclass to keep a clean sheet and a lone goal by Rhys Oates just before half-time snatched what was a revenge win to savour.

Bolton had won at Mansfield just three weeks ago with Oates sent off and Stags unhappy with several refereeing decisions on the day.

But Oates had served his three game ban and returned to haunt Wanderers in the best way possible as Stags, in the drop zone two weeks ago, backed up their superb Boxing Day comeback win at Barnsley to propel themselves all the way up to 11th.

Stags spent the whole of the first 45 minutes under the cosh, defending 10 corners and continually pinned back by a classy home side, unable to get out of their half.

Liam Roberts made two good saves to keep the scores level and Stags' injury jinx struck again as they lost Elliott Hewitt with less than half an hour played.

But against all the odds, the visitors went in ahead after Oates headed in a 39th minute Nathan Moriah-Welsh corner to stun the Trotters.

Stags saw more of the ball in what was still a tough second half with Bolton pressing harder and harder, Roberts making his best save of the night to deny Max Conway when through on goal.

It was increasingly backs to the wall defending but Stags dug deep, survived a couple of penalty shouts, and ultimately deserved their unlikely success.

Boss Nigel Clough made three changes to the side that came back so well to beat Barnsley on Boxing Day with Kyle McAdam, Max Dickov and Oates replacing Louis Reed, Stephen McLaughlin and Will Evans.

Luke Bolton returned to the matchday squad on the bench after injury.

Bolton also made three changes as Xavier Simons, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Sam Dalby all returned in place of Marcus Forss, Cyrus Christie and Ethan Erhahon, who picked up a late knock in the last-gasp Boxing Day win over Rotherham United.

Johnston headed a Sheehan corner wide at the far post in the fourth minute as the home side looked for an early advantage as they applied all the early pressure.

Hewitt was too high with a shot from a tight angle in Stags' first foray forward on eight minutes after Moriah-Welsh had lofted a ball towards him near the right by-line.

Sheehan was inches over at the other end from distance less tha a minute later, then OseiTutu got past Blake-Tracy on the right by-line but drilled it into the sidenetting.

A poor kick out by Roberts on 11 minutes, intended for Oshilaja, saw Gale quickly take possession and square low for Dalby, who looked a certain scorer until the keeper redeemed himself by spreading himself to make a crucial block.

On 17 minutes Simons volleyed a headed Elliott clearance wide from 20 yards as the relentless pressure continued.

Gale was held back by Hewitt as he tried to run past him on 21 minutes and out came the book for the first time.

Hewitt, not long back from injury, then suddenly went down off the ball on 28 minutes and was quickly replaced by Reed with Moria-Welsh moved to right wing back.

On 37 minutes Cozier-Dubbery ran at the visitors down the centre and launched a fierce shot just over the bar from 20 yards.

Mansfield had another huge let-off on 39 minutes as Sheehan's swerving shot brought a fine parry out of Roberts.

A scrambled ensued as the ball ran loose in front of goal and eventually Osei-Tutu saw his attempt deflect over and Stags had survived.

Mansfield's first little spell of possession in the Bolton half saw Oates win them their first corner on 43 minutes – and from that the Stags took the most unlikely of leads.

Moriah-Welsh floated the corner to the far post where Oates got up well under pressure from Sharman-Lowe and headed home just inside the post.

In the second of two aded minudtes Stags won another corner which saw a scramble in the box, the ball eventually cleared and Lewis firing it back goalwards and forcing a save.

Four minutes after the break Roberts pulled off a sensational save to deny Conway one on one. Sheehan's pass sent Conway clear but Roberts stuck out his right arm to somehow deflect his finish wide.

At the other end Oates was crowded out as he tried to make space and his finish was tame and to the keeper, then Gale was well over for Bolton.

Dickov had seen little of the ball all night and was replaced by Evans on 55 minutes.

Cargill blocked well from a rasping Cozier-Duberry shot before a tug on Lewis' shirt to prevent a Mansfield break saw Sheehan booked on 58 minutes.

Three minutes later Cozier-Duberry cut in from the right and was well wide from 20 yards.

After McAdam had escaped a booking for a foul, Moria-Welsh hauled back Gale for a 64th minute booking.

There was a worry as Oates went down on 66 minutes. Though it may have been cramp, Stags were nevertheless taking no chances and he was replaced by Bolton while McLaughlin took over from McAdam at the same time.

Dempsey was narrowly wide at the far post with a glancing header from a Morley cross as we entered the last 12 minutes with Stags standing firm.

Roberts deflected a low Ossei-Tutu cross away from goal, then Sweeney took a kick to the head in a scramble as the home side threw everything at it.

Cissoko threw himself to the ground on the edge of the box on 81 minutes only to be booked for simulation.

Stags, forced to defend ever deeper, survived a barrage of crosses and another big penalty shout while Reed was then booked for a foul on 85 minutes.

A rare Stags break on 88 minutes saw Lewis reach the ball on the left of the box and, from a tight angle, his goal attempt ran out for a throw.

In five added minutes Morley was well over with a desperate effort from long range.

Cargill then made another fantastic block after Morley had tricked his way into the box.

Conway then beat three men in the box and went down under a challenge but again no penalty was forthcoming.

Then Ossei-Tutu fired over from a home corner as the tension became almost unbearable.

The final whistle saw Stags players drop to the turf in sheer exhaustion after a simply incredible performance.

BOLTON: Sharman-Lowe, Simons (Morley 58), Johnston (Forss 75), Sheehan, Dalby (Burstow 66), Gale (Cissoko 75), Osei-Tutu, Randall (Dempsey 66), Toal, Cozier-Duberry, Conway. SUBS NOT USED: Miller, Forino.

STAGS: Roberts, Oshilaja, Sweeney, Cargill, Hewitt (Reed 28), Moriah-Welsh, Lewis, Blake-Tracy, Dickov (Evans 55), McAdam (McLaughlin 66), Oates (Bolton 66). SUBS NOT USED: Mason, Taylor, Dwyer.

REFEREE: Peter Wright.

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