Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough delighted with unbeaten start to 2026 after hard-earned draw at Plymouth​​​​​​​

That has extended their unbeaten run to seven games and Clough said: “It's been a brilliant start to the year. To get points away at Stevenage and Plymouth with six or seven players missing is magnificent and we now have three home games to look forward to.

“They are three unbelievably tough games, but we are a lot stronger at home and hopefully we can get a few more points on the board over the next 10 days.

“Hopefully we can get a couple of bodies back on the pitch too. If we can't we will battle on with what we've got.”

A Ryan Sweeney error gifted Plymouth the lead in a torrid first half in which the rampant Pilgrims could have been out of sight.

But great goalkeeping from Liam Roberts, last ditch defending and poor finishing saw Sweeney able to make amends at the other end and level before the break.

“They could have been out of sight first half – we were very poor in the first 20 minutes,” said Clough.

“No excuses, we just couldn't keep the ball for two or three passes.

“Plymouth, being on the run they are at the moment, were very, very good and on the front foot.

“They deservedly took the lead and then somehow we got back into it before half-time.

“We had one or two missing so we were left a little bit short in certain areas. “But I thought the subs were absolutely fantastic tonight when they came on – two at half-time and the rest in the second half.

“They have earned us the draw as much as anybody along with Liam Roberts again.

“I thought Victor Adeboyejo was fantastic when he came on. He put himself about and caused problems, I am just disappointed he didn't score.”

On the opening goal, he said: “We want our centre halves to bring the ball out as Ryan did. But then you've got to play it forward.

“He tried a square ball, it was cut out and it's a great finish from 25 yards though Deji should have come and closed him down.

“We can't give the ball away in that area.”

On the equaliser, he said: “We have not put many balls into the box tonight – I don't know why.

“But Regan (Hendry) just whipped one in there and Ryan got the slightest of touches.

“It was a massive relief. We'd have taken getting in at half-time at 1-0 to a large degree for us to get organised a little better.

“But to get in at 1-1 really gave us something to hang onto.”

Clough also had high praise once more for keeper Roberts, saying: “Liam was absolutely brilliant tonight.

“The second half was much quieter for him, just long range stuff. But he was absolutely outstanding with the two or three saves he made.

“If you get the right goalkeeper they are worth their weight in gold as they can get you a lot of points over a season.”

Already without Will Evans, Stags lost Lucas Akins to injury just after the break and Clough said: “It was a nasty tackle.

“He had this ankle problem from before and he just caught him right on the sore part. You could tell straight away he probably wasn't going to continue.”

On Evans' absence, he added: “Will got a whack on his ankle at Stevenage on Saturday and it's black and blue and pretty swollen.

“We are hoping it might settle down for Saturday, but we're not sure.”

Sweeney's close range poke was Mansfield's 50th goal of the season which have been scored by 23 different players.

“It was probably the least impressive of the 50 tonight but one of the most important without doubt,” said Clough.

“It just shows you don't need an out and out 20-25 goals a season goalscorer. You just need everyone to chip in.”