Half-time - Stags survive worrying Plymouth Argyle pressure to go in level

Stags started well enough but were rattled after Reuben Reid smashed a brilliant volley against the bar on five minutes after which the Pilgrims dominated the game and missed a couple of other golden chances.

However, Stags survived and twice went close themselves late in the half after playing their way back into the contest.

Stags began the game well and drew applause from the stands for some neat possession football.

But Argyle won a fifth minute corner from which they almost went ahead. Jack Thomas headed the first ball in away and then got a block in on a follow-up shot. But when Hartley launched a long cross over from the left, Reid shaped up for a superb 15 yard volley that zipped over Jensen and came back off the crossbar.

Argyle came close again on 15 minutes as Collins stretched to clear and succeeded only in giving the ball to Carey on the left of the six yard box, Jensen getting down well to block his finish and spare his skipper’s blushes.

Four minutes later Sawyer crossed to the near post where Brunt should have scored, his close range header bouncing just wide of the target.

It was all Plymouth at this stage, Stags’ promising start rocked by that shot against their bar and the visitors clearly lifted.

Mansfield survived and finally began to get the ball into the visitors’ box, Nathan Thomas inches away from a goal on 37 minutes after Green had rescued a ball that looked set to go out for a goalkick and set him up for a fierce low shot across the face of goal from a tight angle on the left.

In the one added minute Westcarr flashed a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards as the sides went in all square.