MATCH REPORT: Magnificent Mansfield Town demolish promotion-chasing Bradford City to end dire home run

It ended a barren run of one win in the previous 13 and was new boss Graham Coughlan's first clean sheet at the eight attempt.

Promotion-chasing Bradford had beaten Stags 2-0 at home last month but were second best today from the moment Danny Rose headed Mansfield in front on seven minutes.

Nicky Maynard deservedly made it 2-0 just before the break to crown a fine half for the home side and sub Andy Cook wrapped it up on 77 minutes.

With two new faces in the side, Stags pressed superbly and looked full of energy and hunger that had been missing for much of the campaign.

Skipper Krystian Pearce also looked back to his best at the heart of defence after his recent dropping.

Mansfield announced the pre-match signing of former Plymouth right-back Joe Riley, 28, and he was then named in the team.

There was also another full debut with former Everton midfielder Harry Charsley starting the game after his late cameo last weekend.

Riley replaced the injured Hayden White at right back while Charsley came in to replace defender Matt Preston as Stags reverted to a 4-4-2.

On three minutes Pearce nodded down a long Riley free kick, but Maynard could get no power or direction on his shot on the turn.

But Stags had a scare on five minutes as Wood crossed low from the left and Stags failed to cut it out, the ball reaching an unmarked Connolly at the far post where Benning did well to block.

Stags broke quickly from that and Benning picked out Rose, whose cheeky flick looped over the bar.

However, Stags were ahead on seven minutes. A neat move saw MacDonald eventually float over a cross from the right which saw Rose rise to perfectly nod beyond the reach of McGee.

It was almost 2-0 on 11 minutes from a short Stags corner, Charsley crossed to the near post, Bishop helped it on and Sweeney, from point blank range, was a whisker wide.

Soon after Charsley had a shot blocked before teeing up MacDonald for a low shot wide as Mansfield continued to look menacing.

Reeves was booked for a shove on MacDonald on 22 minutes and two minutes later, from a half-cleared corner, MacDonald's cross was headed straight at McGee by Sweeney.

Stags were in total dominance for the first half hour.

McCartan did shoot wide on 33 minutes but from all of 30 yards for the frustrated Bantams.

McCartan was added to the book for a foul and an argument over the decision on 40 minutes.

A sliced clearance seconds later saw Sweeney beat Mcgee to the high ball as it dropped but it deflected inches wide.

On 42 minutes McGee made a great save as Benning's back post cross was headed back by Rose towards Pearce whose close range header was tipped away.

But the home side's dominance was finally rewarded with a second goal two minutes from the break.

Benning swung in Stags' seventh first half corner from the right and Maynard nodded in from inside the six yard box – his 13th goal of the season.

The home side went off to warm applause and cheers after one of their best 45 minutes of the season.

Mansfield again began the second half on the front foot with the home fans firmly behind them and the away fans starting to direct their upset at the away bench.

Bradford quickly made a double change to try to lift the side on 57 minutes.

And they were handed a great chance to claw a goal back on 63 minutes when Olejnik inexplicably picked up Pearce's header back to him to give Bradford a direct free kick seven yards from goal. But Doyle's fierce shot was blocked.

A great Stags break, led by Benning, saw him send Hamilton into space for a low cross that Maynard was unable to turn home.

Mansfield weathered some Bradford pressure before freshening the front line on 73 minutes by sending on Cook and Knowles for scorers Maynard and Rose.

Cook immediately made his mark as within five minutes he picked up a throw from Benning and, from 16 yards, found the net inside the right post a perfect low finish to make it 3-0.

Alex MacDonald fired straight at McGee and Hamilton blazed another chance over as the home side enjoyed their afternoon with the pressure off.

Benning was booked for wasting time a minute from the end.

STAGS:Olejnik (GK), Riley, Pearce (C), Sweeney, Benning, MacDonald, Bishop, Charsley (Tomlinson 83), Hamilton, Rose (Knowles 73), Maynard (Cook 73). SUBS NOT USED: Stone, Preston, Khan, Cook, Clarke.

BRADFORD: McGee, Richards-Everton, O'Connor, Pritchard (Mellor 57), Reeves (Devitt 57), Doyle, McCartan, Connolly, Henley, Wood, Taylor. SUBS NOT USED: Sykes-Kenworthy, O'Connor, Donaldson, Cooke, Oteh.REFEREE: Will Finnie of Luton.

ATTENDANCE: 5,537 (1,467 away).CHAD STAGS MAN OF THE MATCH: Krystian Pearce.