Unbeaten run goes on, but Mansfield Town again held goalless at home in draw with Exeter City
Mansfield Town's unbeaten run was extended to nine games, but they were held to a second successive 0-0 home draw by Exeter City this afternoon.
Stags worked hard but again lacked a cutting edge against a very average-looking Exeter side in a game in which it felt like three points were almost there for the taking.
The home side showed four changes, notably missing keeper Liam Roberts through illness which gave new signing Harry Lewis an immediate debut.
Lucas Akins, Louis Reed, returning from suspension, and Rhys Oates were all back in the side to replace Elliott Hewitt, Regan Hendry and Jon Russell.
The game, along with all EFL games this weekend, kicked off one minute later than usual to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing life-saving CPR.
Exeter, notably Timur Tutierov asked most of the early questions with Lewis twice called into action with saves.
Stags improved as the half went on and Exeter had keeper Joe Whitworth to thank for a crucial save to deny Will Evans on 28 minutes.
Mansfield were the better side in the second 45 minutes and Pierce Sweeney was lucky on 63 minutes when he turned the ball against his own post while Luke Bolton came very close near the end.
Exeter had threatened danger on the break on eight minutes through Wareham.
But Oshilaja came up with a superb last man tackle to halt Tutierov.
From Stags' first corner on 10 minutes, Irow bundled a far post half volley into the ground and straight at Whitworth.
On 15 minutes Lewis had his first save to make as Tutierov got into the left of the box and hit a deflected shot goalwards which Lewis turned away at full stretch to his left.
Three minutes later Oates gave the ball away and Niskanen fed Tutierov for a low shot into the sidenetting.
Tutierov tried to race past Oshilaja on 20 minutes but was shoved as he did so to earn the Mansfield man a booking.
Tutierov was close again on 25 minutes after Wareham had spun Cargill to set him up, his finish this time inches wide of the far post with Lewis helpless.
Evans then had the chance of the game so far on 28 minutes as he received a Cargill pass on the edge of the box and sidestepped the challenge of Yfeko, but with only Whitworth to beat from 16 yards, he saw the keeper get down well to his left to turn aside the low finish.
A far post cross from Irow was then nodded wide by Oates as the home side began to look more dangerous.
But City were back on the attack as a neat move ended with a good block on a Wareham shot.
Oates had a deflected shot fly straight at Whitworth on 44 minutes as the stalemate continued through to the interval.
Knoyle replaced Sweeney in the home defence for the second half.
Tutierov saw a curling shot deflect wide for the Grecians in the first action after the break.
An Evans snapshot at the other end flew well over.
The home side made a triple change and changed formation on 57 minutes as Irow, Oates and Akins were replaced by Bolton, Adeboyejo and Hendry.
Turns was booked for holding Adeboyejo on 62 minutes. And from the free kick, Lewis floated the ball to the right post where Cargill headed back across and Pierce Sweeney turned the ball against his own post. Adeboyejo was then unable to turn the loose ball past Whitworth in the ensuing scramble.
Bolton was asking for a penalty after a challenge by Yfeko, but nothing was given.
Sweeney was booked on 70 minutes for delaying a home free kick and Oakes added seven minutes later for hauling down Bolton.
Bolton was inches wide of the far post with a low curling shot after coming inside on 82 minutes.
Cox then got into a good position in the home box but the presence of Oshilaja was just enough to put him off and his finish was tame and straight to Lewis.
McGennis was added to the book on 88 minutes for shooting after the whistle had gone.
In the second of six added minutes Adeboyejo crossed hard to the far post where McLaughlin was unable to steer his header on target as it all ended goalless once more.
STAGS: H. Lewis, Oshilaja, Sweeney (Knoyle HT), Cargill, Akins (Hendry 57), A. Lewis, Reed, Blake-Tracy, Oates (Adeboyejo 57), Irow (Bolton 57), Evans (McLaughlin 82). SUBS NOT USED: Russell, Moriah-Welsh.
EXETER: Whitworth, Fitzwater (Turns HT), Brierley, Wareham (Cox 80), Aitchison (Cole 74), Niskanen, Yfeko (Oakes 67), Woodhouse, Sweeney, Tutierov (Magennis 74), Doyle-Hayes. SUBS NOT USED: Bycroft, Higgins. REFEREE: Simon Mather.
ATTENDANCE: 7,579 (291 away).