The Stags were beaten at home this afternoon in a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Lincoln City.
Mansfield conceded three sloppy goals and looked unstable defensively in a match which left Stags' boss BilL Dearden seething at the final whistle.
It was the Stags however, that went closest first inside the opening minute. Matt Hamshaw floated an early free kick in to the back post and striker John MCAliskey failed to connect when he really should have got on to the cross from eight yards out.
With the first opportunity falling by the wayside, Stags were made to pay for not taking that opportunity, as only thirty seconds later Lincoln were ahead. A long kick by Imps' goalie Alan Marriott found Louis Dodds, who struck from 16 yards in to the bottom corner of the goal, with the Stags' defence backing off.
The goal relieved some much needed pressure from the visitors, who had already ceonceded eight goals this season in league and cup.
After the the deadlock was broken, Mansfield went on the attack in search of an equaliser, and had a good 20 minute spell in which they were on top.
Home debutant Martin McIntosh saw a dipping 25-yard free-kick tipped over by keeper Marriott.
Stephen Dawson and Dan Martin then followed up efforts, which Marriott did well to save on a wet surface.
The Stags' leveller came from a cheap error by Lincoln defender Paul green. After the ball came in to the Imps' penalty box from the left, Green clearly nudged Mickey Boulding inside the penalty area, and the referee, Mr,Oliver, had no option but to award the spot kick, Boulding himself cooly converted with 36 minutes played.
However, Mansfield's joy was turned to frustration in an instant. Lincoln's pacey winger Dany N'Guessan drove in a low cross which deflected into the net off the legs of McIntosh.
In the second half, the Stags failed to create any clear cut chances as Marriott was left relatively unemployed throughout the second period.
Lincoln made sure of their victory just nine minutes in to the second period. Forward Mark Stallard, once under Mansfield boss Bill Dearden at Notts County, sent a beautiful 25 yard shot in to the corner of the goal to seal the points and cap Mansfield's misery.
Afterwards, BStags' chief Bill Dearden was left feeling frustrated after a poor defensive performance, and admitted their were harsh words in the dressing room at the end of the match.
Stags: White, John-Baptiste, Buxton, McIntosh, Jelleyman, Hamshaw, Bell (Sleath 67), Dawson, Martin (Arnold 67), McAliskey, M. Boulding. Subs not used: Muggleton, Mullins, Reet.
Imps: Marriott, Amoo, Green, Moses, Brown, Hand, Frecklington, Dodds (Warlow 71), Stallard (Ryan 87), Forrester, N. Guessan. Subs not used: Wright, Kerr, Watt.
Referee:: Mike Oliver.
