PA Report

There was plenty of passion in this Nottinghamshire Derby clash, but little, if any, polish or punch, so a goalless finish was just about right.

Defences dominated with both Notts County and Mansfield's back four in commanding form so that scoring opportunities were severely restricted and neither goalkeeper was unduly tested.

The Magpies' Russell Hoult must have been pleased about that. He damaged a knee in the pre-match warm-up and was taken to the dressing room.

There was such a doubt about him being fit to start that Notts shuffled their substitutes bench and drafted in Tim Sandercombe. In the event, Hoult not only started but saw through the 90 minutes.

The best chances to either side fell in three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game.

First, Mansfield built up play down the left flank and, when the ball was swung over, Matt Hamshaw at the back post had a clear scoring opportunity, but blazed wide, the ball finishing in the stand behind the goal.

Notts worked their way to the other end where substitute Spencer Weir-Daley produced a neat turn on the edge of the penalty area, only to see his shot deflected wide for a corner which Mansfield cleared.

The Stags had been easily the better of the two teams in the first 45 minutes.

They posed a series of questions for the Notts defence at the heart of which Michael Johnson and Mike Edwards, both returning from injury, were in awesome form.

Their battles with Mansfield's front pairing of Michael Boulding and Jefferson Louis were one of the outstanding features of the game.

It's the fourth game running in which Notts have kept a clean sheet producing three draws and a win as they claw their way to league safety.

Mansfield, who were desperate for all three points, now remain in danger.