Stalemate on the coast as Stags are held by ten men Torquay

Mansfield Town’s frustrating October continued this afternoon as Cox’s men failed to see off Torquay United who played the last twenty-one minutes with ten men after Krystian Pearce for sent off for a second bookable offence.

Stags made three changes for the match as Jamie McGuire returned to suspension whilst James Jennings and Matt Rhead were restored to the line up, new loan signing Jack Blake from Nottingham Forest had to settle for a place on the bench.

Both sides battled it out during the first period and saw numerous free kicks test each other, Stags came closest through John Dempster and Martin Riley who both glanced headers wide whilst the hosts were denied as Alan Marriott palmed away a teasing effort from Ade Azeez.

In the second half Azeez was again thrawted by Marriott from close range before Matt Rhead connected with a pinpoint Jamie McGuire cross at the other end, the Stags front man denied by the palms of the home keeper.

Substitute Ben Hutchinson also drew a save from the Gulls keeper from distance before the hosts were reduced to ten men with 21 minutes remaining as Kyrstian Pearce was shown his second yellow card of the game. The Stags went for it with a man advantage but failed to break the deadlock as the hosts remained resilient, leading the Stags to slip outside of the play-offs after picking up a solitary point.

FULL TIME: Torquay United 0-0 Mansfield Town

Attendance: 2,473 (347)

Referee: Mick Russell  

Stags: Alan Marriott, Lee Beevers, Ritchie Sutton (Ollie Palmer 74), John Dempster (C), Martin Riley, James Jennings, Keiran Murtagh, Jamie McGuire, Sam Clucas, Lee Stevenson (Ben Hutchinson 56), Matt Rhead (Calvin Andrew 64)
Unused Subs: Lindon Meikle, Anthony Howell, Jack Blake, Junior Daniel