Bristol Rovers 0-0 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 12.02.22

Nigel Clough’s side made it eleven games unbeaten in the league but they had to settle for a point in Bristol as ‘the Gas’ held ‘the Stags’ in a scoreless encounter in the south west.

The away side created the better opportunities in the first half with Longstaff testing Belshaw on his Mansfield debut from long range on ten. Murphy then blazed over on 15 with Clarke stretching a boot from Akins cross four minutes ahead of the break, the best attempts of a tight half.

In the second half Rovers pushed for an opener but Mansfield had their own chances to break the deadlock, Clarke heading wide after Longstaff clipped in the best of a stalemate half, Rovers having just one shot on target in the whole ninety minutes.

It wasn’t pretty, but good solid defensive performances from the likes of John Joe O’Tooles and Oliver Hawkins will at least please Manager Nigel Clough.

A point on the road slips Mansfield to sixth in the division but still in the mix, next up is Newport away on Saturday, the Welshmen just a point and a place below the Stags in the table.

Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Hoole, Connolly, Taylor, Anderton, Coutts, Finley, Nicholson, E. Anderson, H. Anderson (Saunders 88), Collins.

Mansfield Town: Bishop, Hewitt, O’Toole, Hawkins, Longstaff, Clarke (Maris 66), Quinn, Akins, Murphy (Stirk 90), Bowery, Oates (Johnson 71).

Venue: Memorial Stadium (7,707)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Lucas Akins in action for Mansfield.