Mansfield Town extended their unbeaten run in the league to 11 games as the Stags battled to a 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers at The Memorial Stadium.
A hardworking performance from the Stags ensured the fine unbeaten run remained intact.
Mansfield have now recorded three clean sheets from the last four matches.
Manager Nigel Clough named three changes to the side that defeated Colchester United 2-1 at home in midweek.
Former Bristol Rovers man, Ollie Clarke, captained the Stags at The Memorial Stadium. George Maris was named on the bench.
New loan signing Matty Longstaff made his highly-anticipated Mansfield debut, replacing Ryan Stirk in the line-up. Goalscorer against Colchester, Jordan Bowery, was also brought into the side, in place of defender Stephen McLaughlin.
Mansfield demonstrated their intent immediately from the kick-off as Rhys Oates dribbled the ball from the centre circle into the Rovers box, shrugging off Rovers men only to be tackled at the final hurdle.
The Stags continued to take up advanced positions in and around the Rovers box in the early stages. Lively midfielder Longstaff worked himself into space outside the area before driving a 30-yard effort into the arms of James Belshaw on ten minutes.
Mansfield forced another opportunity five minutes later. A weak, headed clearance from a Rovers man fell kindly for Murphy, who was lurking on the edge of the box. The Scotsman’s half-volley was executed with venom as it whipped narrowly over the crossbar.
The following 15 minute period became a battle between the two sides, largely in midfield as Mansfield showed impressive grit in slippery and windy conditions to maintain their positive play.
Having worked the ball into a wide area well, Akins skipped clear of his marker on 42 minutes to whip a tempting delivery into the box. Clarke’s late run into the area coincided with the cross but the skipper’s glancing header skidded wide.
Despite a limited amount of goalmouth action, Stags controlled the first half of play in testing conditions.
In the second period, Stags did well to withstand Rovers’ early pressure and deny them a clear-cut opportunity at goal.
Longstaff helped Mansfield to progress up the field following a broken-down Rovers attack on the hour mark. The loanee’s tempting delivery into the box picked out Clarke who saw his headed effort saved.
Two minutes later, Rovers’ left-back Nick Anderton skidded a low driven shot at goal before John-Joe O’Toole heroically averted the danger with a strong block in front of goal.
The Stags’ defender was in amongst the action again just a minute later as Aaron Collins was adjudged to have dived inside the box after the two came together. The Bristol Rovers number 10 was shown a yellow card by referee John Busby.
Soon enough Mansfield were up the other end of the pitch in search of an opener. Longstaff’s ball into Oates was collected by the striker, who drove into the box before Connor Taylor made a late sliding challenge as the Stags’ number 18 pulled the trigger. Oates though was injured in the altercation and he was replaced by fellow striker Danny Johnson.
The visitors continued to work the ball around the host’s box however, Rovers’ packed defence made space in front of goal limited.
Mansfield’s hard work earned them an important Sky Bet League Two point and a third clean sheet in four matches.
Stags head into their next league fixture at play-off hopefuls Newport County next week, 11 games unbeaten.
BRISTOL ROVERS XI: Belshaw, Connolly, Finley, Collins, Nicholson, Anderson, Coutts, Anderton, Taylor, Anderson (Saunders 88’), Hoole
UNUSED SUBS: Jaakkola, Thomas, Martinez, Spence, Harries, Whelan
STAGS XI: Bishop, Hewitt, O’Toole, Hawkins, Bowery, Longstaff, Clarke, Quinn (Maris 64’), Murphy (Stirk 90’), Oates (Johnson 71’), Akins
UNUSED SUBS: Stech, Rawson, Wallace, Law
REFEREE: John Busby
ATTENDANCE: 7,707 (689 away)
