Unbeaten Huddersfield Town came away from Field Mill with a point after being largely wrong footed by the disadvantage of The Stags going down to 10 men for virtually the whole second half.
Slow, pedestrian play by the Terriers against both 10 and a full complement guaranteed a dire, goalless stalemate with neither side looking capable of a breakthrough.
A first half edged by the home team was largely featureless with neither keeper particularly troubled in a contest which didn’t lack endeavour but was almost entirely bereft of quality.
A poorly executed Radulovic effort into the side netting and a selfish Joe Taylor shot when better placed support was at either side of him was the extent of the Terriers’ threat, while the ageing McGoldrick netted for the hosts but from an offside position.
A 45 minutes notable mainly for injuries to Huddersfield players, including self inflicted wounds from a clash of heads between Humphreys and Ledson inexplicably competing for the same ball with ne’er a yellow and blue opponent within 10 yards.
Ledson’s woes didn’t end there when an awkward fall caused an elbow injury and an early departure.
This brought together a Collins and Humphreys partnership which, on paper, looks more promising than the combinations to date.
The halftime break brought a stroke of genius by Nigel Clough, who sent on Dodgson (for McLaughlin) whose first involvement was a dangerous, late tackle on Sanchez Fernandes which created Huddersfield Town’s kryptonite – facing 10 men.
The silver lining was that they weren’t facing a deficit to overcome, but a frustrating 2nd half was virtually guaranteed as, perhaps, acknowledged by an ever so slightly muted response to the red card from the away support.
And so it proved.
Despite the constant promptings of the excellent Humphreys, Town were comfortably thwarted by a sound, well organised Mansfield defence which, in truth, rarely had to cope with anything remotely innovative.
The very well marshalled Sanchez Fernandes, yet to really adapt to playing away from home, struggled to free himself from the shackles of the hosts who clearly saw him as the main threat, doubling protection at all times.
On the left, the visitors found more space but consistently failed to make the most of it.
Harness, Mumba and Sway were all given the opportunity to carve openings but only Humphreys looked capable of the deliveries necessary to serve the strikers, but his best balls in were wasted.
Possibly realising he would have to make the breakthrough himself, Humphreys weaved his way into the area past 3 challenges only to scuff his shot wide.
Stout home defending was the principal feature of the second period, though Young had to make a smart save from a decent effort in a rare Mansfield foray.
Town’s forward play lacked spontaneity and guile, Humphreys aside, while Taylor and his rotating partners Radulovic and Fletcher were far too static, waiting for events rather than creating them.
Taylor did burst into life on one occasion, when he was found bya fantastic ball from Young, low and long, but support was too slow in arriving to take advantage.
The performance and result were unsatisfying and the 4 dropped points from the past 2 games has somewhat slowed a momentum which needs picking up at Bromley.
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