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**10-man City were forced to settle for a point against Mansfield Town at the LNER Stadium, as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon.**
The Imps looked on course for victory when they deservedly went ahead through Sonny Bradley’s first City goal, but the defender was shown a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
Despite a resolute and determined performance from the Imps, Mansfield eventually made their numerical advantage count, when substitute Nathan Moriah-Welsh equalised inside the final 10 minutes.
Michael Skubala made six changes from the midweek win at Burton Albion, reverting to the same team that lined up against Plymouth Argyle in City’s last home game.
After a frantic opening to the game, the first chance of note fell to the Imps on 14 minutes when Conor McGrandles fired over the target from distance, before Bayliss shot wide moments later.
The Imps took the lead with 17 minutes on the clock. The visitors struggled to deal with a set piece and the ball broke for Collins. Unselfishly, the striker cut it back for Bradley, who stabbed the ball past Roberts for his first City goal.
City continued to be in ascendency, with Hackett picking out Collins with 25 minutes on the clock, only for Bowery to do just enough to deflect his header wide.
The Imps were dealt a blow when Bradley was shown a straight red card with half an hour played. George Maris latched onto a loose ball in the middle and moved past McGrandles before being upended by Bradley, who was judged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity.
From the resulting free kick, Blake-Tracy saw his effort whistle just past Wickens’ right post. With City a man down, Michael Skubala was forced to bring on a defender, with Freddie Draper the unlucky City player to make way.
The Imps responded well to going a man down, with the Stags having to wait until the second minute of added time for their first effort on target, which came from central defender Ryan Sweeney from distance.
**Half time: Imps 1 Mansfield Town 0**
Stags boss Nigel Clough made four changes at the break in an effort to get his side back into the contest and as you’d expect from a side with numerical advantage, the visitors started the second half brightly. The Imps were grateful for the boot of Hamer when he got in front of a strike from Maris to deflect it over.
The Imps were continuing to stand firm and looked to catch the Stags on the counter. Collins looked for an ambitious route to goal as he looked to catch Roberts out from long range on 55 minutes.
Stags immediately countered through McLaughlin, who worked his way into the area before seeing a low cross scrambled clear by the Imps. With just over 20 minutes left, Wickens was called into action to deny Maris from close range, before McDonnell lashed over.
City were digging in and had another opportunity on 71 minutes after some good work from Street to win the ball back and tee up Okoronkwo to strike, but he couldn’t find the target.
Moments later, the Stags won a throw at the other end which was well worked into Knoyle who picked out Maris, but thankfully for City, the midfielder lost his footing at the crucial moment.
Mansfield made their man advantage count with eight minutes remaining, when Moriah-Welsh converted a low cross to equalise.
The Stags pushed for a winning goal and with four minutes left, Wickens had to make a good save to deny Maris, after good work down the left flank from Knoyle.
**Full time:** **Imps 1 Mansfield Town 1**
**Imps:** Wickens, Darikwa, Towler, Hackett, Bayliss, Collins, McGrandles, Bradley, Street, Hamer, Draper (Jackson 37’).
**Unused:** Jeacock, Thorn, Ring, House, Okoronkwo, Varfolomeev.
**Mansfield Town:** Roberts, Knoyle, Sweeney, Lewis, Bowery, Maris, Evans, McDonnell, Dickov, Blake-Tracy, Bolton.
**Unused:** Mason, McLaughlin, Cargill, Dwyer, Moriah-Welsh, Henry, Gardner.