A cup classic
Josh Lillis saved with his legs.
The home side maintained the desperate pursuit of a leveller as the tie entered the last few minutes, Krystian Pearce going close from a deep corner.
Mansfield’s set-pieces certainly provided a test of Dale’s resolve, but they rose to the challenge, substitute Calvin Andrew having the final touch of the game when he superbly headed away a corner which was aimed for Mansfield stopper Olejnik, up the field in a vain
‘At times we were quite outstanding in the way that we tried to control the game’
attempt to salvage something for the Stags.
Safe passage into the second round draw delighted manager Hill, though he was equally pleased with the manner of the performance from his players.
“It was a winning performance. I’m relatively happy with how we played – our intensity and the speed at which we played,” he said.
“Mansfield are a threat from set-plays and they’re very effective from those situations but we did reasonably well, and Josh saves the penalty as well.
“I thought, at times, we were quite outstanding in the way that we tried to control the game and the way that we limited the opposition.” Themore optimistic are hoping Argyle can get close to a play-off spot, but most would settle for a mid-table finish after promotion last term
Playmaker Graham Carey was one of the stand-out players in League Two last season. Out of contract this summer, he agreed a new two-year deal to stay with the Pilgrims
Argyle will travel 12,128 miles to their 23 away League One games this season. That is 200 miles more than the distance from Plymouth to New Zealand
Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Fleetwood Town
Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town, Gillingham, Oldham Athletic