BUT ADAMS SEES BRIGHT SIDE
we had. We hit the bar twice and opened up Mansfield on numerous occasions in the first half.
“Sometimes you don’t get the goal and then you have to take a point. Mansfield were always going to come back into it. They didn’t trouble us, but they are a good side.”
Argyle almost grabbed a fourth-minute lead when Peter Hartley’s crossfield pass was volleyed against the bar from 12 yards by Reuben Reid. Home keeper Brian Jensen then denied Graham Carey from eight yards.
The visitors’ movement continued to open up Mansfield and the unmarked Ryan Brunt headed a Gary Sawyer cross wide.
Mansfield survived the scares and a change to a 4-14-1 formation gave them a foothold. Nathan Thomas fired narrowly wide and Craig Westcarr flashed a 20-yard drive past the post.
Two fine saves by Jensen denied Carey from free-kicks at the start of a more even second half and Kelvin Mellor’s cross struck the bar, while Mitchell Rose’s fierce drive was beaten away by Luke McCormick as Mans- field again fought
back.
Mansfield manager Adam Murray said: “I am always happy when we don’t lose football matches, but we did have chances to take the game.
“In the first half we were slow out the blocks.We didn’t control the game enough.
“My biggest frustration is that my team doesn’t believe how good it is.That belief will only come with results. They need to have that confidence to keep expressing themselves as individuals.
“We have come up against one of the best teams in this league and looked strong.We haven’t got one of the best defensive records in our division for no reason.”