Mansfield 0-0 Plymouth: Mansfield keep Pilgrims at bay

Mansfield's unbeaten home record remained intact despite a searching examination in their 0-0 draw with a powerful Plymouth side.

The Pilgrims had won three of their four previous Sky Bet League Two away games and created the best chances.

However the Stags, with Krystian Pearce and Ryan Tafazolli outstanding at the back, kept them out, goalkeeper Brian Jensen making three good saves to thwart Graham Carey.

Plymouth twice went close in the early stages. Reuben Reid crashed a superb dipping volley against the home bar from 16 yards after only five minutes, having been picked out by a long Peter Hartley cross from the left. Four minutes later a mistake by Lee Collins gifted the ball to Carey, who forced a smart stop from Brian Jensen from close range.

Argyle continued to impress and Ryan Brunt should have headed home a Gary Sawyer cross after 19 minutes, his close-range effort bouncing just wide.

Mansfield finally began to fight their way into the contest and Nathan Thomas flashed a low shot across the face of goal while Craig Westcarr was just wide from 25 yards.

Carey twice went close from free-kicks early in the second half, Jensen down both times to deny him.

Carey fired another chance wide from a great central position while Matt Green's chip ended up in the side-netting as both sides searched in vain for the opener.