Pompey hopes dented after draw at Mansfield

Mansfield's Ryan Tafazolli scores his own goal at the end of the first half Picture: Joe Pepler

Pompey's automatic promotion hopes suffered another dent after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Mansfield today.

With Plymouth, who began the day in third place, losing 1-0 at home to Luton, a win would have seen the Blues move within touching distance of the top three.

As it is, they are five points behind in sixth place after coming from behind to earn a share of the spoils at the One Call Stadium today.

Paul Cook’s side will point to a missed penalty from Marc McNulty when the scoreline was goalless as proof it was not their day.

But the manner of their equaliser, which arrived on the stroke of half-time after Matt Green had fired the hosts ahead, showed the luck was not completely against them.

Ben Davies’ inswinging corner from the right evaded a host of bodies before bouncing in off the midriff of luckless Stags defender Ryan Tafazolli.

After the break the Blues were much improved on their first-half showing, although they still struggled to create sufficient goal-scoring opportunities against the Stags.

And following six minutes of time added on there was no separating the sides as each claimed a point from the encounter on a cold March day.