Mansfield Town remained on the edge of the relegation battle in League Two after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at bottom club Hartlepool United – the home side’s third successive win.

The Stags, who matched Hartlepool in a poor first half, fell behind immediately after half-time when Lee Beevers gave away a penalty with a foul. Brad Walker netted from the spot.

When Junior Brown was then sent off for a high kick the visitors had a mountain to climb, but actually played their best football of the match.

Billy Kee, Reggie Lambe and Chris Clements tested the home keeper, but the Stags fell to their 13th away defeat of the season because of a lack of creativity and first-half urgency.