AN early Stanley penalty and a late red card for assistant manager captain Adam Murray meant a second home defeat of the season and a second successive reverse for the Stags.

The visitors’ early blitz saw them create three chances before Joyce converted a 10th minute penalty.

Stanley troubled the Stags down both flanks and found space in front of and behind the hesitant, flat-footed home defence, as their 4-2-3-1 formation wreaked havoc for half an hour.

The penalty came immediately after debutant Kieron Freeman, who looked short of match fitness, appealed for a spot kick for the Stags when he was pulled down.

Carver broke away onto the long clearance and Sascha Studer, replacing Dimitar Evtiov in goal, always looked to be second favourite for the ball. The linesman’s flag awarded the spot kick after the keeper caught the forward, although he had lost control of the ball which was running out of play.

Studer redeemed himself with good saves to deny Maguire as the Stags struggled to contain Naismoth in particular.

Lee Beevers fired wide, under pressure, after good work by Fergus Bell and Matt Rhead just before half-time as the home side struggled to create in front of goal.

A hamstring injury to Ryan Tafazolli meant a 45-minute chance for new signing Reggie Lambe and the 4-3-3 formation created more chances in the second half.

Rhead’s aerial dominance set up Lambe and Murray, while substitute Ollie Palmer and Freeman also might have grabbed an equaliser.

Eight minutes from time the hard-working Murray, who had inspired the second half improvement, was harshly sent off. He slid in to try to retrieve a ball running out for a goal kick and caught Atkinson.

It looked a yellow card at worst, but the linesman judged it to be a red card.