A late McNulty goal ended Mansfield Town’s Capital One Cup adventure at the first hurdle, but more worrying for manager Paul Cox were injuries to talisman striker Liam Hearn and defender Martin Riley.

Hearn, signed in the summer after proving his fitness following injuries that led to him leaving Grimsby, limped off with what looked like a knee injury after just 15 minutes.

Hearn, a substitute in the opening day League Two defeat Northampton on Saturday, had started the match for his full debut for the Stags. Riley went off with a groin injury.

Hearn and Riley were two of four changes from the opening day defeat. Chris Clements and Jamie McGuire also came in as John Dempster, Fergus Bell, Adam Murray and the injured Ollie Palmer made way.

With Palmer injured at Northampton and Matt Rhead suspended, the loss of Hearn could severely limit Cox’s options for the visit of Oxford to the One Call Stadium on Saturday.

At least his one remaining striker, summer signing Alex Fisher, got off the mark to equalise just before the hour in front of 1,250 Stags fans.

Moments earlier Butler had headed the Blades in front after keeper Sascha Studer had superbly kept out Baxter’s header.