Northampton Town made the perfect start to their League Two campaign with a solid 1-0 victory that was earned through new signing Kaid Mohamed's close-range header.
A clean sheet and a goal from a set-piece were positives for Chris Wilder and the exact opposite for Mansfield manager Paul Cox who refused to accept the get-out of a potential foul on goalkeeper Sascha Studer
"We didn't defend it properly and the lad had a free header," Cox told the official Mansfield Town website while also feeling his side lacked cohesion in the final third of the pitch.
For the hosts, defender Zander Diamond praised the contribution of goalkeeper Matt Duke and Town's midfielders to keeping a clean sheet.
"It was a team effort and gives us a good base to go forward."