25/03/2008 - Bury 2 Mansfield Town 0
Although he had the freedom of the Gigg Lane pitch, Paul Holland was prowling around liked a caged tiger before kick-off - and no wonder.
He knew the 90 minutes that were about to be played would be likely to decide his fate as Mansfield manager.
But come half-time, let alone by the final whistle, he must have known his chances of that happening had all but gone.
Even though the former player's spell at the helm since taking over from Billy Dearden had seen just a solitary victory at Bradford in three games, he could point to an improvement in performances.
In this match, though, the Stags were comprehensively outplayed. Bury were stronger, quicker off the mark and far more determined. Superior in every department.
Installed as caretaker boss for the Easter period and having lost the first of those two games to Grimsby, Holland knew nothing less than three points would be satisfactory.
But it was clear from the moment Paul Scott gave Bury a tenth-minute lead an eighth away game unbeaten was never going to happen.
The heads of the visiting players were quick to go down and from then on the Shakers were always in full control. In fact, at times, it was like a training ground game as Alan Knill's side enjoyed a win that more or less guarantees their League Two place next season.
There was a rally from Mansfield at the start of the second half, but it was never going to be enough.
And with Macclesfield beating Barnet with ease at Moss Rose, the Stags are now a massive seven points adrift of safety and the Blue Square Premier is beckoning.
Certainly the vast majority of the supporters who made the journey from north Notts thought so, with a big chunk of them leaving early and the others refusing to clap the players off the field.
Holland had hoped his loan signings Neil Wainwright and Kevin Horlock would be able to make a difference.
But the Darlington winger disappointed on his debut and was hauled off after 51 minutes after rarely threatening.
Horlock, having hardly played for the last two years, was fit enough only to come on for the last half-hour and by that point, the game was already lost.
Aside from Wainwright, Keith Briggs was the only other change to the Mansfield starting line-up. They replaced Will Atkinson and Jonathan D'Laryea.
Striker Jefferson Louis was unavailable because he was away on international duty with the Dominican Republic and his place on the bench went to Simon Brown.
In truth, it was a bright opening from the visitors, but their early hard work was undone by their long-time Achilles heel - set pieces.
The Stags survived a let- off when Brian Barry-Murphy's right-wing corner eluded the clutches of Jason White, only for Matt Hamshaw to spare his blushes by clearing off the line.
They were not so lucky soon after though as Stephen Dawson gave away a silly free-kick that was whipped in by Elliott Bennett for skipper Paul Scott to rise highest and head past White, who got a touch but could not prevent a goal.
In the 15th minute, Keith Briggs hammered in a powerful volley from distance that was well saved by Darren Randolph, but the whistle had already gone for a foul.
Mansfield almost levelled soon after as Neil Wainwright's cross-cum-shot was inches too far for Michael Boulding and Stephen Dawson.
However, every time the Stags were defending a set piece they had problems and after a half-cleared corner. Sodje's goalbound header was brilliantly pushed away by White, although play was pulled back for an offside decision.
The Stags were hard done by when Boulding flicked on to put Wainwright clear, only for the debutant to be wrongly ruled offside.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 37th minute after a quickly-taken free-kick caught Mansfield napping.
The move culminated in Bennett flicking the ball into the path of Adam Rooney whose first-time drive found the right-hand corner.
That strike sent some of the visiting fans into a furious rage, having seen their team carved open so easily.
There was a rare sight of goal for Boulding three minutes before the break but his snapshot, following Hamshaw's flick, flew wide of the right-hand upright.
With half-time imminent, White came off his line to intercept a through- ball but did not get there. Andy Bishop centred from the right but Buxton could only head as far clear as Nick Adams, who scuffed his shot.
Mansfield did at least look a bit more likely at the start of the second half but their luck was out when Dawson's drive from 20 yards struck the left-hand post with Randolph beaten.
Another chance came and went when Jelleyman's overhead kick flew over the top after Randolph had punched out Hamshaw's right-wing centre.
Soon after, Hamshaw supplied the ammunition and Boulding won his header at the far post only for Brown to miss his kick as he looked set to score.
Once again, though, a good spell yielded nothing and from there the game petered out with Bury happy with what they had and Mansfield unable to inspire a change.
Although the consortium led by James Derry, who could complete a deal with Keith Haslam this week, were believed to have been firm supporters of Holland, it is hard to see how they can appoint him after this poor showing.
Whether it is to be Billy McEwan or someone else, Mansfield are likely to have a third boss inside a month ahead of Saturday's derby with Notts County.
But the bottom line is, that whoever leads the Stags between now and the rest of the season, the players have to be a damn sight better.
It was not Holland that made them play so badly in Lancashire, nor he who has been making mistakes that have seen Mansfield concede time and time again from set plays.
Only if the players take responsibility do the Stags have even a sliver of hope of avoiding relegation.