09/01/2008 - Mansfield Town 0 Wycombe Wanderers 4
GOALS wrongly ruled out for offside, cruel deflections, harsh red cards, a catalogue of injuries and untimely fixture postponements - they're just some of the reasons put forward for Mansfield's struggles this season.
But last night there could be no excuses as the Stags' vast shortcomings were laid bare for all to see in a woeful performance that had Blue Square Premier Division written all over it.
As a game in hand on other League Two sides, the hosts had hoped this match would yield three points that would see them make up ground in the dogfight at the bottom of the table. Instead, they slumped miserably to their heaviest defeat of the season and their fifth in six League games.
It was hard to believe that just four days previously, Mansfield had played superbly, and as well as they have done in 2007-2008, to dump League One Brighton out of the FA Cup and set up a tie with Premiership Middlesbrough.
Yet despite making just one change to their starting line-up - Lee Bell coming in for Matt Hamshaw - the Stags side were simply a shadow of the side who excelled at the Withdean Stadium.
And it was that huge contrast that had to be the most frustrating thing for the shell-shocked Mansfield fans. Quite rightly, those supporters who braved the wind, rain, sleet and cold in Field Mill's lowest crowd of the season felt badly let down.
For the final 20 minutes it was like watching a punch-drunk boxer. It was embarrassingly easy for Wycombe.
Before this, Mansfield had not been thrashed all season, leaving a feeling in many that the team have not been too far away from getting it right.
But on this evidence, it is difficult to see how this team, without reinforcements, is going to pull clear of trouble.
Bizarrely, considering the final score and subsequent Mansfield display, it could all have been so different had they taken a golden chance inside the first 90 seconds.
As Wycombe keeper Rab Douglas mis-kicked on the edge of his own box, Simon Brown pulled his shot wide of goal as he attempted to beat the recovering defenders on the line.
Strike partner Ian Holmes stretched and slid in an attempt to get a decisive touch but he was agonisingly short.
What could have been a dream start became a nightmare in the fifth minute when Russell Martin's corner was headed back across goal by John Sutton for Scott McGleish. The well-travelled front man headed for goal and, as Carl Muggleton stood statuesque, appearing to believe the ball was going over, it held up in the wind and dropped into the corner.
For the rest of the half, the ground was like a morgue with Mansfield giving their followers precious little to shout about as they battled to adapt to the strong wind.
Even then, a hope lingered that the Stags could fight their way back from a goal down in the second period to salvage at least a point.
Predictably, though, it wasn't to be as Wycombe sealed the game just before the hour mark with a second goal that saw Gareth Jelleyman get the final touch on McGleish's shot from a narrow angle.
It was a sad indictment of Mansfield's display that when the gods served up a torrential downpour soon after, the home fans were at their loudest all night, shouting 'off, off, off' in a bid to get the game abandoned.
But there was more torment to come for them and when McGleish scored again with a sweet left-foot strike, he could lay claim to a hat-trick.
As it was, he didn't need to dispute the second goal to bag the match ball as he fired home again from the edge of the box in the 70th minute to notch his 15th of a productive campaign.
No doubt the fact Mansfield had only 14 fit senior players because of five key absentees can be used as a contributing factor to such a miserable night.
But that is just the point - the Stags squad is far too thin and inexperienced to cope with such setbacks.
The difference in quality available to the two sides was strikingly emphasised by the respective benches. While the Stags were forced to call on youth team players Ryan Goward and Lewis Trimmer, Wycombe had their new £50,000 signing and two former Premiership players in Martin Bullock and Stefan Oakes to call on.
It was another blunt reminder that new, quality signings are now a must.
The club remain adamant they cannot afford to overspend on fresh blood - even with the bonus cash that has come with the lucrative FA Cup run.
But if they go down because of a lack of investment in the team, then the loss of League status could cost them a heck of a lot more.
Mansfield fans will hope this result will give those controlling the purse strings the jolt they need.
The equation is now starkly clear. Mansfield must speculate to accumulate - or they are on their way down.