10/09/2007 - Peterborough United 2 Mansfield Town 1
It is such a depressingly familiar story for Mansfield this season - but one they need to learn from if things are to improve.
Four times in five matches they have fought back from a goal down but on only one of those occasions - against Brentford on the opening day - have they gone on to claim a point.
It is never ideal to concede the first goal in any game, least of all for a side like Mansfield who play their best football when confidence is high. But, to their credit, the Stags have levelled every single time - and did so against much-fancied Posh.
Yet, again, though, they were caught out just when they appeared to be getting on top, leaving them no way back and defeated once more. It may seem harsh to be too critical of the Stags after this performance in which they acquitted themselves very well against strong hosts and deserved a draw.
But the fact is they have to stop conceding the amount of goals they are, particularly after getting back into games, if they want positives results on a regular basis.
Mansfield have let in at least two goals in each of their last four League Two games and that is not conducive to winning football.
Only when they keep clean sheets, or concede just one goal, are they going to give their forwards the chance to win games. Yet it may be have been different had Mansfield forged ahead as they should have done after just 30 seconds.
With most players on the two sides having yet to touch the ball, Michael Boulding found himself clear on goal with just keeper Mark Tyler to beat.
Had he scored, it may have given the Stags the confidence to go on and cause a shock because they proved against Stockport last week what an early goal in their favour can do for them.
But, crucially, Stags' top scorer's effort was saved by the legs of Tyler and the Peterborough side and their supporters breathed a sigh of relief. Even then, those who follow Mansfield with any kind of regularity were fearing they might live to pay for that miss, despite the visitors carrying on their bad start.
And so it was just before the half-hour as the Stags conceded a characteristically sloppy opener.
Claude Gnakpa's cross seemed to be dropping over Aaron McLean's head but a prodigious leap saw him head across the face of goal for Josh Low to bundle in from close range.
As half-time approached, Matt Hamshaw ran at his marker before whipping over a dangerous cross which was just too far ahead of the late-arriving Lee Bullock.
Just before the break, Carl Muggleton kept Mansfield in touch as he did well to push away a low shot from Low while the referee ignored the home fans' calls for a penalty as McIntosh and McLean went down in a heap chasing the follow-up.
Peterborough almost doubled their advantage in stoppage-time as Micah Hyde's quick free-kick was powered goalwards by Boyd. Muggleton made a decent stop and Low fizzed the rebound well wide of the target.
Four minutes after the restart, Mansfield had a reasonable opportunity to get back on level terms only for Bullock to head Hamshaw's deep cross after a half-cleared corner straight into Tyler's arms.
But the Stags were back level in the 53rd minute with John McAliskey's second goal of the season and his first with his head.
Loan signing Sean McAllister - in for the suspended Lee Bell - found Hamshaw in space on the right and he slipped past his marker before whipping over a tantalising ball that was headed in at the far post by the former Huddersfield man.
The goal revitalised Stags and they looked an increasing threat on the break. From one such raid, Boulding turned adroitly just inside the box but his shot was too tame to trouble Tyler.
They were unfortunate not to go ahead in the 68th minute when Bullock flicked a Boulding centre into the path of McAliskey who prodded past Tyler, only to be ruled offside. Stags boss Billy Dearden later claimed video footage proved it wasn't.
However, Peterborough were back in front in the 71st minute when Low was released by McLean and his cross picked out Crow who could barely miss from six yards having just come on.
Mansfield had a go in the last few minutes but could not find a way through and Charlie Lee should have sealed victory for the home side when he shot wide when clear in the final minute.
The bottom line is that Mansfield have been beaten for the third time in five League Two matches - and that is far from ideal going into the Chesterfield game this weekend.
The Spireites have made an impressive start in their campaign for immediate promotion back to League One and with Jack Lester up front are going to be a real handful at Field Mill.
But if the Stags can play with the same purpose going forward as at London Road - and cut out the defensive mistakes - they have a fighting chance of a derby victory.