In-form Bristol City stormed to victory with three goals in the last nine minutes, two of them deep into injury time to crown an incredible fightback and break bottom of the table Mansfield's heart.
With the ten-man Stags grimly hanging on to an unlikely 4-2 lead the Robins were handed a lifeline when Mansfield sub David Jervis tripped City sub Leroy Lita and Brian Tinnion converted the penalty.
Then five minutes into injury time Lita touched in Scott MurrayÂ’s cross to haul City level and from the kick off Christian Roberts hammered an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.
Afterwards angry Mansfield manager Stuart Watkiss blasted referee Eddie Ilderton for the amount of stoppage time. Youth team coach Paul Holland said: “The manager is very very upset with the ref, we don't know where he got that much stoppage time from.” City boss Danny Wilson saluted his players for their never say die attitude: “They showed great character and never gave up at a time when some fans would have gone home.” Mansfield had taken a surprise lead in the 38th minute when Wayne Corden took full advantage of Murray's slip to round the keeper and score.
Within 40 seconds Murray atoned for his error tapping in an equaliser after RobertsÂ’ drive.
Five minutes into the second half Roberts raced on to Peter Beadle's flick and cleverly lobbed the keeper from 25 yards.
Bottom of the table Mansfield bravely rallied and Iyseden Christie levelled with a close-range header in the 67th minute the Stags grabbed an unlikely lead when Corden's penalty was saved, but the wing-man hammered in the rebound.
However in the five minute delay before the spot-kick, awarded for Danny Cole's trip on Liam Lawrence, Lee Williamson was sent off.
Despite the setback the ten men stretched their lead through ChristieÂ’s eighth goal in four games in the 75th minute, but the home side could not hang on