Rangers Manager Brett Whaley was quick to acknowledge his teams fans before heading off down the tunnel and beckoning in his players. In his later recorded post match interview, Whaley mentioned that they needing a conversation after this latest midweek home reversal.

Despite the win over Sherwood 14 nights ago, his side haven't tasted three points in another 2026 match. Something that was unthinkable back in late autumn when his side were scoring goals and winning matches home and away.

There was little to choose between the sides in the first half before Deeping got caught short of bodies when their own attack broke down. AFC Mansfield, who were neat and tidy throughout, raced through with a 4 on 2 overload before a sharp finish from the edge of the box that was past Aaron Butcher before he could react.

You felt Deeping needed to react. And they did. But the whole match then turned on a single minute of play.

Johnny Lockie ghosted in at the far post to connect with a great cross, but his finish went agonisingly wide. Before the home crowd had got back in their seats Mansfield were down the other end and after the home side failed to clear a neat finish flew into the right hand of Butchers goal.

The game restarted, the ref blew for half time and there was a mountain to climb.

After three half time substitutes, there was an improved Deeping performance. But when Bailey Baker and Jack Wilson had snapshots late on you had the vibes that it wasn't Rangers' night. So it proved when more loose defending was punished with a third goal.

It was cruel on Deeping, but Mansfield will rightly feel they saw out the second half possession to put the game beyond Rangers late on.