Plymouth Argyle eased to a second successive victory to leave their game visitors still in trouble at the wrong end of the table.
The Pilgrims were sent on their way by Liam Lawrence's own goal in the second minute and, although Lawrence equalised his own error nine minutes later, second-half strikes by substitute Martin Phillips and MIcky Evans took the home side to victory.
It took Plymouth just 84 seconds to break the deadlock. Full-back David Worrell broke down the right and his cross was aimed for David Beresford, before Lawrence intercepted the ball, but only succeeded in heading past his own keeper.
Lawrence made amends within ten minutes, popping up at the far post to fire home a left-wing cross from Wayne Corden which had evaded Argyle's defence and his strike partner Andy White.
Plymouth midfielder David Friio missed two clear chances to put the Pilgrims ahead but goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington was equal to his header from Beresford's cross, and from his shot after a clever through ball from Evans.
Just before the interval, it was Mansfield's turn to go close when man of the moment Lawrence brought a flying save out of Romain Larrieu.
Both sides hit the crossbar in the opening stages of the second half, Ian Stonebridge for Plymouth following good work by Beresford and David Norris, White for Mansfield after a hopeful ball in from the left.
Junior Mendes came close to marking his debut with a goal after a cross from the right by White, but was denied by Graham Coughlan's last-ditch challenge before Stonebridge screwed a shot wide after rounding Pilkington and having the goal at his mercy.
Phillips was introduced from the bench for Beresford in the 62nd minute and took six minutes to make an impact, shooting home after Evans had charged down Pilkington's kick out.
Evans sealed things with a superb strike in the 84th minute, taking Hasney Aljofree's throw with his chest and hitting a glorious volley on the turn which gave Pilkington no chance.