Stuart Green was denied an early penalty when he was bodychecked in the area, and then Junior Mendes shot across the face of goal in the 21st minute but City survived the scare.
Two blocks on the line kept out the visitors after debutant goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was challenged off the ball.
Iyseden Christie caught City's defence napping 5 minutes before half time but flashed a free shot wide.
The last action of the half saw the Tigers' best chance go begging as Ben Burgess hit the post from a Dean Keates corner.
City failed to create any clear chances, and Mansfield punished them when Neil MacKenzie's low drive left Myhill with no chance in the 85th minute.
That sparked City into being the most threatening they had been all game. Substitute Danny Allsopp flashed a header just wide, and Kevin Pilkington got his fingertips to another Allsopp effort to claw it out and preserve his clean sheet.
Mansfield now go a point above City into 4th place, with Peter Taylor's side in 5th with 41 points.
City line-up (4-3-3): Myhill; Hinds, Joseph, Delaney, Dawson; Green, Ashbee, Keates (Allsopp 60); Price (France 60), Burgess (Holt 83), Elliott.
Un-used subs: Musselwhite, Whittle.
Two blocks on the line kept out the visitors after debutant goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was challenged off the ball.
Iyseden Christie caught City's defence napping 5 minutes before half time but flashed a free shot wide.
The last action of the half saw the Tigers' best chance go begging as Ben Burgess hit the post from a Dean Keates corner.
City failed to create any clear chances, and Mansfield punished them when Neil MacKenzie's low drive left Myhill with no chance in the 85th minute.
That sparked City into being the most threatening they had been all game. Substitute Danny Allsopp flashed a header just wide, and Kevin Pilkington got his fingertips to another Allsopp effort to claw it out and preserve his clean sheet.
Mansfield now go a point above City into 4th place, with Peter Taylor's side in 5th with 41 points.
City line-up (4-3-3): Myhill; Hinds, Joseph, Delaney, Dawson; Green, Ashbee, Keates (Allsopp 60); Price (France 60), Burgess (Holt 83), Elliott.
Un-used subs: Musselwhite, Whittle.