Leicester City fail to break down resolute Mansfield defence in pre-season friendly
Steve Howard had the two best chances for City in the first half and Andy King brought out a fine save from Alan Marriott in the Stags goal.
But the home side also threatened with Jonathan D'Laryea and Craig Armstrong going close.
The match marked first City starts for Richie Wellens and Dany N'Guessan with Aleksandar Tunchev making his return as a substitute after a six-month lay-off.
This was a night for the diehard City fans with heavy rain and stacks of cones on the M1.
But clearly Nottinghamshire has its attractions as former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is reportedly about to discover if he makes one of the most unlikely moves of the modern game to Notts County.
City started with a 4-4-2 formation with N'Guessan partnering Howard up front in place of the infection-hit Matty Fryatt.
Mansfield, who lost their Football League status at the same time as City were crashing out of the Championship, were pegged back early on by City and N'Guessan's cut-back almost let in Howard but he was denied by some sharp defending from the Stags.
Luke O'Neill, promoted to the senior squad for the Slovenia trip, delivered a terrific right-wing cross after nine minutes which Howard stooped to head but the attempt went over.
Wellens was pulling the strings in midfield and set up Max Gradel whose shot was pushed away by Marriott.
After 15 minutes, City keeper Chris Weale had to make his first stop, going down to his left to keep out a shot from D'Laryea while, at the other end, Marriott saved comfortably from Howard.
Gradel's cross to the far post a minute later picked out N'Guessan running in at the far post, but he could not make proper contact with his header. Gradel himself had another chance after 24 minutes but again was wide of the target.
After 41 minutes, N'Guessan reacted first to a quick City throw and unselfishly set up Howard when he should have perhaps had a dig himself.
Then, 30 seconds later, Gradel's cross was met by a Howard header and the ball flew just over the home crossbar as the half ended in a goalless deadlock.
At the start of the second half, manager Nigel Pearson replaced Bruno Berner with the evergreen Chris Powell, who made an immediate and timely block to deny Armstrong. Conrad Logan replaced Weale in goal while Paul Dickov went on for Howard.
There was plenty of frenetic goalmouth action at the other end as Stags keeper Marriott made a brilliant save to deny Andy King before the Stags' Armstrong had appeals for a penalty turned away.
Daryl Clare hit the target for the home side, who finished 14th in the Blue Square Premier last season, but the strike was ruled out for offside.
On the hour, Tunchev made his eagerly-awaited return for City, after six months out with a knee injury, in place of Wayne Brown with Nicky Adams making a less-heralded appearance in place of Gradel.
It was pretty feisty stuff from the home side, with Dickov getting a knock as the battle stayed confined mainly to midfield.
Inside the final 20 minutes, Ashley Chambers went on for Lloyd Dyer as N'Guessan switched to the wing but the change did not lead to any immediate reward.
City looked visibly quicker as the hosts started to tire.
There was another change as Astrit Ajdarevic replaced Wellens after the ex-Doncaster midfielder took a knock.
Logan made a smart save above his head to keep out Paul Heckingbottom's chipped attempt as both sides pushed to break the deadlock with Adams shooting over from distance five minutes from time.
Mansfield: Marriott, Gardner, Mills (Somner 76), Garner, Briscoe, Clare (Bradley 58), Williams (Silk 80), Armstrong (Heckingbottom 71), D'Laryea, Perry, Graham. Subs not used: Sandercombe, Jones, Naylor, Ryan.
City: Weale (Logan 45), O'Neill, Berner (Powell 45), Wellens (Ajdarevic 81), Morrison, Brown (Tunchev 60), Gradel (Adams 58), A King, Howard (Dickov 45), N'Guessan, Dyer (Chambers 72). Subs not used: Hobbs, Verma.
Referee: Russell Booth
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