Mansfield blew the chance to go top of League Two as a gifted early Joe White goal saw promotion rivals Crewe win 1-0.
The defeat was only the Stags’ second league loss of the campaign and ended their unbeaten home record.
Mansfield made an awful start as they tried to play out from their box under pressure in the second minute but lost the ball and watched White drill home a low finish inside the far post from the right.
Lucas Akins should have levelled after four minutes but sent a free header wide from eight yards from Stephen McLaughlin’s cross.
Crewe then defended their lead stoutly with goalkeeper Tom Booth denying George Maris from close range from Lewis Brunt’s cross in the 34th minute and seconds later blocking Stephen Quinn from similar distance.
The visitors went close to a second two minutes after half-time when Courtney Baker-Richardson set up Aaron Rowe for a low shot that came back off a post, while Baker-Richardson flicked a good chance wide from eight yards after Ryan Cooney had robbed Stephen McLaughlin shortly after the hour mark.
Crewe then survived intense home pressure and in added time, Booth superbly tipped over a Baily Cargill free-kick.
