Sharp salvages point for Rovers

Record signing Billy Sharp scored a penalty in the final minute to salvage a point for Rovers against Bristol City at the Keepmoat.

Rovers gave a debut to Ryan Mason the youngster signed on loan from Spurs on Friday.

Rovers welcomed back Brian Stock from international duty and Simon Gillett from suspension.

Also back in the starting line up were Billy Sharp and Martin Woods who missed the midweek cup tie through injury.

Wayne Thomas who signed for the club at the start of the week, started on the bench.

The game also marked the 500th league appearance for Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan.

Simon Gillett had a shot on goal for Rovers in the first minute but James easily saved his shot.

The game took a while to settle down and it wasn`t until nearly the quarter hour mark that Rovers had their next decent chance.

Dean Shiels put the ball into the middle and Billy Sharp couldn`t keep his shot on target.

There was some confusion minutes later, David James clawed an effort from George Friend from behind the line of the goal but the referee awarded a goal kick.

City keeper David James was one of the players calling for goal line technology to be introduced after Frank Lampard`s goal wasn`t given against Germany in the World Cup.

Video replays of Friends effort showed that the ball was well over the line and a goal should have been given.

Bristol City had to wait until half way through the half when Adomah forced Neil Sullivan into a save.

Campbell-Ryce had the next chance for City but he couldn`t keep his header down from a Sproule cross.

Mason almost marked his debut with a goal but his long-range strike just went wide of the post with James at full stretch.

Gillett was next to go close for Rovers, his shot taking a deflection over the bar for a corner.

Rovers continued the pressure and Stock was next to try his luck from range, his effort clearing the bar and to safety.

Dean Shiels was next to go close, Mason put a ball into the middle and Shiels saw his shot just go wide of the post.

Despite the pressure, Rovers couldn`t make the breakthrough and the sides went in 0-0 at half time.

Bristol City took the lead inside four minutes of the second half resuming; Stewart got his head to a McAllister free kick to give the visitors the lead.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Rovers and with no sign of an equalising goal coming boss Sean O`Driscoll made two substitutions in the space of a few minutes with just under twenty minutes remaining. James Coppinger replaced Brian Stock and Wayne Thomas who came on to make his debut for the club replaced Shelton Martis.

Coppinger was involved straight away, his cross found Shiels who shot over the bar.

The substitutions seemed to bring Rovers back to life; Billy Sharp saw two efforts blocked in quick succession following a Rovers corner.

Bristol almost doubled the lead when Gavin Williams broke but O`Connor got back to block his shot.

Rovers won a penalty with just two minutes remaining when James Coppinger was fouled in the area.

Billy Sharp stepped up and beat England goalkeeper David James to give Rovers a deserved equaliser, almost immediately the board went up to show fans that, there would be five minutes of added time.

The five minutes didn`t herald a clear cut chance for either side and Rovers had to settle for a point



Teams

Doncaster Rovers
Sullivan, O`Connor, Martis, Lockwood, Friend, Stock, M. Woods, Shiels, Sharp, Mason, Gillett

Subs
G. Woods, Dumbuya, Hird, Thomas, Coppinger, Brooker, Fairhurst

Bristol City
James, Hunt, Stewart, Fontaine, McAllister, Skuse, Elliott, Sproule, Clarkson, Campbell-Ryce, Adomah

Subs
Carey, Johnson, Gerken, G. Williams, Akinde, Jackson, T. Williams

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