Another strong defensive display sees the Reds take a point from their South Yorkshire rivals and extend their unbeaten run to eighteen league games.
Daniel Stendel made three changes to the side that held Sunderland to a goalless draw on Tuesday night at Oakwell. Having impressed in recent weeks from the bench, Jordan Williams was given his first Sky Bet League One start.
The youngster was brought in alongside Ben Williams and Victor Adeboyejo. The trio replaced Mike Bähre, Jordan Green and Dani Pinillos in the Reds’ starting eleven.
Despite Mamdou Thiam seeing an effort hit the side netting within the first 60 seconds, the Reds were on the backfoot for much of the first half.
It was be the home side who would thrive off the high octane start and had it not been for Adam Davies, they would have been in front on 5 minutes. A superb double save from the Welshman, first denying Wilks and then Marquis meant that the score stayed level.
Having lost Kenny Dougall to injury after only 18 minutes, the Reds struggled to control the ball and had to absorb sustained pressure from the hosts. The Australian was replaced by Zeki Fryers.
Davies was tested again just before half time when veteran midfielder James Coppinger met a cross at the far post, direct a well hit follow up shot towards goal. However, the skipper was equal to his efforts.
Jordan Williams had the Reds best chance of the half when arriving on the end of a Thiam cross. However, his first touch took him in to the path of Marko Marosi who was able to smother his shot and clear the ball.
Half Time: Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Reds
Neither side were able to gain total control of the game after the restart. The ball spent a lot of time in the air and the overall pace had slowed down after a frantic first 45.
The gaffer looked to his bench on the hour mark and decided to replace Thiam with Mike Bähre in order to allow the Reds to get on the ball in the middle of the park.
It didn’t take the German long to get involved and after some neat interplay between him and Alex Mowatt, Victor Adeboyejo found some space in the box and saw his effort well saved by Marosi in the Doncaster goal.
As the action drew to a close both sides pushed in order to try and find the breakthrough and it was the home side who came closest.
Davies pulled off yet another superb double save as he denied both Alfie May and Kieran Sadler from close range in the last minute of normal time. Ryan Hedges fired wide of the target with last kick of the game and this meant the match ended scoreless.
The reds have now kept six consecutive clean sheets and retain their status as the league’s best defence, whilst also moving 5 points clear of third place Sunderland.
Full Time: Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Reds
REDS: Davies (GK), Cavaré, Pinnock, Lindsay, B.Williams, J.Williams, Mowatt, Dougall, Thiam, Adeboyejo, Woodrow.
Subs: Walton (GK), Fryers, Hedges, Jackson, Green, Styles, Bähre.
DONCASTER: Marosi (GK), Blair, Downing, Butler, Andrew, Whiteman, Kane, Rowe (C), Wilks, Marquis, Coppinger.
Subs: Jones, Crawford, Anderson, Smith, May, Sadlier, Lewis.
