sport

Doncaster 0 Nottingham Forest 0

Doncaster were left frustrated once again after another dominant performance yielded nothing more than a point against the Coca-Cola Championship's bottom side Nottingham Forest.

Both sides went into the match knowing a win would leave their opponents propping up the table.

Forest, with only one away win all season, will be more pleased to be going home with a point as Doncaster looked the more threatening in this end-to-end tussle.

The South Yorkshire outfit, who have found the net only three times at the Keepmoat this season, played some flowing football and were unlucky not to go in front in the first half when James Coppinger struck the bar with a curling shot.

The lively front man also went close after the break when his shot was almost spilled over the line by Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp while the ever-dangerous Nathan Tyson went close on a number of occasions for the visitors.

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll made three changes to the team which drew 0-0 at Burnley with Coppinger, James Hayter and Gareth Taylor all coming in.

The Forest line-up also sported a trio of changes with Joel Lynch, Lee Martin and Lewis McGugan all returning, while summer signing Robert Earnshaw, who had been struggling with a calf strain, was fit enough to make the bench.

The hosts showed their attacking intent after just one minute with Gareth Taylor latching onto a free-kick, but his glancing header drifted harmlessly wide.

Moments later they went even closer, when after some good build-up play, Coppinger latched onto a loose ball on the corner of the area and curled a powerful shot against the bar.

The Rovers front man almost carved an opening out of nothing after 20 minutes, when he showed quick feet to elude two defenders before delivering an inviting cross into the six-yard box which no Doncaster players reacted to in time.

At the other end Tyson was looking threatening but all too often he was left isolated up front, and on the one occasion he did receive support Paul Anderson shot straight at Neil Sullivan.

As the half wore on Forest came more into the match and Joel Garner went close with a header before the former Carlisle striker sent Tyson clear, but he flashed his shot wide.

Garner went close again on the stroke of half-time when his low header was somehow clawed to safety by Sullivan.

Rovers soon got back into their passing rhythm at the start of the second half and looked threatening, but their reluctance to shoot on the edge of the area cost them as two promising openings fizzled out.

Tyson then showed his goal threat in the 55th minute when he cut in from the right and drilled a powerful shot just wide of Sullivan's near post.

A poor defensive clearance almost let Rovers in on the hour mark as James O'Connor picked up the loose ball before going on a mazy run to the byline, but once again his dangerous pull back was cleared by a Forest defender.

O'Driscoll was forced into a change in the 67th minute when Hayter had to go off through injury.

His replacement Paul Heffernan created another good opportunity for the hosts and this time it was Martin Woods' turn to spurn the opening as he shot well over from the edge of the area.

Forest then went close when Anderson, on loan from Liverpool, shot just wide of the post, before Rovers thought they had finally broken the deadlock 15 minutes from time.

A stinging shot from Coppinger was fumbled back towards his goal by Camp, but despite all the Doncaster players' pleas to the referee that the ball had crossed the line the linesman's flag remain by his side.

Teams:

Doncaster Sullivan, O'Connor, Martis, Mills, Chambers,Wellens, Stock, Woods (Spicer 82), Coppinger,Taylor (Elliott 84), Hayter (Heffernan 67).

Subs Not Used: Guy, Hird.

Booked: Chambers, Woods.

Nottm Forest Camp, Chambers, Wilson, Morgan, Lynch, Anderson,Perch, McGugan (Byrne 89), Martin (Davies 75), Tyson,Garner (Earnshaw 82).

Subs Not Used: Smith, McCleary.

Booked: Garner.

Att: 12,612

Ref: Andy Penn (W Midlands).