The Rovers brought in Elliott Ward for Sam Hird for the game at Preston and welcomed back Martin Woods, who started on the bench.
The home team started strongly, with Sullivan having to punch away off the head of Chaplow after 4minutes. Continuing to attack their only reward was a corner over the next ten minutes or so. The Rovers then got their game going when Emmanuel-Thomas put wide of the far post from 16yards to the right of goal. Then a corner from Coppinger was headed on at near post b wilson for Sharp to execute an overhead kick that went over the bar. Another corner minutes later led to Oster getting to the right byline before hitting a low cross to the middle, with the ball bouncing off Hayter and the keeper making the catch off the rebound. Good work down the right by Chambers, who gave to Emmanuel-Thomas. He bore down on goal and stabbed goalwards as the tackle came in. The keeper got a hand to it, the ball went into the air and a home defender headed out for a corner to the Rovers, which Hayter headed powerfully goalwards for Lonergan to save. On 27 minutes a terrific left drive from Chambers was beaten out for a corner to the Rovers. This time HAYTER drove the ball past the keeper and into the net. On the half hour, Emmanuel-Thomas put inside to Hayter but Mawene got in the way of his goal-bound shot. The Rovers were on top and playing good football, with Emmanuel-Thomas and Coppinger linking to give Oster a crack from 20yards that was just wide of the far post. In the 41st minute Chambers brought down St Ledger and received a booking. From Davidson's free kick the ball bobbled about in the Rovers six-yard box before MELLOR got a foot to it and forced the ball over the line. The home team then put a bit of pressure on before the whistle went for the break.
Half time - Preston North End 1 Doncaster Rovers 1
The Rovers got the second half underway and won a corner four minutes in. Nothing came from it and the game settled down to an even contest. In the 55th minute Chambers linked on the right with Coppinger and raced into the penalty area before being brought down by Coutts. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and Sharp stepped up totake it. Whilst he struck it well Lonergan had stood up and beat the ball out and eventually it was cleared. The Rovers had been getting on top at this stage but the penalty save had added pep to the Preston players and they stormed back to the attack. It was certainly a cracking game as both sides went for goal. On 70 minutes, Oster gave to Sharp on the right of goal about ten yards out and under challenge turned and fired over the bar. The home team won a corner but the Rovers once more got the ball to Sharp in the Preston penalty area. He got the better of Mawene and hit a low shot from the right of goal inches the wrong side of the far post. In the 75th minute Preston went down their left, the cross came in to Parkin, who worked space to get a clean strike at goal from 8 yards with only Sullivan to beat but his fierce drive was beaten out by the keeper for a corner. This was cleared and the Rovers went down to the other end and won a corner but nothing came from it. In the 89th minute, following a Rovers free kick, the home team broke down their left, with the ball ending at Parkin in the Rovers penalty area. From close range he had a clear sight of goal but hit it straight at Sullivan who pouched it gratefully. Three minutes into added time and the Rovers were awarded a free kick 20yards out. Woods took it and put it inches over the bar. The referee finally brought an entertaining game to a halt with the result standing at
Final Result - Preston North End 1 Doncaster Rovers 1
Teams - Preston North End - Andy Lonergan; Billy Jones, Youl Mawene, Sean St Ledger, Tom Williams; Keith Treacy, Paul Coutts, Richard Chaplow, Chris Sedgwick; Jon Parkin, Neil Mellor
Subs used - Callum Davidson for Williams 35mins; Danny Mayor for Treacy 57mins; Matthew James for Chaplow 65mins;
Subs not used - Michael Hart, Chris Brown, Liam Chilvers, Wayne Henderson gk
Caution - Sedgwick
ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Elliott Ward, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Mark Wilson, John Oster, James Hayter; Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Billy Sharp
Subs used - Dean Shiels for Coppinger 78mins; Martin Woods for Sharp 83mins;
Subs not used - Jordon Mutch, Lewis Guy, John Spicer, Sam Hird, Ben Smith gk
Cautions - Chambers, Wilson,
