A fine but cold afternoon awaited the Rovers at Ashton Gate for the match against Bristol City. The pitch looked in reasonably good fettle although the grass was a bit sparse in places. The Rovers were in blue & white hoops against the red of the home team. The Rovers made two changes from last Saturday, with Hird coming in for Ward, who has a slight groin strain, at the centre of defence and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replacing Dean Shiels. For the City, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Nicky Maynard return to the starting line-up after injury in place of Paul Hartley and David Clarkson. The Rovers defended the Wedlock Stand in the first half.

The Rovers kicked off and were soon on the attack. Into the second minute and Roberts headed forward to Sharp in the inside left channel. He got into the penalty area going round two defenders before squaring to EMMANUEL-THOMAS, who had all the time in the world to calmly sidefoot into the net from 15yards. The 9th minute came up and the home team levelled when a cross from Campbell-Ryce was shinned in from close range by ORR, who had stolen in behind the Rovers defenders. Three minutes later and the Rovers werre back in front when, following a good build-up on the Rovers right, Oster hit a low cross to the middle for SHARP to do the needful and stab into the net. At the Rovers end Maynard drilled in a shot from the edge of the penalty area that Sullivan couldn't hold, the ball bouncing off his chest. As Haynes came in for the ball Sullivan dived on the ball at the Bristol man's feet. Down to the home end and Emmanuel-Thomas had a go from 20yards that Gerken saved well. Then, in the 15th minute, Campbell-Ryce, for the home team, put over a cross from the left for ORR to again steal in front of two defenders and knock the ball into the net to square the scoreline once more. An exact repeat of the City first goal. Five minutes on and Campbell-Ryce again crossed from the left, Iwelumo chested the ball back to Maynard who fired in from 25yards, the ball hitting the top of the bar  and over. It had been good entertainment for the fans so far and in the 25th minute Oster cut in from the right and from 12yards hit a left foot shot that was deflected off a defender for a corner to the Rovers. The game continued to go from end-to-end and on the half hour Campbell-Ryce put in another cross from the left that was only cleared out to Johnson. 20yards out. He hit a bump ball that was easily saved by Sullivan. This was followed by Haynes, for the home side, shooting over from 25yards. At the other end Coppinger robbed Fontaine halfway in the home half and tried a shot from 25yards that was just over. Back came the Rovers in the 34th minute when Emmanuel- Thomas headed on a clearance from Sullivan for SHARP to race through on goal and slot past Gerken to put the Rovers back in front. Five minutes from the break and the home team won a corner, which was cleared upfield for Sharp to collect. Although he had three defenders round him he evaded their attempts to take the ball away and was brought down by Skuse, 25yards out. Emmanuel-Thomas took the kick and placed a left foot effort under the bar which Gerken got to and palmed over for a corner on the Rovers left. Coppinger swung the ball into the middle and after bouncing around a couple of times EMMANUEL-THOMAS collected the ball, made room for himself and fired in from 12yards. Forty-three minutes gone, the Rovers in the lead by 4-2 and a humdinger of a game to watch. Into added time and ET cut in from the right but his shot from ten yards was blocked by Gerken with his legs. The ball spun into the air and was dropping on to the goal-line but Sharp was penalised for a foul on Orr.

Half time - Bristol City 2 Doncaster Rovers 4

Bristol City got the second half underway and swept upfield, with the ball eventually reaching Campbell-Ryce on the home left. He cut into the middle before firing over from 25yards. City continued to press over the next ten minutes but their reward was one corner. On the hour Orr put in a left foot shot from the right of the penalty area but Sullivan saved. A minute later, the Rovers at last got moving and went downfield to Coppinger, a 1-2 with Sharp before Coppinger hit a waist-high cross to the middle. Sharp couldn't get there but ORR, at the far post, possibly surprised, sliced the ball into his own net for a fidfth goal to the Rovers. Minutes later, City were awarded a free kick 25yards out Maynard put it wide. Then Campbell-Ryce had a thirty-yarder saved by Sullivan. On 73 minutes Oster made a great run into the opposition half before firng from 30yards, a shot that was high over the bar, with team-mates standing in good positions either side of him. Emmanuel-Thomas was substituted after 83minutes and received a warm ovation from all sides of the ground. The game had slowed down now and although the home team tried hard the Rovers had things well in hand as the substitutions were made. Time ran down and a well-merited win along with some scintillating play went to the Rovers.

Full-time - Bristol City 2 Doncaster Rovers 5

Teams - Bristol City - Dean Gerken; Bradley Orr, Liam Fontaine, Lewin Nyatanga, Louis Carey; Danny Haynes, Lee Johnson, Cole Skuse, Jamal Campbell-Ryce; Nicky Maynard, Chris Iwelumo, 

Subs used - Ivan Sproule for Haynes 46mins; David Clarkson for Maynard 74mins; Paul Hartley for Campbell-Ryce 74mins.;

Subs not used - Gavin Williams, John Akinde, James Wilson, Steve Collis gk

DONCASTER ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Sam Hird, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Mark Wilson, John Oster, James Hayter; Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Billy Sharp

Subs used - Dean Shiels for Coppinger 75mins; Jordon Mutch for Emmanuel-Thomas 83mins; John Spicer for Wilson 86mins;

Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Adam Lockwood, Mustapha Dumbuya, Ben Smith gk