A dry sunny afternoon but with a cold wind was the setting for the final match of the season, against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, with a kick-off time of 1o'clock. It was a big day for the home team because they needed to win to have a chance of finishing in the last play-off position, provided Blackpool lost or drew at home to Bristol City. For the Rovers it was a chance to finish in their highest position for over fifty years.

The Rovers made one change from last week's starting line-up, Dean Shiels replacing Brian Stock. The home team made two changes after their loss at Sheffield United last week, David Edgar and David Cotterill replacing Federico Bessone and Cedric van der Gunn.

Swansea got the game underway as what looked like a capacity Swansea crowd roared their team on. A Rovers attack broke down and the Swans counter attacked down their right, with O'Connor getting across to take the ball off Kuqi at the expense of a corner. In the 8th minute, Kuqi beat the offside and went clear on goal down the inside right channel but on getting to the angle of the six-yard box he fired wildly over the bar. Minutes later, a couple of corners to the Swans were cleared by the Rovers defence. In the 16th minute the loudest roar of the day came when the crowd learned of a goal to Bristol City at Blackpool. The Rovers were having a fair share of midfield play but hadn't got past the Swansea backline. Then Cotterill got down the home left before crossing low to the near post where Kuqi sidefooted wide. In the 22nd minute, a good link up between Coppinger and O'Connor on the Rovers right produced a corner but nothing came from it. Just before the half hour following another Swansea attack Monk fired wide from 25yards. Past the half hour and a free kick by Emmanuel-Thomas from distance was just over the bar. Gower, for the home team then went down the left and hit a fierce drive from the edge of the penalty area that Smith, diving to his left, parried away. In the 38th minute, Pratley, to the right of the penalty area, had a shot deflected just wide of the far post for a corner and two minutes later fired high over the bar from 12yards. As time ran down to the break, Edgar, on the home left, crossed to the far post where Smith made a terrific catch off Kuqi's head. It had been a hard fought forty-five minutes, with Swansea doing the bulk of the attacking but finding the Rovers defence in prime form.

Half time - Swansea City 0 Doncaster Rovers 0

The game resumed with the Rovers getting in an early attack before Swansea, in a quick break, had Pratley firing just wide of the far post as he was tackled on the edge of the penalty area. Minutes later and Cotterill cutting in on the home left blasted a shot into the sidenet. In the 53rd minute Coppinger, for the Rovers, had a go from well out but de Vries saved comfortably. A couple of minutes later and Hayter, on the right, fired over from 25yards. Past the hour and Emmanuel-Thjomas and Shiels linked to give Shiels a shot at goal from the edge of the penalty area but he curled it wide. In the 69th minute Rangel, of Swansea, played a great through ball for Kuqi, who was in the clear and not offside (said the linesman) but inexplicably he let the ball run under his foot and out for a goal kick. It was his last action as he was substituted immediately. Two minutes on and Mutch beat two defenders with some neat footwork before feeding Shiels, who fired just wide of the far post. Then Beattie was played in on the Swansea left but a terrific saving tackle by O'Connor gave the home team a corner, which Smith punched clear. At the other end Mutch hit a shot high over the bar from 20yards. With ten minutes of normal time left the home team forced a corner but nothing came from it. Then Cotterill was just wide from 25yards as the pressure grew on the Swans to get a goal. This meant leaving gaps at the back giving the Rovers chances to score. It was now end to end stuff and two minutes from time a great cross from Coppinger to an unmarked Heffernan was well controlled and fired over from close range. As the end of normal time came up Pratley and Hird went down together in the Rovers penalty area, with tremendous appeals being made for a penalty but the referee was unmoved. Into added time and Beattie had the ball in the net following a cross by Dyer but he had clearly controlled the ball with his hand and was thus penalised by the referee despite the chorus of disapproval from players and fans. The match therefore ended as it began, goalless.

Result - Swansea City 0 Doncaster Rovers 0

The second half was much more even than the first and the Rovers could so easily have won the game late on. But the plaudits should go to a terrific defensive team effort as the home side was constantly thwarted by some fine defending. The season came to a close with the Rovers once again improving their position over the previous seasons.

Teams - Swansea City - Dorus de Vries; Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams, Garry Monk, David Edgar; Leon Britton, Mark Gower, Darren Pratley, Nathan Dyer, David Cotterill, Shefki Kuqi

Subs used - Gorka Pintado for Gower 58mins; Craig Beattie for Kuqi 69mins; Lee Trundle for Britton 80 mins;

Subs not used - Andrea Orlandi, Cedric van der Gunn, Albert Serran, David Cornell gk

Doncaster Rovers - Ben Smith; James O'Connor, Shelton Martis, Sam Hird, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Mark Wilson, Jordon Mutch, Dean Shiels; Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, James Hayter

Subs used - Paul Heffernan for Emmanuel-Thomas 76mins; Adam Lockwood for Martis 76mins; Mustapha Dumbuya for Shiels 89mins; 

Subs not used - Sean McDaid, Waide Fairhurst, Robbie Clark, Gary Woods gk

Caution - Mutch, Shiels,