A windy but fine afternoon at Bramall Lane greeted the Rovers for today's game against Sheffield United. Injuries and suspensions had decimated the Rovers team and to add to that was a "gentleman's agreement" between the two managers not to play Billy Sharp against his parent club. However, Sheffield United were also suffering from injuries to their squad and included two new on-loan signings, Richard Cresswell and Jordan Stewart. The Rovers brought in James O'Connor with James Chambers moving over to the left. Adam Lockwood was out with injury but Jason Shackell returned to the side to form a central defensive trio alongside Sam Hird and Byron Webster.

The Rovers went on the attack from the kick-off, with Shiels getting in a shot from the left that Bunn saved easily. The home team retaliated with a cross from Stewart on their left for Evans to shoot wide from 18 yards. A couple of minutes later Woods got in a strike from 30yards that Bunn saved comfortably. At the other end Henderson, for the home team, had a weak header saved. Midfield play dominated the ensuing ten minutes then over a two minute period the home team had five corners. One was headed wide by Henderson and another was skied over the bar by Quinn. An alarming moment came for the Rovers on 24minutes when a cross from the Blades left by Stewart was sliced by Hird straight to Sullivan on his goal-line. Again a period of mostly midfield play over the next 15minutes, with the home team having a majority of possession, brought no tangible rewards at either end. After 38 minutes Quinn put a twenty yarder high over the bar and a corner to the Blades was headed over by Davies. As half-time loomed the Rovers came more into the game and into added -on time took the lead. A ball played through by Shiels into the penalty area to HAYTER was fired into the net via a deflection from a defender. Sullivan then blocked an effort from the home left by Henderson at the expense of a corner.

Half time Sheffield United 0 Doncaster Rovers 1

The Blades set the second half in motion but the Rovers had come out full of vigour and pushed them on to defence. Then, on 57minutes, the home team made a sustained attack on the Rovers goal, with the Rovers defending desperately before Henderson got in a strike from the home left that went well wide of the far post. A couple of minutes later and Little put wide from 25yards. The Blades were pushing on now and just past the hour won a corner that was cleared. The Rovers then won a corner on their right that fell to Shiels on the left but he fired wide of the far post.
After 66minutes, the home team attacked down the right where Little got to the byline before chipping a great ball over Sullivan to the far post where CRESSWELL rushed in to head into the net for an equalising goal. Over the next fifteen minutes or so the play swung backwards and forwards at tremendous pace but the two defences held their ground. After 73 minutes, following a free kick to Sheffield United placed into the middle, Henderson came in with a header that smacked full on to the post and bounced clear. At the other end Roberts, from the Rovers left, chipped just wide of the far post from 25yards. He was then substituted by Heffernan. The sub substituted! For the home team Treacy, only just on the field put over from 30yards. The Rovers had their backs to the wall for a spell as the United chased a winning goal but they battled on and provided a scare or two at the other end. Four minutes of added time was signaled as Treacy fired in from 15yards but Sullivan tipped it over for a corner. As the Rovers fans anxiously waited for the referee's final whistle the home team piled on the pressure with a couple of corners in the dying seconds. The Rovers defence stood firm and the whistle went on a point apiece for each team. A hard fought local 'derby' and yet another draw for the Rovers.

Final Result - Sheffield United 1 Doncaster Rovers 1

Teams -
Sheffield United - Mark Bunn, Nick Montgomery, Chris Morgan, Kyle Walker, Andrew Davies, Jordan Stewart, Glen Little, Stephen Quinn, Richard Cresswell, Darius Henderson , Ched Evans

Subs used - Ryan France for Montgomery 46mins; Keith Treacy for Evans 75mins; David Cotterill for Little 82mins;
Subs not used - Matt Kilgallon, Kyel Reid, Andy Taylor, Ian Bennett gk

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Byron Webster, Sam Hird, Jason Shackell, James Chambers; John Spicer, Dean Shiels, Mark Wilson, Martin Woods; James Hayter

Subs used - Gareth Roberts for Mark Wilson 38mins; Paul Heffernan for Roberts 75mins; Mustapha Dumbuya for Spicer 90mins;
Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Stuart Elliott, Waide Fairhurst, Ben Smith gk
Caution - Roberts

Referee - Mr L Probert
Attendance - 26,211