Another South Yorkshire 'derby' game is the fare for the fans at the Keepmoat on a cool but dry afternoon as the players return to the pitch after a fortnight's 'rest' from the pressures of competitive football. Today's opponents are Barnsley, who are two places below the Rovers on goal difference. The Tykes have picked up under new manager Mark Robins from their bad start to the season. Their last game at home to Ipswich Town brought a win so a competitive game can be anticipated today. The Rovers have benefitted from the international break and include Jason Shackell and James Coppinger in the starting line-up after recovering from injury. Still out are Adam Lockwood and Brian Stock with injury, John Oster and Quinton Fortune, both serving the last game of their suspension. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

Barnsley got the game underway and within two minutes had a good chance to score when a header out of the Rovers defence fell to Colace just outside the penalty area. he chipped the ball back in to Macken on the right of goal some ten yards out with a clear sight of goal. He elected to place the ball inside the far post but Sullivan, diving to his right, pushed the ball away. Minutes later they forced a couple of corners, which were well defended. Having defended for the early minutes the Rovers got their game on track in the 7th minute when a good link-up on the Rovers right by Chambers and Coppinger led to the latter backheeling for Hayter to stab in at the post but it was deflected for a corner. Two minutes later, a good through ball from Gillett put Sharp in to fire into goal but the linesman ruled him offside. This was followed minutes later by a good round of one-touch passing by the Rovers on the attack leading to Hayter getting in a thunderous shot that spun into the air off a defender to give Steele an easy catch. Minutes later a corner to the Rovers came to nothing but after 19 minutes, Gillett fed Roberts on the Rovers left. Taking the ball deep into the Barnsley half he crossed, right footed, for the oncoming Coppinger to skim a header for the far top corner of goal but Steele did extremely well to get a hand to it and palm it away. Keeping the pressure on the Rovers went past the half hour with a succession of corners that the opposition successfully defended. On 34 minutes Woods and Hayter combined for Woods to fire over from 20yards. The Rovers were playing well, with Barnsley only rarely getting into the Rovers half but after 39minutes the visitors won a free kick on the right touchline. Hume put it to the near post for Macken to head wide. A corner from Barnsley was defended but the Rovers defence had a few minor scares before going on the attack again as added-time came up. Woods received on the Rovers right, got to the angle of the penalty area before hitting a low shot for goal where Steele managed to save at the second attempt as the Rovers forwards closed in.

Half-time - ROVERS 0 Barnsley 0

The Rovers started the second half in spirited fashion and were virtually camped in the Barnsley half for the first six minutes. Then a break by the Tykes had Hammill crossing from the right but Halfredsson couldn't put the finishing touch to it. Straight to the other end, with the ball reaching Shiels 25yards out from goal. He placed a shot to the top corner of goal but hit the bar, with Hayter given offside for the rebound. This was followed mkinutes later by a good Rovers build-up leading to Coppinger's shot blocked and gathered by the keeper as Sharp and Hayter closed in. On the hour Shiels had a go from 25yards but put wide and then another corner came to nothing. After 65 minutes the visitors got to the Rovers penalty area where Macken got a sight of goal but his effort was poor and Sullivan easily saved. At the other end a free kick from the right of goal by Woods whistled past the far post and minutes later Hammill had a shot from 25yards saved by Sullivan. Coppinger then received from Gillett, cut in from the right but fired wide of the far post. Barnsley were getting more into the game at this stage and won a couple of corners from the second of which HAMMILL, on receiving the ball on the right, cut in from the byline and rifled a low shot into the far corner of the net after 74minutes. The goal gave the visitors an added impetus so that they began to take the game to the Rovers. There were a couple of corners from the Barnsley left, the second of which was headed over by Foster and De Silva fired into the side netting after capitalising on a defensive error. Eventually the Rovers got rid of their disappointment and got back on track. They threw three forwards on for the last ten minutes, including four minutes of added time but they could not find a way past the Barnsley defence. Another decent-sized crowd had seen their favourites throw everything but the kitchen sink at their local rivals only to see disappointment at failing to get a goal and then losing one to a team that they had bettered in the playing stakes.

Full time - ROVERS 0 Barnsley 1

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Sam Hird, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Dean Shiels, Simon Gillett, Martin Woods; James Hayter, Billy Sharp.

Subs used - Waide Fairhurst for Shiels 84mins; Paul Heffernan for Roberts 86mins; Lewis Guy for Gillett 86mins;

Subs not used - James O'Connor, John Spicer, Mustapha Dumbuya, Gary Woods gk

Barnsley - Luke Steele, Ryan Shotton, Steve Foster, Darren Moore, Carl Dickinson; Adam Hammill, Nathan Doyle, Hugo Colace, Emil Halfredsson; Ian Hume, John Macken

Subs used - Anderson De Silva for Halfredsson 57mins; Jacob Butterfield for Doyle 60mins; Andy Gray for Macken 77mins;

Subs not used - Daniel Bogdanavic, Julian Gray, O'Neil Thompson, David Preece gk

Cautions - Shotton, Doyle,