Christmas Day has been and gone so it is back to business for both teams on a cold but fine Boxing Day. The pitch was actually watered before the game and looked in quite good condition. Both teams were unchanged from their last game. However, for the Rovers, it was a warm welcome back to Brian Stock, who took a place on the sub's bench. However, in the absence of Stock and Martin Woods, it was Gareth Roberts who wore the armband as captain.

The home team set the game in motion and had the better of the possession in the first five minutes but the Rovers were soon on their game. in the 9th minute, Shiels received the ball in the centre circle in the Coventry half, ran at the home defence, burst through and hit a low, powerful left foot drive from 15yards that Westwood saved with his legs before being cleared. Four minutes later, a cross from the Coventry left was met with a glancing header from Eastwood at the near post side going on to hit the far post and away. The Rovers then won a corner in the 16th minute that was cleared out to Wilson but he put his shot from 30 yards over the bar. The Rovers were enjoying good possession in this spell but couldn't get a clear sight of goal. In the 24th minute, a free kick to the Rovers from a central position 25yards out was put over the bar by Oster. Two minutes later following an injury to Shackell just into the Rovers half, Bell, of Coventry, giving possession back to the Rovers, played the ball back to Sullivan but overhit it. The ball sailed over the Rovers keeper and looked likely to fall into the net but actually landed on top of the bar and out. The next 15minutes produced indeterminate play mostly in the Rovers favour but all they had to show for it came in the 40th minute when good play between Oster and Chambers on the Rovers right led to Chambers crossing from the byline but Sharp, at the far post, was unable to get to it. Two minutes later, came a moment that brought the fairly quiet home crowd to their feet. A good passing movement by the home side put the ball into the Rovers penalty area for Best to go for. Sullivan came out, went down at Beat's feet and upended him to give the home team a penalty. Best took it himself but hit Sullivan's left hand post, with the ball being cleared. Although they had missed the chance it seemed to give the Sky Blues the impetus to go on to all-out attack. A corner on their left was put out for a throw on their right. Barnett headed on to the far post area where Best came in and lashed it over the bar from 5yards. The Rovers survived to the end of one-minute added time and went in still level at nil-nil.

Half time - Coventry City 0 Doncaster Rovers 0.

The Rovers got the second half underway but soon lost possession and were put under pressure in the early minutes. In the 52nd minute, McIndoe, on the Coventry left, put in a cross to the far post area for Best to blast at goal but Sullivan tipped it away for a corner that Barnett headed over. Two minutes on and the Rovers got in their first attack of the half down their right. Oster passed inside to Sharp inside the penalty area, he tried to make space for a crack at goal but gave to Shiels to his left. From the angle of the six-yard area Shiels hit it over the bar. Back came the home side to win a corner and then to string a series of passes together before Gunnarsson put a 30yard effort wide. Past the halfway mark in the second half and Hayter gave to Sharp on the edge of the Coventry area but his left foot shot lacked power and was saved. In the 73rd minute, after a good build-up by the home team, McIndoe, on the home left, cut in and from 16yards hit the foot of the near post and out. It had mostly been backs-to-the wall for the Rovers in the second half and then, in the 84th minute, the home side were awarded another penalty, O'Connor being adjudged to have fouled Morrison. MORRISON took the kick and planted it to Sullivan's right into the bottom corner of the net. This sparked the Rovers into life as an attacking force but they couldn't find their way for a clear chance at goal. Four minutes of added time brought a corner that was cleared by the Coventry defence to McIndoe just in the Coventry side of the halfway line. Sullivan, having come up for the corner, had left an empty net for McIndoe to aim at but it was a poor effort and was well wide. The final whistle went with the end of the Rovers winning run and Sharp's scoring run.

Final Result - Coventry City 1 Doncaster Rovers 0.

Teams - Coventry City - Keiren Westwood; Martin Cranie, Leon Barnett, James McPake, Patrick van Aanholt; David Bell, Aron Gunnarsson, Jack Cork, Michael McIndoe; Leon Best, Freddy Eastwood.

Subs used - Richard Wood for McPake 78mins; Clinton Morrison for Best 81mins; Gary Madine for Eastwood 81mins;

Subs not used - Stephen Wright, Sammy Clingan, Elliott Ward, Daniel Ireland gk

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; Dean Shiels, Simon Gillett, Mark Wilson, John Oster; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp.

Subs used - James Hayter for Shiels 66mins; Lewis Guy for Roberts 87mins; John Spicer for Wilson 87mins;

Subs not used - Brian Stock, Sam Hird, Byron Webster, Ben Smith gk