A wet and rainy day at the Keepmoat Stadium was the setting for the South Yorkshire 'Derby' game between the Rovers, in 8th place in the table and Sheffield United, in 7th place by one point. The Rovers made three changes from the team that won at Peterborough in mid-week. James O'Connor replaced Sam Hird, who dropped to the bench, Mark Wilson came in for Dean Shiels, who also dropped to substitute and James Hayter took over from Billy Sharp, who couldn't play against his parent club. It was also pleasing to see Sean McDaid on the substitutes bench. Injury stricken Sheffield United could only muster six substitutes and included Steve Simonssen in goal, signed yesterday on loan from Stoke City. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

The Rovers got the game underway but it was the United who won a corner on their right after just 33seconds. This came out to Quinn on the Blades left, who fired high over the bar. The Rovers then got their game going and, through the persistence of Hayter, won a corner on their left. This was placed into the middle where the United defence couldn't get it away and HAYTER eventually solved the problem by ramming it into the net after 4minutes. The Blades tried hard over the next ten minutes to get their game going but the Rovers were running this show. Their only return was a corner which Cresswell headed over. On the quarter hour mark a corner to the Rovers led to Chambers being fouled on the Rovers right. The free kick was played short to Oster, who put a low cross across the face of goal without anybody getting a touch. In the 18th minute, a good build-up on the Rovers right enabled Chambers to get in a low cross to the near post where Hayter got in a shot but Simonssen beat it out at the foot of the post. Three minutes later and the same Rovers pair linked up but this time Hayter put a header wide. Woods then tried his luck from 35yards but the keeper saved. The Blades then got a sight of the ball on 23 minutes, with Camara getting into the Rovers penalty area but his shot from 15yards was wide. The Rovers soon resumed their midfield dominance and the Blades defence found themselves under constant pressure but couldn't add to their score.  As time ran down to the break a 35yarder from Wilson was deflected for a corner that was cleared and then on the 45minute mark another corner was well caught by Simonssen. A good first half for the Rovers, who dominated throughout.

Half time - Doncaster Rovers 1 Sheffield United 0

The Blades got the second half going having made a substitution and making their intentions clear as they went on the attack. They were held in check by the Rovers defence, who then got the Rovers attack moving. A brilliant 30yard run by Coppinger into the United penalty area ended with him getting in a shot but it was blocked and then cleared. Then just before the hour Emmanuel-Thomas, on the right, tried a shot from near the touchline but put it well wide. Past the hour and the Blades were working hard to get on level terms. Camara got down their left and crossed for Cresswell to get in a header that was just over the bar. Minutes later and a corner to the Blades was cleared. Then a good shout for a penalty for United was waved away by the referee. Play began to swing back and forth as both sides tried to gain command of the game. With 70 minutes on the clock, Woods had a 25yard effort pushed out for a corner by the keeper. Hayter then had a crack from 25yards but Simonssen saved comfortably. The Blades won a corner that came to nothing but two minutes later Sullivan did well to save a glancing header from Cresswell. Harper then put well over from just inside the Rovers penalty area. The visitors began to put the pressure on and were awarded a free kick just inside the Rovers half on the left touchline. A good kick placed well into the area wasn't cleared by the Rovers defence and HARPER got in a strike that took a deflection to wrongfoot Sullivan and go in for an equalising goal in the 88th minute. Five minutes of added time came up and the Rovers put the pressure on the Blades. Three minutes in and Martis gave to Shiels, who flicked inside for the oncoming Hayter to hit a half volley over the bar from 15yards. Successive corners to the Rovers brought no reward and the whistle went on a pulsating 'derby' clash that had ended all square.

Result - Doncaster Rovers 1 Sheffield United 1

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, James O'Connor, Shelton Martis, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Mark Wilson, Martin Woods, John Oster; Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, James Hayter

Subs used - Dean Shiels for Emmanuel-Thomas 78mins; Sam Hird for Woods 85mins; Jordon Mutch for Coppinger 89mins;

Subs not used - John Spicer, Adam Lockwood, Sean McDaid, Ben Smith gk

Caution - Mutch,

Sheffield United - Steve Simonssen; Paul Connolly, Nyron Nosworthy, Marcel Seip, Jordan Stewart; Mark Yeates, Nick Montgomery, Henri Camara, Stephen Quinn; James Harper, Richard Cresswell

Subs used - Glen Little for Yeates 46mins; Kyle Bartley for Seip 59mins; Andy Taylor for Camara 72mins;

Subs not used - Jon Fortune, Matthew Lowton, Iain Bennett gk

Caution - Camara,