A fine, warm summer's evening welcomed Coventry City back to South Yorkshire. I say back because they were at Barnsley on Saturday where they took all three points with a 2 goal victory. Included in their side tonight is Michael McIndoe, who has joined them from Bristol City. The Rovers made two changes, John Oster coming in for John Spicer and Dean Shiels for Paul Heffernan. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

The Rovers set the game in motion and forced a corner inside the first twenty seconds but it was cleared by a defender. Just over the minute mark and a loose pass by Oster on the halfway line went straight to Best instead of Roberts. The Coventry forward took the ball on before putting a weak shot wide from 20yards. Both sides then settled down to try and play their own game. In the ninth minute a long ball from Chambers in the right back position found Coppinger halfway in the Coventry half on the Rovers left. He turned inside Wright and from the edge of the penalty area curled a shot just inches over the bar. Two minutes later Coventry won their first corner, which Shackell clearly headed out but the referee gave a goal kick. Coppinger was then awarded a free kick halfway in the Coventry half which he took quickly to Stock, who got in a 30yard strike that Westwood saved comfortably. Minutes later and a corner to Coventry was cleared to McIndoe, 25yards out. His shot was deflected out for another corner which was easily cleared. A Rovers corner came to nothing but they won another five minutes later when Oster's twenty yard effort was deflected by a defender. Continuing to press, Shiels picked the ball up in the opposition half, ran from right to left before hitting a left foot shot on the run that Westwood saved. Past the half hour mark and the Rovers were having most of the play, with some good moves producing good through balls which were just too long. In the 39th minute, a free kick to the Rovers about 25 yards out to the right of goal forced Westwood to dive to his left to tip on to the post and out for a corner.  The Rovers had most of the play to the break but the teams went in with the scoreline still goalless. For the Rovers a good half that just wanted a goal to finish some good approach play.

Half time - ROVERS 0 Coventry City 0

Coventry set the ball rolling for the second half and had evidently had some strong words of encouragement from their manager at half time. Even so it was the Rovers that first sighted goal when Shiels received the ball 30 yards out and tried a lob at goal that was well wide. Five minutes in and Wright, for Coventry, got down their right before crossing from the touchline, the ball landing on top of the bar and out. The Rovers then got into their stride, winning a couple of corners, of which nothing came. Then, in the 58th minute, the Rovers broke quickly after defending against a Coventry attack, when Lockwood gave the ball to Oster, who swept it out to Coppinger on the right..His cross was blocked but came back to him. His second attempt reached Hayter but his shot was blocked. Eventually Stock got in a shot over the bar. McIndoe at the other end had a weak shot saved by Sullivan. On the hour, a good build-up by Rovers ended with Coppinger going round Van Aanholt and crossing for Shiels to volley straight into Westwood's midriff.  Continuing to put the pressure on, a good build-up by the Rovers with around a dozen passes finished with Stock  shooting on target but Westwood nearly let it through his hands, getting just enough purchase on it to get it away. Further pressure gave Shiels a chance at goal that Westwood had to go full length to push away. With the minutes ticking away the Rovers strove might and main to get that elusive goal. Hayter had a shot deflected for a corner and another corner followed minutes later. A minute from normal time Coventry had a rare attack, with Clingan firing wide from 30yards. Into added-time and a corner came out to Stock that was deflected just past the post. Another corner followed that led to Shiels firing just wide of the far post. In a last effort at goal, Chambers crossed from the right but Hayter couldn't get enough of his header on the ball and it ran out for a goalkick. Time came with the result still scoreless but it certainly wasn't for the want of trying on the part of the Rovers, who performed exceptionally well.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Adam Lockwood, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Brian Stock, John Oster, Martin Woods; Dean Shiels, James Hayter

Subs used - Paul Heffernan for Oster 75mins; Sam Hird for Roberts 82mins; Quinton Fortune for Woods 84mins;

Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Mark Wilson, Waide Fairhurst, Ben Smith gk

Cautions - Coppinger,

Coventry City - Keiren Westwood; Stephen Wright, Patrick Van Aanholt, Martin Crainie, Ben Turner; Isaac Osbourne, Sammy Clingan, Aaron Gunnarsson, Michael McIndoe; Clinton Morrison, Leon Best

Subs used -

Subs not used - Adam Walker, Ashley Cain, Jermaine Grandison, Jordan Clarke, Sean Jeffers, Nathan Cameron, Dimi Konstantopoulos gk

Cautions - Gunnarsson,