​DONCASTER ROVERS 1, BRISTOL CITY 1

Battling City were cruelly denied their first Championship win of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Leading through Damion Stewart’s 49th minute header, the Robins looked to set to return home with all three points in Keith Millen’s first game as manager.

But Doncaster kept plugging away and were rewarded when Billy Sharp beat former England goalkeeper David James from the penalty spot two minutes from full time.

Although Millen will be disappointed with the result, his players can take immense credit for the manner in which they recovered from a difficult week which brought two defeats and the shock resignation of Steve Coppell as manager.

They thoroughly deserved a point and can now look forward to the visit of Barnsley to Ashton Gate next Saturday with renewed confidence.

Sharp scored the winner in this fixture last season and Doncaster’s ace marksman twice threatened during the opening exchanges, shooting straight at David James after two minutes and then pirouetting to hook a half-chance over the bar from 10 yards out.

City packed their midfield in an attempt to stifle Doncaster ’s passing game and the ploy worked to a large degree in a first-half of few goal-scoring chances.

New signing Damion Stewart went close for the visitors, stooping to meet Jamie McAllister’s free kick with a header that flew across the face of goal.

Employed as a lone striker, Albert Adomah then shot weakly at Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan after being put through by a Cole Skuse clearance.

The main talking point of an uninspiring first 45 minutes was provided by a goalmouth scramble which culminated in Rovers left-back George Friend stabbing the ball towards goal from point-blank range, only for James to somehow scoop it off the line to safety.

Furious Doncaster players claimed the ball had gone over the line and remonstrated with referee Paul Tierney, but the Lancashire official waved away their protests.

The home side again went close moments later, Dean Shiels letting off a shot from the edge of the penalty area that took a deflection and flashed inches over the angle of bar and post.

When Sharp wriggled free of two City defenders moments later and engineered room for a cross, Shiels arrived a split-second too late to turn the ball past James.

Unable to retain possession for long enough to establish a foothold, City were forced to defend in depth and Ryan Mason and Brian Stock were both narrowly off target with efforts from range as the Yorkshire outfit continued to make all the running.

Watching impassively from his technical area, new manager Millen was no doubt relieved to see his side go in level at the interval.

Having weathered the storm, City emerged for the second period determined to pose more of an attacking threat. Those hardy fans who had made the journey from Bristol to South Yorkshire were rewarded for their efforts when the visitors took the lead four minutes after the restart.

Marvin Elliott was checked by Friend near the right touchline and McAllister’s free kick, lofted towards the far post, set-up Stewart to power a header beyond Sullivan from six yards.

Following a week of disappointment on the pitch and upheaval off it, City’s players celebrated as though they had won the league.

The goal changed the nature of the game, City gaining in confidence and composure while Rovers lost their way as passes began to go astray.

City almost doubled their lead on the hour, Adomah skipping past Friend and picking out David Clarkson, whose low drive elicited a smart one-handed save from Sullivan.

Ivan Sproule became the first player to enter the referee’s notebook following a spat with Friend and the Irishman was replaced by Gavin Williams moments later.

Adomah had run his race by now and was also replaced, John Akinde taking over as City’s attacking fulcrum on 66 minutes as Millen sought to freshen up a team that was working tremendously hard.

Defending higher up the field, City were now bossing the game, pushing Rovers back and forcing the home side to become increasingly dependent upon counter-attacks launched from deep within their own half. One of these culminated in Friend directing a shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll introduced former City striker Steve Brooker in a bid to force an equaliser, but the Robins continued to repulse everything that was thrown at them and should have added to their tally five minutes from time.

Skuse found Williams with a fine cross-field ball and the midfielder surged into the penalty area, only to see his shot blocked when a pass to Campbell-Ryce would almost certainly have resulted in a goal.

City were left to rue their wastefulness moments later, McAllister tripping substitute James Coppinger inside the 18 yard box and Sharp sending James the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Doncaster (4-5-1): Sullivan; O’Connor, Lockwood, Martis (Thomas 73), Friend; Mason (Brooker 85), Woods, Stock, Gillett, Shiels; Sharp.

City (4-2-3-1): James; Hunt, Stewart, Fontaine, McAllister; Elliott, Skuse; Sproule (Williams 63), Clarkson, Campbell-Ryce; Adomah (Akinde 66).

Referee: Paul Tierney ( Lancashire )