Determined to make amends following Tuesday's defeat to Birmingham, the Robins came out of the blocks quickly and twice threatened to take the lead during the opening exchanges.

Dele Adebola headed wide from Jamie McAllister's cross and Michael McIndoe shot just the wrong side of a post after being fed by Lee Johnson.

City should have taken the lead on 19 minutes, recalled winger Ivan Sproule skipping clear of the covering defence, only to steer his angled shot across the face of goal with only Neil Sullivan to beat.

Having repelled home pressure, Doncaster gradually gained a foothold in midfield and the pacy Lewis Guy outstripped Bradley Orr to unleash a rising drive, which flashed inches wide.

The visitors came closer still to breaking the deadlock 11 minutes before half-time, James Coppinger seizing upon McAllister's hesitancy to manufacture a sight of goal, but Chris Weale was quick to react, racing off his line to make a fine save.

City again breathed a sigh of relief when Guy chose to pass inside to James Hayter instead of shooting when well placed.

City responded in first-half injury time, Sproule again breaking clear, only for Sullivan to tip his rising shot behind for a corner.

Bristol City: Weale, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, McAllister, Sproule, Skuse, Johnson, McIndoe, Adebola, Maynard. Subs: Henderson, Webster, Williams, Trundle, Elliott. Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts, Coppinger, Wellens, Stock, Hayter, Guy, Byfield. Subs: Chambers, Lockwood, Woods, Price, Elliott.