James Harper's late strike earned Sheffield United a 1-1 draw with Doncaster in their South Yorkshire derby.
Blades leave it late against Rovers
James Harper's late strike earned Sheffield United a 1-1 draw with Doncaster in their South Yorkshire derby.
Doncaster looked to be heading for all three points courtesy of James Hayter's early opener until Harper popped up with the equaliser two minutes from time.
The draw was good enough to keep United ahead of Rovers in the table and in the race to clinch a play-off spot.
United manager Kevin Blackwell handed a debut to Stoke goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, signed on loan on Friday, and brought Harper back.
Doncaster trio James O'Connor, Mark Wilson and Hayter all returned to O'Driscoll's starting line-up, with the latter wasting little time in seizing his chance after stepping in for leading goalscorer Billy Sharp, who was left out against his parent club.
Breakthrough
The hosts made their early breakthrough when midfielder Wilson crossed from the left and Hayter steered the ball into the bottom corner from six yards for his seventh goal of the season.
United striker Richard Cresswell headed over the crossbar, before the Wilson-Hayter combination at the other end again opened up the visitors, but this time the goalscorer dragged his shot wide.
Simonsen then earned his spurs for the Blades, diving at full stretch to turn away another effort from Hayter, who had pounced on James Chambers' cross to steer the ball goalwards.
Blades defender Marcel Seip blocked James Coppinger's shot from inside the penalty area early in the second half as Doncaster looked to pick up where they had left off at the end of the first period.
But substitute Glen Little, a half-time replacement for Mark Yeates, fired a left-footed shot straight at Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan as the visitors wrestled back an even share of possession.
Impressive save
Doncaster midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, on loan from Arsenal, was off target when he tried his luck from 20 yards, but Martin Woods forced Simonsen into another impressive save in the 70th minute with a left-footed drive as Rovers passed their way back into the ascendancy.
Hayter thumped a 30-yard effort which was well held by Simonsen before the visitors ventured forward to go close with two headers, the first from Kyle Bartley flying over the crossbar and the second, from Cresswell, gratefully gathered by Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.
United sensed they could salvage a point in the closing stages as Harper rifled a right-footed shot just off target.
And Blackwell's side snatched a point in the 88th minute when Andy Taylor, a second-half replacement for Henri Camara, crossed to the edge of the penalty area from the left and Harper fired the ball home into the bottom corner.
