Struggling Doncaster and Nottingham Forest could only muster a goalless draw at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Rovers and Forest draw a blank
Struggling Doncaster and Nottingham Forest could only muster a goalless draw at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday.
The result leaves both sides firmly entrenched in trouble towards the foot of the Championship table.
Forest remain bottom, without a win in five, while Rovers are just one place better off and are still five points from safety.
The hosts showed their attacking intent after just one minute with former Forest front-man Gareth Taylor latching onto a free-kick, but his glancing header drifted harmlessly wide.
Moments later they went even closer when, after some good build-up play, James Coppinger latched onto a loose ball on the corner of the area and curled a powerful shot against the bar.
The Rovers forward almost carved an opening out of nothing after 20 minutes, when he showed quick feet to elude two defenders before delivering an inviting cross into the six-yard box which no Doncaster players reacted to in time.
At the other end Nathan Tyson was looking threatening but all too often he was left isolated up front, and on the one occasion he did receive support Paul Anderson shot straight at Neil Sullivan.
As the half wore on Forest came more into the match and Joe Garner went close with a header before the former Carlisle striker sent Tyson clear, but he flashed his shot wide.
Threatening
Garner went close again on the stroke of half-time when his low header was somehow clawed to safety by Sullivan.
Rovers soon got back into their passing rhythm at the start of the second half and looked threatening, but their reluctance to shoot on the edge of the area cost them as two promising openings fizzled out.
Tyson then showed his goal threat in the 55th minute when he cut in from the right and drilled a powerful shot just wide of Sullivan's near post.
A poor defensive clearance almost let Rovers in on the hour mark as James O'Connor picked up the loose ball before going on a mazy run to the byline, but once again his dangerous pull back was cleared by a Forest defender.
Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll was forced into a change in the 67th minute when James Hayter had to go off through injury.
His replacement Paul Heffernan created another good opportunity for the hosts and this time it was Martin Woods' turn to spurn the opening as he shot well over from the edge of the area.
Forest then went close when Anderson, on loan from Liverpool, shot just wide of the post, before Rovers thought they had finally broken the deadlock 15 minutes from time.
A stinging shot from Coppinger was fumbled back towards his own goal by Lee Camp, but despite all the Doncaster players' pleas to the referee that the ball had crossed the line the linesman's flag remained by his side.
