Doncaster Rovers 1 Bristol City 1: James proves the barrier to elusive Rovers victory

Having seen his penalty saved by former England goalkeeper David James, Hayter refused to let his head drop and rose to nod home the 68th-minute equaliser, the ball crossing the line before Martyn Woolford cleared.

Hayter had been fighting virtually a lone battle up front for injury-decimated Rovers, despite Giles Barnes doing his utmost to lend support from midfield, and was glad to finally get a partner in the shape of Chelsea loanee Milan Lalkovic, whose pace, trickery and skill turned the game following a 61st-minute introduction.

It was from the cross from the Slovakian Under-21 that Hayter scored and the youngster was also guilty of hitting into the side-netting after his partner’s clever back heel.

Hayter, fully recovered from the knee injusry sustained in the opening game, reflected: “It was a mixed afternoon for me. Obviously I missed a penalty and that will haunt me for the next couple of weeks. I practiced a couple in midweek but David James is a big lad so I just opted for power and hit it down the middle but he stayed quite big and managed to save it.

“I have taken three since I have been at Doncaster and not missed any but I had not taken one for a couple of years. I felt confident going up for it and I just went for power in the end.

“I knew I was taking them before the game. Obviously Billy Sharp has taken them for the last couple of years but I was happy to take it. But it was nice to get on the scoresheet in the end. I was happy the linesman was up with play, to be honest. It was definitely over the line but the way our luck’s been going of late you think ‘Christ it might not be’ but he’s seen it and it was definitely over the line.”

Had it not been for James then Doncaster would have won. Of his penalty save, the veteran, in for groin victim Dean Gerken – the goalkeeper he is mentoring – said: “I would like to say I read him and it came off – the only question was whether he would get the rebound. You have these moments where you feel good and feel it’s not going in and that’s how I felt.

“It’s frustrating having been in the lead but, although Doncaster had been without a point, there will be a lot of teams who will get beat here.”

As for young Lalkovic, he is hoping that his match-turning efforts will earn him a starting role next time. “I understood we couldn’t change the side from the Carling Cup because we played well but it gave me a push to show what I can do and I think I showed enough to start another game.

“Playing first-team football is why I came here. I want to play in the Premier League but this is a good start for me. I came here because I knew they played good football rather than kicking balls high because I won’t win headers. They play it on the floor like Chelsea so that’s why I came here.”

Hayter enthused of his partner: “He’s sharp and quick and a good acquisiton for us.”

Even though he had been given a pre-match ringing endorsement from his chairman, John Ryan, manager Sean O’Driscoll must also have been relieved to have got a point on the board.

And there can be no criticism of the fans who turned up at the Keepmoat for they gave full backing throughout despite not having seen their side win a Championship match at the stadium since February 1 – even then it took an own goal from Burnley’s Michael Duff to provide it.

Ryan, who can only be disappointed with a 7,778 attendance, had written: “Having been a supporter since 1958, I can assure you no Rovers team has played like we have in the last few seasons under Sean O’Driscoll.

“Even in the days of Laurie Sheffield and Alick Jeffrey the team was not a patch on these guys now wearing a Rovers shirt.”

O’Driscoll stuck with the side which had unluckily lost to Leeds in the Carling Cup but they were unable to provide the same rousing start – and should have gone behind early on when Sam Hird’s shot rebounded upfield where Nicky Maynard raced clear from halfway only to sidefoot wide from the edge of the area as Gary Woods rushed out.

There was little goalmouth action – Lewin Nyatanga clearing a goalbound poked effort from the ever probing John Oster – but City went ahead in the 45th minute.

Albert Adomah played the ball in to Marvin Elliott, took the return pass down the right channel and brushed aside Tommy Spurr before sidefooting across Woods and into the far corner.

Defender Richard Naylor withdrew with a knock at the break, paving the way for James O’Connor’s return to action but Rovers looked to have blown their chance when Kyle Bennett was tripped only for James to beat away Hayter’s penalty and defenders blocked the follow-up.

Rovers refused to be disheartened thanks to Lalkovic sparking them and after Hayter’s equaliser only fine saves by James from Bennet and, in stoppage time, Simon Gillett denied the hosts a first home win in 12 Championship games.

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