Town came within seven minutes of grabbing their first league won of the season but Roy Keane’s former Manchester United team-mate Quinton Fortune netted a late equaliser for Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium. Earlier, the home side had gone ahead twice via Waide Fairhurst and Martin Woods with the Blues hitting back and getting in front through Jack Colback, Tamás Priskin and Lee Martin.

Keane made two changes from the side which drew 1-1 in midweek, Tommy Smith replacing the suspended Gareth McAuley at the centre of the defence and Pablo Couñago coming in for Jon Stead up front. Carlos Edwards was a surprise inclusion having all but been ruled out with a hamstring problem, while Liam Rosenior was fine after his swollen eye.

The game started scrappily and neither keeper had been involved at all until the 12th minute when Gareth Roberts’s cross came in from the left and, under pressure from Waide Fairhurst and with Damien Delaney in close attendance, Richard Wright dropped the ball, the Doncaster striker hooking into the empty net. Some referees might have disallowed it, but Nigel Miller evidently felt the contact on the keeper was not significant enough to be considered a foul.

Town had the ball in the net on 17 after Alan Quinn played in Couñago, but the flag had already been raised. Moments later, the Spaniard flicked a Delaney cross across the face as the Blues started to impose themselves on the game.

Quinn will have been disappointed that his 25-yard volley flew straight to Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan in the 27th minute with most of the game being played in the home side’s half of the field.

Doncaster had a good chance to increase their lead in the 28th minute when Tommy Smith headed weakly to John Oster, whose shot was superbly saved by Richard Wright down to his right.

Walters shot into the sidenetting from Quinn’s pass with Couñago well placed in the centre, then the Spaniard’s shot was deflected wide. From the corner, Smith headed wide when unmarked.

Town didn’t really deserve to be behind at the break after a half they had just about shaded. While Doncaster had played some decent stuff at times and looked like a side far more used to playing together, the Blues had created most of the chances, but as so often this year, without testing the keeper.

After the break, the Blues quickly went about getting back on terms, Rosenior sending in a cross and a defender nodding behind ahead of Couñago. Jack Colback and Jaime Peters replaced Alan Quinn and Carlos Edwards in the 57th minute.

Rosenior shot over from 30 yards, then Alex Bruce made a foray forward into the penalty area but failed to get a touch on Grant Leadbitter’s through ball with only Sullivan to beat.

Town finally got the goal their performance deserved in the 65th minute. Damien Delaney sent in the latest in a succession of crosses and Peters headed it up in the air at the far post. The ball eventually fell to Jack Colback on the edge of the area and the Sunderland loanee hit a low shot past Sullivan and into the corner of the net to claim his first senior goal.

The Blues went looking for what seemed likely to be the winner. Leadbitter, who was behind most of Town’s best stuff, played the ball wide to Rosenior, but Martin scrambled his cross wide. On 67 Priskin replaced Walters.

Former Canary Jason Shackell shot over after a goalmouth scramble following a corner in the 72nd minute as the home side started to come more into the game, Town having largely dominated the half.

The Blues paid for letting their impetus slip on 73 when a corner from the right was played to Martin Woods deep on the left. The midfielder set himself as several Town players closed him down and unleashed a shot from 35 yards which flew through a crowd of players and beat Richard Wright. While it was an impressive strike, the ball should never have been allowed to travel so far through the area and Richard Wright probably ought to have done better.

It took only three minutes for Town to hit back. Delaney was fouled on the left and Leadbitter sent in a freekick which Priskin nodded home ahead of Sullivan for his first league goal of the season.

The Blues again went looking for what they hoped would be a winner. A clever Couñago touch played in Colback inside the area but the youngster shot wide.

But on 78 Town did go in front. Again the goal came from a Leadbitter set piece, Smith heading against the bar, Peters seeing his header blocked, then a Bruce effort was cleared off the line before Martin finally scrambled the ball home. The Town players celebrated as is if they’d won a significant victory and Alex Bruce picked up a knock in doing so and required treatment.

The Blues had 12 minutes to see out, but on 83 Quinton Fortune wasn’t closed down quickly enough, the South African turned inside Leadbitter and looped a shot over Wright and into the net from 20 yards. It was a splendid strike, but it was harsh on the Blues on the balance of the second half.

Sub Paul Heffernan shot straight at Richard Wright in injury time but neither side was able to claim victory after what had been a pulsating second period.

While the first league win of the season remains elusive, the performance was worthy of the three points with the Blues the better side for much of each half. The first half was a patchier display than the second, but Town had still created most of the chances even if they’d failed to test Sullivan.

After the break, the Blues finally found their shooting boots and after Tamás Priskin had netted the second, there looked like there was only one winner. Unfortunately, the Blues’ frailties at the back were again in evidence with Richard Wright probably at fault for the first two goals.

Doncaster’s third was deftly executed, but Fortune should have been closed down more quickly.

Overall though, the Blues continue their improvement and that first league victory can’t be too many more games away.

Town: R Wright, Rosenior, Delaney, Smith, Bruce, Quinn (Colback 57), Leadbitter, Edwards (Peters 57), Martin, Couñago, Walters (Priskin 67). Unused: Lee-Barrett, Trotter, Stead, Balkestein. Att: 10,711.

Photo: Action Images

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