Stephen Hunt and Tommy Smith have come close to scoring but the Blues and Doncaster remain locked at 0-0 at the break.

Tyrone Mings replaced Aaron Cresswell in an otherwise unchanged side, the left-back having suffered a groin injury at Huddersfield on Tuesday. The Liverpudlian's absence ended a run of 25 successive league games with an unchanged back four.

Rovers included one-time Town targets James Coppinger and Billy Sharp, and former trialist Abdoulaye Meite, while another former Blues trialist, Bongani Khumalo, and ex-loanee Richie Wellens missed out due to knee and foot injuries respectively.

The visitors came close to creating the game’s first chance within the opening minute but Cole Skuse did well to stab the ball away from Sharp as he looked to get on to a knockdown inside the area.

In the eighth minute Paul Anderson flicked on Stephen Hunt’s under-hit freekick from the left but just too far in front of Tommy Smith, Christophe Berra and Luke Chambers in the box.

Four minutes later, Luke Hyam shot over after Hunt had been halted as he brought the ball forward on the left.

The Blues were starting to take control after a slow start and on 14 Mings hit a low shot which Rovers keeper Sam Johnstone couldn’t hold on to but which was cleared to safety.

A minute later former Norwich striker Chris Brown was booked for a foul on Skuse. The resultant freekick was played short to Jonny Williams who took it forward to the edge of the box where he was tripped by Sharp, who joined his strike partner in referee Graham Scott’s book. That freekick was played to Daryl Murphy on the 18-yard line but his strike flew well over.

Town were close to going in front in the 21st minute when Anderson out-chased Meite down the right to reach a ball played down the flank. The former Bristol City man cut a cross back to the on-rushing Hunt, who did well to get to the ball but was unlucky to divert it back the wrong side of Johnstone’s left post.

Doncaster threatened on the half hour when James Husband crossed from the left and the ball reached the grounded Brown, who eventually managed to hook the ball to Gerken, who claimed.

Murphy headed a Chambers cross from the right over, then Williams, who was being watched by Wales manager Chris Coleman, saw a ball in from the left blocked.

But the visitors were also threatening on occasion and on 37 Gerken did well to save to his right when an unmarked Gabriel Tamas headed David Cotterill’s deep right-sided corner goalwards. Three minutes later Berra was somewhat harshly booked for a foul on Brown.

The Blues, who had been rather under par for the most part, started to look more dangerous towards the break, Murphy nodding a chipped Hunt cross not far wide in the 43rd minute.

Soon after Meite was booked for handling the ball as Town broke towards goal. Hunt’s curled freekick was easy for Johnstone.

As the half moved into injury time Meite was again penalised for handball with the home crowd calling for a second yellow card which wasn’t forthcoming.

Hunt curled across a freekick from the right, Smith flicked it towards the corner of the net but Johnstone did superbly to get down to his right tip to past the post. Moments later, referee Scott’s whistle brought the half to an end.

The Blues had rarely reached the heights of Tuesday’s performance at Huddersfield but still could have found themselves ahead with Hunt’s chance from Anderson’s cross and Smith’s late header the game’s best opportunities.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Mings, Skuse, Hyam, Anderson, Hunt, Williams, Murphy. Subs: Loach, Richardson, Wordsworth, Green, Tabb, Ebanks-Blake, Nouble.

Doncaster: Johnstone, Quinn, Meite, Tamas, Husband, Furman, Keegan (c), Coppinger, Cotterill, Brown, Sharp. Subs: Maxted, Duffy, McCullough, De Val, Robinson, Middleton, Stevens. Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire).

Photo: Action Images

runningout added 16:58 - Apr 12 Bit obvious and not blaming one of our forwards. But lack of goals will be the bummer that makes the play-offs a bit far off for us..
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:25 - Apr 12 Great win guys, was kept updated by the chatroom on TWTD. Keeps us well and truly in the hunt. At least its another 3 pts and keeps up the momentum. Nice one Chambo. Hoping to get to the Watford game can wait!
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