Doncaster Rovers 0 Portsmouth 0: Rovers end Pompey's perfect record

Doncaster Rovers ended Portsmouth's one hundred per cent start to the season with a battling display at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Rovers v PortsmouthRovers v Portsmouth
Rovers v Portsmouth

Rovers were much the better team in the first half but failed to take their chances.

Pompey improved after the interval and there was late drama when Marko Marosi was sent off but Doncaster deserved their point.

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Captain Tommy Rowe and James Coppinger started on the bench with Matty Blair and Alfie May making their first league starts of the season.

Rovers began the game at a quick tempo and bossed the first half but were unable to make their dominance count on the scoresheet.

Andy Butler sent a header from a corner just wide, Ben Whiteman curled a freekick narrowly over the bar and visiting goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray kept out close range attempts from May and Mallik Wilks

Grant McCann's men worked very hard out of possession to close down Pompey and the visitors were restricted to off target attempts from Ronan Curtis and Ben Thompson.

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Clearly unhappy with his side's first half performance, Kenny Jackett introduced Brett Pitman and Ben Close at the re-start and his side looked more confident going forward.

Rovers were indebted to Marosi just before the hour mark when he made himself big to deny Gareth Evans from close range.

The Slovakian then made a superb double stop to keep out Pitman and Evans as the much-improved visitors started to seize the initiative.

Rowe, Coppinger and Kiwomya were introduced from the bench as Rovers tried to find a way through Pompey's well-organised back-line.

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There was late drama when Marosi was red-carded for handling outside his area after Curtis raced clear and Whiteman had to go in goal - but Rovers held firm for a deserved point.

Rovers: Marosi, Mason, Wright, Butler, Andrew, Whiteman, Blair (Rowe 73), Kane, May (Kiwomya 82), Wilks (Coppinger 73), Marquis. Subs: Lawlor, T Anderson, J Anderson, Beestin.

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Walkes, Whatmough, Clarke, Brown, Evans, Naylor, Thompson (Close 46), Lowe, Curtis, Hawkins (Pitman 46). Subs: McGee, Burgess, Haunstrup, Wheeler, Dennis.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 7,618 (1,121)