Match ends, Doncaster Rovers 1, Bristol City 1.
DoncasterDoncaster Rovers1Bristol CityBristol City1
Matt Smith's second-half header earned Bristol City an FA Cup third-round replay against Doncaster Rovers.
The on-loan striker guided Luke Ayling's cross past goalkeeper Sam Johnstone with 15 minutes remaining.
Luke McCullough had put Doncaster ahead shortly after the break, hooking the ball in off the post after City failed to clear Harry Forrester's corner.
Kyle Bennett came closest to winning the match for the hosts, forcing Frank Fielding into a smart save.
The Doncaster substitute had an even better chance to score from inside the penalty area in injury time but shot well wide of the goal, and the teams will now contest a replay at Ashton Gate.
Bristol City, who were knocked off the top of League One for the first time since September thanks to Swindon's draw with Fleetwood on Saturday, were beaten by Watford in a replay at the same stage of the Cup last season.
Doncaster manager Paul Dickov told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We'll take a lot of confidence from this.
"We're obviously really disappointed to not come away with the win but I've just said to the players: If we perform like that in the majority of our games then we'll do well.
"I'm delighted with the effort of the boys. We played a really good team and we restricted them to limited chances.
"We'll go onto Oldham next week with a lot of confidence."
Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol:
"We were average in the first half - at best - and good in the second half.
"In the first half we were almost like a counter-attack team. We weren't the attacking threat that we usually are in every game we play in.
"But sometimes you need to show character in games like this when you're a long way away from home.
"I thought we were good in the second half and we certainly deserved a draw."
Line-ups
Doncaster
- 33Johnstone
- 22Wabara
- 12McCullough
- 16Butler
- 17Stevens
- 18Keegan
- 4FurmanSubstituted forTysonat 88'minutes
- 19Wellens
- 26Coppinger
- 9RobinsonSubstituted forMainat 79'minutes
- 10ForresterSubstituted forBennettat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 6McCombe
- 11Main
- 13Marosi
- 14Tyson
- 15Wakefield
- 23Bennett
- 29Middleton
Bristol City
- 1Fielding
- 22Ayling
- 4Flint
- 3Williams
- 2LittleBooked at 13mins
- 8Elliott
- 7SmithSubstituted forFreemanat 89'minutes
- 12KaneBooked at 57minsSubstituted forPackat 83'minutes
- 23Bryan
- 10Emmanuel-Thomas
- 9Smith
Substitutes
- 5Osborne
- 11Wagstaff
- 13Richards
- 15Freeman
- 16Wynter
- 17Cunningham
- 21Pack
- Referee:
- Scott Duncan
- Attendance:
- 5,671
Match Stats
Home TeamDoncasterAway TeamBristol City
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home9
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Doncaster Rovers 1, Bristol City 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Joe Bryan (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kyle Bennett (Doncaster Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Luke McCullough (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Smith (Bristol City).
Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Paul Keegan.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Luke Freeman replaces Korey Smith.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Nathan Tyson replaces Dean Furman.
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Aden Flint.
Post update
Attempt missed. Korey Smith (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Marlon Pack replaces Todd Kane.
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Frank Fielding.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kyle Bennett (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Korey Smith.
Post update
Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Mark Little.
Post update
Luke McCullough (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Matt Smith (Bristol City).
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Curtis Main replaces Theo Robinson.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Kyle Bennett replaces Harry Forrester because of an injury.
