Doncaster Rovers 0 Tranmere Rovers 0

Last updated : 17 November 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Both sides hoped to move into the top six with victory but had to settle for just a point apiece after a dour goalless stalemate.

Tranmere were the happiest with the outcome though, after being reduced to ten men just minutes into the second half when left-back Carl Tremarco was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Paul Heffernan.

This should have been the cue for the home side to take command but an excellent defensive display from Tranmere put paid to Doncaster's hopes of claiming a fifth league win on home soil.

A disappointing first half saw neither side create any real opportunities, although it was Doncaster who came closest when Lewis Guy shot narrowly wide from a tight angle.

The game burst into life on 47 minutes when Tremarco was given his marching orders and many of the 7,070 crowd would have thought it would only be a matter of time before Doncaster broke the deadlock.

But all their efforts were repelled by a rugged Tranmere defence who were marshalled excellently by skipper Ian Goodison.

The unmarked Guy should have done better when he headed wide James Hayter's cross on 56 minutes, but Tranmere were unlucky not to edge ahead when Paul McLaren's free-kick struck Neil Sullivan's right-hand post.

Doncaster threw everything forward in the latter stages and nearly grabbed a point in injury time.

But away keeper Danny Coyne acrobatically denied Hayter with his feet after the Doncaster striker reacted quickly to divert Martin Woods' shot goalwards.