An early goal from Lee Holmes gave Swindon the perfect start in a hard fought game at The Earth Stadium but a first half equaliser from Neil Roberts earned Rovers a point.
Swindon Town Manager Andy King kept faith with the same eleven that defeated Port Vale at The County Ground on Wednesday evening, meaning a second start for loan signing Michael Proctor.
Doncaster lined up with former Town target Neil Roberts leading the frontline alongside Greg Blundell. Rovers, fresh from a 4-0 thumping of Barnsley on Tuesday night, also had another former Town target in Jermaine McSporran named amongst their substitutes.
Town started the game heading towards the travelling Swindon support in the Rossington End. Both sides had their fair share of possession in the early stages but it was Doncaster's Tim Ryan who had the first effort on goal, which was a miss hit shot which failed to trouble Rhys Evans in the Town goal.
However, after just five minutes Swindon took the lead amid several calls for offside. A pass through from Sammy Igoe was chased down by Sam Parkin on the left hand edge of the area. After cutting inside his marker Parkin escaped the attentions of home keeper Andy Warrington. Parkin then played the ball into the path of the onrushing Lee Holmes who sidefooted the ball into the empty net to give Town the lead. The Rovers keeper could perhaps have gathered the ball at the first attempt but after hesitating, Town's number nine was on hand to punish the mistake by squaring to Holmes.
After the goal Town continued to provide Lee Holmes with quality ball on the left. On two occasions inside the opening stages the Derby winger had the beating of his marker and swung in testing crosses into the box, only for the home side to clear.
On nine minutes Doncaster showed signs of threat to the Town defence when after a run of passes, Dave Mulligan found space to cross the ball into the box only for O'Hanlon to provide a timely intervention.
In the opening first twenty minutes Swindon enjoyed the majority of possession and were winning the midfield battle, without a threat being made to their early lead. On 21 minutes Jenkins combined well with Igoe on the right to win a corner that was swung in by Smith. His cross was met by Holmes at the back post who could only head into the arms of Warrington when stretched.
Doncaster could have equalised on 26 minutes when Dave Mulligan found space inside the box after good work from Gregg Blundell. Mulligan strode into the Town area and unleashed a powerful shot which was palmed away forcefully by Evans to clear the danger.
The home side did get their equaliser minutes later when James Coppinger chased down an attempted clearance from David Duke and after heading down the by-line, crossed to Neil Roberts. The striker then composed himself and fired a low shot past Evans to make it 1-1 with a third of the game gone.
Just a minute after the goal Sammy Igoe was presented with a tremendous opportunity to test the keeper but when well placed inside the box, 'The Showman' could only fire his shot over the bar.
Rovers had a shot cleared off the line five minutes before the break. Michael McIndoe found space eight yards out and hit a shot across goal which had the beating of Evans but Sammy Igoe was on hand to clear then ball off the line.
After two minutes of first half injury time Town went in all square at the break.
With no changes at the break for either side Swindon kicked off looking for the decisive strike to send them nearer those all-important play-off places.
It was the home side who took the initiative in the opening exchanges and had two chances to take the advantage. Just two minutes in Gregg Blundell crossed the ball into the box but Matt Hewlett was on hand to clear the ball which found its way back to Blundell. The striker then hit a shot forcing a great save from Evans low to his right.
In response Swindon came forward with Tim Ryan heading a Sam Parkin cross behind for a corner after 52 minutes. Smith's corner could only reach the near post with Paul Green heading clear. Dave Mulligan found space inside the Town area on 55 minutes but he could only drag his cross cum shot back across the area for a throw.
Town Manager Andy King made his first change of the afternoon when he replaced one loan signing with another - Jamie Slabber for Michael Proctor.
After 65 minutes Swindon should have given his side the lead. After a run down the right from Igoe the ball was crossed over to Smith who cut inside his marker and hit a shot that was blocked. However, the rebound was hit back with interest by Smith and cannoned off the post and away from danger. A great chance looking back, from which Town could have done better. Moments later Smith hit a quick free-kick which just landed the wrong side of the bar with Town getting back into the game.
At the other end James Coppinger saw his cross palmed away by Evans on 68 minutes in what was becoming an extremely open game with the result crucial to the fortunes of both sides. Tim Ryan was next to force a save from the Town keeper on 71 minutes. The left back collected the ball 40 yards out and after striding forward and being urged by the home fans to shoot, Ryan hit a fierce shot which was brought a flying save from Evans.
Brian Howard was introduced into the action on 72 minutes as he came on for Lee Holmes, who had enjoyed another productive afternoon supplying numerous quality balls into the box.
Evans was called into action once more on 76 minutes when a ball through from Tim Green presented Gregg Blundell with a one on one. Steve Jenkins combined well with Evans to thwart Blundell just before pulling the trigger at the last minute. Dave Mulligan should have done better on 77 minutes when his shot found the side netting after ignoring the shouts from team mates who were better placed.
Within a matter of minutes Mulligan was replaced by McSporran at right back for the home side with Jerel Ifil coming on for Igoe for Town. Jenkins moved up into the right midfield slot with Ifil taking his place at right back.
Brian Howard was booked for dissent on 86 minutes as he was thwarted in his attempts to beat his marker on the left of the midfield. Michael McIndoe's cross had the beating of the Town defence on 87 minutes and found Neil Roberts in space 16-yards out. His first time shot on the turn found the arms of Evans to the relief of the Town fans behind the goal.
In the three minutes of added time James Coppinger hit a 25-yard shot well over the bar which was the only opportunity of note before the referee Mr S Matthieson brought the game to a close.
It was a hard-earned point for Swindon who returned to Wiltshire having not only kept their unbeaten run going, but done their play-off hopes no harm at all against a resilient Doncaster Rovers side.
Final Score: Rovers 1 Town 1
Attendance: 7,696
Swindon Town: Rhys Evans, Steve Jenkins, Sean O'Hanlon, Matt Heywood, David Duke, Sammy Igoe, Grant Smith, Matt Hewlett, Lee Holmes (Howard 72), Sam Parkin, Michael Proctor (Slabber 59)
Substitutes: Steve Book, Brian Howard, Jamie Slabber, Jerel Ifil, Stefani Miglioranzi
Doncaster Rovers
Rovers: Andy Warrington, Dave Mulligan (McSporran 81), Nick Fenton, Steve Foster, Tim Ryan; James Coppinger, Paul Green, John Doolan, Michael McIndoe; Gregg Blundell, Neil Roberts.
Substitutes: Ross Flitney (GK), Adriano Rigoglioso, Jermaine McSporran, Nic Priet, Ricky Ravenhill.
