COVENTRY City took a well-earned point away from the Keepmoat Stadium to earn a second consecutive away clean sheet with a goalless draw against Doncaster Rovers.

The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, James Coppinger just shaving the crossbar and Brian Stock hitting the post with a free-kick from 25 yards.

But the Sky Blues had their own chances to open the scoring with Leon Best gradually honing his radar.

Best got the first shot of the day away after just a minute, intercepting a loose pass and reaching the edge of the Rovers penalty area before dragging a shot just wide of Neil Sullivan's post.

Rovers had their own breakaway on eight minutes though when Dean Shiels hooked a way a ball which inadvertently found Coppinger free on the right.

Coppinger took the ball to Stephen Wright and cut inside him on the edge of the area but floated his shot just inches over the bar.

Hayter hooked a shot straight into the arms of Keiren Westwood from 20 yards on 24 minutes and Best looked like he was ready to volley home an Aron Gunnarsson trademark long throw at Sullivan's back post five minutes later, only for Shiels to pop up with his head to nudge the ball away and leave Best swinging at air.

Best forced Sullivan into his first save ten minutes before the break, controlling a neat pass in the box fromk Gunnarsson before turning and whipping a shot at goal from a tight angle which Sullivan managed to palm away.

Stock though, who scored the winner against the Sky Blues at the Keepmoat last year, appeared the most likely to break the deadlock three minutes later.

His free-kick from five yards outside the corner of the City penalty area was whipped in and took the slightest of deflections off a City head which seemed enough to guide it onto Westwood's post and out of play.

City got the second half off to a lively start, van Aanholt releasing McIndoe on the right to swing in a deep cross at the back post meant for Best but met by Gareth Roberts.

Hayter was back in the firing line for Rovers three minutes before the hour though, a shot which culminated by a solid five minutes of pressure from the home side, Chambers crossing and the ball falling to the striker who hooked a half-volley just over Westwood's bar from just inside the City area.

McIndoe was up the other end seconds later, twisting and turning Chambers before cutting inside him on the left and firing low at Sullivan who was equal to the effort inside his near post.

Chambers returned the favour following Sullivan's clearance though, getting down the right flank and skipping past van Aanolt on the City goaline before cutting back to Hayter in the area whose first time shot only found the hands of Westwood.

Stock tried his luck on 71 minutes from 25 yards, a shot which Westwood could only parry although Turner was on hand to clear to safety.

Westwood was called upon again two minutes later to make a low save from Shiels' acute effort.

The last 15 minutes saw the Sky Blues soak up the pressure from the hosts, Woods trying his luck from range only for his shot to glance off Turner for a corner.

Rovers substitute Quinton Fortune was forced to clear a ball out of the goalmouth following a long throw from Gunnarsson with three minutes to go, a clearance which found Sammy Clingan who fired a volley just wide of Sullivan's goal.

But it was a case of 'nearly' for Rovers who carved out two more opportunities in the four added minutes of injury time.

First, Stock stood outside of the Coventry area to receive a corner delivery and tee himself up for a half volley which flew narrowly wide.

And it was the same case for Shiels who was offered the ball on the corner of the area which he steered across Westwood and the outside of his far post.

All in all a point well earned for the Sky Blues who, while creating less of the chances, gave a solid defensive display which handed them a second consecutive away clean sheet.

Attendance: 9,484 (791 away)

Teams

Coventry City: Westwood, Wright (c), Turner, Cranie, van Aanholt, Gunnarsson, Clingan, McIndoe, Osbourne, Best, Morrison
Subs: Konstantopoulos, Walker, Grandison, Clarke, Jeffers, Cain, Cameron

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Roberts (Hird 81), Chambers, Lockwood, Shackell, Stock (c), Woods (Fortune 83), Oster (Heffernan 74), Coppinger, Shiels, Hayter
Subs: Fairhurst, Wilson, Guy, Smith