BRADFORD CITY AFC

Cole's match-winner came with only fifty seconds on the clock when Rory McArdle flicked on Lee Evans' throw-in into the box and the striker swooped to convert past Thorsten Stuckmann from close range.

City built on their bright start, with Reece Burke and Steven Davies going close in the early stages but Doncaster, with new boss Darren Ferguson watching on from the stands, could have equalised midway through the first half.

As the hosts tried to scramble home a Richard Chaplow corner, the ball hit the bar before bouncing down around City's goal-line. 

With Doncaster appealing that the effort had actually gone over the line, Keshi Anderson made sure by pushing the ball in with his hand.

Anderson was booked for his troubles, whilst any home appeals for a goal were waved away by referee Mr Whitestone.

The second period saw Doncaster dominate possession for large periods but Parkinson's side showed plenty of resiliency and discipline to keep Rovers at arm's length.

Substitute striker Nathan Tyson briefly threatened Ben Williams' goal with a low angled drive just past the far post but City were able to hold out to collect the clean sheet and the win.

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90+2min: The ball drops into the path of Oscar Gobern and the midfielder lashes a fierce drive from outside the box wide.

90min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

89min: Stretching to reach Middleton's corner delivery, MacKenzie can only head over from around six yards out.

84min: As Meredith and Tyson race for the ball towards the touchline near the two dug-outs, Tyson's momentum accidentally knocks Meredith into the sponsor boards as the left back clears up field. The Bantams bench explode with rage before a free-kick is eventually given for the infringement. Meredith is eventually able to carry on as Evans' resulting free-kick from deep into the box is put comfortably wide of Stuckmann's goal on the stretch by Hanson.

83min: Meredith's long throw-into the box actually bounces up over Stuckmann and into Doncaster's area but the whistle had already blown for a foul by Hanson on MacKenzie.

82min: Marshall's teasing cross into the box finds Hanson but his effort on the half-volley is blocked.

81min: Anderson plays Tyson into space inside the box and his low angled drive across goal rolls narrowly of Williams' far post.

81min: SUB - Doncaster bring on Harry Middleton for Coppinger.

74min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Mark Marshall for Reid.

72min: Coppinger's cross into the box finds Williams lurking. The striker's shot on the half-volley is parried up in the air by his namesake in the Bantams goal before Tyson is flagged for offside as he looks to pounce on the loose ball from close range.

69min: Evans looks to play Cole in with a run on goal but MacKenzie comes across and uses his strength to stop the striker from bursting forward into the box.

65min: SUB - Doncaster bring on Nathan Tyson for Chaplow.

65min: McMahon curls a direct free-kick from just outside the area narrowly wide of Stuckmann's far post.

63min: SUB - The Bantams bring on James Hanson for Davies.

55min: Anderson's shot from outside the box is blocked by Burke before Chaplow from slightly further out slashes the loose ball high and wide of goal.

53min: Taylor-Sinclair's ball into the box finds Chaplow, he turns away from McArdle but his effort for goal from deep inside the area is crucially blocked by the frame of the covering Burke.

50min: After latching onto a City throw-in, Cole turns away from McCullough before sprinting towards Doncaster's penalty area. Driving forward with purpose, Cole looks to get into the home penalty box but he is denied the opportunity because of a fine sliding tackle from Wellens.

46min: Doncaster restart the match.

45+1min: Evans robs Chaplow of the ball just inside Doncaster's half of the pitch before moving forward towards the penalty area. Now inside the box, Evans fires in a low left-footed drive from a slight angle but the effort is saved by Stuckmann.

45min: There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

45min: Williams comes out to claim a dangerous forward pass from Coppinger from right under the toes of Meredith and Anderson. With Anderson also diving in for the ball, the home attacker appeals for a penalty but referee Mr Whitestone waves it away.

45min: Evans intercepts a loose Doncaster pass before driving towards the home penalty area. His drive from just outside the box is blocked before the free ball finds Reid, who fires a low drive from a similar distance wide of Stuckmann's goal.

42min: Collecting a half-cleared McMahon cross into the area, Reid turns inside onto his right foot before unleashing a fierce drive from just outside the box that a diving Stuckmann pushes behind for a corner.

40min: McArdle and Williams challenge for an aerial ball into the box, the ball breaks free to the on-rushing Coppinger in a dangerous position inside the box but Burke is able to get across and see things out for a goal-kick.

38min: Williams claims a Doncaster corner before setting Cole off in space to lead a City counter-attack. With Kyel Reid in support, the break looks a promising one but it ends only with Reid crossing harmlessly out of play for a Doncaster goal-kick.

37min: Wellens' ball inside of Meredith allows Evina to get a low cross into the area but Burke is well placed to clear with Chaplow lurking behind him.

35min: From McMahon's deep free-kick into the box, McArdle heads the ball across goal towards the lurking Liddle, who sends an effort narrowly over the bar with a header of his own.

34min: Richie Wellens' initial shot into the mix is blocked before his second effort from outside the box sails comfortably wide of Williams' goal.

26min: Cedric Evina cuts inside onto his left foot from Doncaster's right flank but his drive from outside the box sails harmlessly wide of Ben Williams' goal.

26min: Anderson stretches to reach Chaplow's searching cross to the far post from the byline but he can't get a clean connection on the delivery and he ends up actually diverting the ball away from goal, and not towards it, from close range.

24min: YELLOW CARD - A big moment here at the Keepmoat Stadium. Evans slices his clearance from a Richard Chaplow corner, leading to a scramble in the City penalty area. The ball eventually hits the Bantams bar via a Doncaster head before bouncing down around the goal-line. The home side appeal that the header had indeed crossed the line before Keshi Anderson makes sure by pushing the ball in with his hand. Anderson is booked for his deliberate hand-ball. After his caution, the attacker goes over to the linesman to argue his case that the ball had gone over before his hand-ball but nothing is given, despite his protests, other than a City free-kick.

18min: Davies plays the ball in behind for Cole to chase and Thorsten Stuckmann has to race outside his own area to kick clear into touch.

17min: SUB - Doncaster eventually have to take Butler off, replacing him with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair.

15min: Davies finds himself in space down City's left flank but McKenzie is in the way and blocks the ball as the forward tried to pick out strike-partner Cole in the middle of the area with a low cross.

14min: Davies expertly brings down a well-placed forward pass from McMahon but the striker's effort for goal from deep inside the box is vitally blocked by the out-stretched leg of MacKenzie.

13min: Doncaster are temporarily down to ten men with Andy Butler off the pitch receiving treatment for an apparent facial injury.

10min: Tony McMahon plays Steven Davies into a pocket of space just inside the area but the striker's low left-footed drive is easily blocked by the frame of former Bantams loanee Gary MacKenzie. Doncaster are on the counter-attack seconds later but a combination of James Meredith and then Liddle prevent Andy Williams from getting onto James Coppinger's searching through-ball.

5min: Evans' corner delivery is glanced on by Gary Liddle towards Reece Burke lurking by the far post. The defender is unmarked but he fails to get a clear connection on the ball and it goes out for a goal-kick.

0min: The Bantams kick off the match. They will defend the goal housing City's plentiful away support in the first period.

DONCASTER ROVERS LINE UP:

Stuckmann, McCullough, MacKenzie, Butler, Evina, Gobern, Wellens, Chaplow, Coppinger, Anderson, Williams

Subs: Marosi, Forrester, Tyson, N'Guessan, Taylor-Sinclair, Stewart, Middleton

Taylor-Sinclair for Butler (17), Tyson for Chaplow (65), Middleton for Coppinger (81)

Anderson (24)

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, McMahon, Liddle, Evans, Reid, Davies, Cole

Subs: Jones, N Clarke, Marshall, Hanson, Knott, Leigh, Mottley-Henry

Hanson for Davies (63), Marshall for Reid (74)