Nottingham Forest were unable to create a single shot on target as they were defeated by a solid display from Doncaster Rovers.

Forest struggled to get going in the first half and had virtually no possession, allowing Doncaster to control the play. But the home side were unable to capitalize and Forest were fortunate to go in at half time on level terms.

Forest failed to produce anything in the second half and Doncaster's goal had an inevitability about it. And they could have made it three or four if it hadn't been for good work by the Forest keeper.

It was a lively start by Doncaster who dominated the early stages, but it took them 15 minutes before they had a shot on target. It came from Jason Price who got away from Ian Breckin, but his header was tipped over the bar by Paul Smith.

Doncaster missed a chance 25 minutes into the game when they got the ball away down the left to Paul Heffernan who was under pressure from Luke Chambers and sent the ball over the bar.

Forest made a good break on the half hour when Matt Thornhill put the ball through to Nathan Tyson who got away from Matthew Mills, but his shot went across the face of goal and wide of the post.

Doncaster caught Forest out with a quick break after Forest made a poor free kick. They got through on goal and Paul Green got a shot in from 25 yards, forcing Smith to get back from the edge of his box and bash the ball up in the air for Doncaster's seventh corner of the game.

Forest's defence worked hard and did well to contain Doncaster through to the half time whistle but Forest didn't have one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.

It was a better start to the second half for Forest but Doncaster were quickly causing problems again and twice Price blazed over the bar.

It wasn't long before Forest made their first substitution with Lewis McGugan replacing Chris Cohen.

Doncaster had a chance with a free kick after a foul by Julian Bennett on Richard Wellens but Gareth Roberts missed from 20 yards out.

Forest had their best chance of the half when Tyson and Thornhill worked well down the side and found McGugan inside the box but he put the ball wide from 6 yards out.

Junior Agogo replaced Thornhill soon after as Forest still struggled to find the target.

But it was Doncaster that took the lead on 74 minutes from a free kick after Bennett was booked for a foul on Wellens. The ball went low through the wall and bounced in off the inside of the near post.

Players quickly called the physio on before the referee had even stopped play to treat a head injury to Brett Ormerod and he was led off with a towel clutched to his head and was replaced by Emile Sinclair.

The Forest keeper stopped Doncaster from going another goal up, diving low to his right to block Brian Stock's shot from the edge of the box.

And Smith produced another great save minutes before time when Doncaster were allowed to make a break down the wing. Coppinger laid the ball off for Paul Heffernan whose shot from 12 yards out was well saved by the Forest keeper.

Three late Doncaster substitutions helped to use up the remaining few minutes as Forest headed for another defeat that keep the home side in touch with the top two places.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson, Ian Breckin(C), Wes Morgan, Luke Chambers, Julian Bennett, Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen(Lewis McGugan59min), Matt Thornhill(Junior Agogo
71min), Brett Ormerod(Emile Sinclair, 78min), Nathan Tyson
Bookings: Bennett 74min
Subs not used: Mark Byrne, Garath McCleary,

Doncaster Rovers: Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger(Steve Roberts90min) Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Jason Price(Lewis Guy 90min), Paul Heffernan(Gareth Taylor 89min)
Subs not used: James Hayter, Sean McDaid
Scorer: Roberts 75min

Referee: S Tanner
Attendance: 12,508 away attn: 3,101