Brentford 0 Doncaster Rovers 1: O'Connor has late say to ease Rovers through

The third-round tie had looked destined for a replay at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday thanks to an off-day from Rovers striker Billy Sharp but O'Connor saved the Bees a trip with his 87th-minute goal.

Sharp's movement caused difficulties for the Coca-Cola League One side all night but he spurned a host of chances before O'Connor arrived to set up a fourth-round tie at Derby.

The hosts had their moments in an open game which finally got the go-ahead after two postponements but had Sharp been on top form the game would have been over by the break.

The visitors should have gone ahead inside the opening 30 seconds. James Coppinger took advantage of hesitant defending to win the ball on the left and he picked out Sharp in space on the edge of the six-yard box. The on-loan Sheffield United man took a good first touch but shot wide.

Five minutes later Rovers cut Brentford apart with a flowing move. Brian Stock and Coppinger combined to free Mark Wilson and he sent Sharp in on goal with a deft flick but again the forward was off target.

Another fine move ended with Dean Shiels shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Sam Wood had the home side's first effort when he drilled straight at Neil Sullivan before Charlie Macdonald got on the end of a cross from Myles Weston but failed to test the goalkeeper with his header.

Stock had a 25-yard shot well saved by Lewis Price and Shiels then played Sharp in again but, after rounding Price, he put his shot wide. The striker was on target on the brink of half-time with a marvellous strike from 18 yards which Price blocked one-handed.

The second half was slow to get going, with a wayward strike from Shiels the only moment of note until Stock forced Price into action with another sweet hit from 20 yards.

The deadlock was finally broken with three minutes remaining when Stock scuffed his volley and O'Connor tumbled forward to head powerfully past Price.

Brentford: Price, Foster , Bennett, Legge, Dickson, Wood (Saunders 90), O'Connor, Bean (Hunt 90), Weston, MacDonald, Strevens. Unused substitutes: Moore, Phillips, Bostock, Osborne, Ferrell.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor, Chambers, Shackell, Roberts, Mark Wilson, Stock (Hird 89), Oster (Hayter 71), Coppinger, Sharp, Shiels (Spicer 90). Unused substitutes: Smith, Guy, Heffernan, Webster.

Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).