Coppinger injury has Saunders fuming as Rovers’ worries mount

Saunders was convinced City winger Yannick Bolasie should have been disciplined for a first-half collision which left Rovers midfielder James Coppinger with a fractured cheekbone.

And the visiting manager was equally incensed by Graham’s decision to send off centre-back Habib Beye for a lunging tackle on Cole Skuse after half-an-hour.

City scored their second from the resulting free-kick, with Saunders trying unsuccessfully to introduce substitute Adam Lockwood.

The Rovers chief said: “Coppinger was head-butted by a late challenge right in front of me and the referee never even spoke to the player concerned.

“Then he sends off Beye for a tackle from 60 yards away when the linesman is signalling a throw-in and the City player is not appealing for anything more. For some reason, we weren’t allowed to get Lockwood on until the free-kick has been taken. And the man he would have been marking goes and scores.

“That is how it has been going for us away from home. I have been disappointed with the standard of Championship referees.”

Chris Wood netted a close-range header from Skuse’s cross after 25 minutes to put City ahead. From the free-kick conceded by Beye’s foul on Skuse, Neil Kilkenny crossed for Kalifa Cisse to head his first City goal at the near post, and Rovers were left with an uphill battle.

Their 10 men stood firm and were given a chance when El-Hadji Diouf looped a header beyond David James from Simon Gillett’s 75th-minute cross.

The hosts held out thanks to a fine save by James from Billy Sharp’s fierce shot.

Bristol City: James, Skuse (Pitman 66), Carey, Nyatanga, Foster, Adomah, Kilkenny, Cisse, Pearson, Bolasie (Wilson 83), Wood (Stead 76). Unused substitutes: Gerken, Maynard.

Doncaster: Button, O’Connor, Beye, Hird, Spurr, Coppinger (Oster 19), Stock, Gillett (Bennett 78), Hayter (Lockwood 32), Diouf, Sharp. Unused substituted: Bamogo, Bagayoko.

Referee: F Graham (Essex).

Man of the match: Simon Gillett.