Doncaster 1 Coventry 2: Hayter to Doncaster’s rescue

The two sides began the evening in unexpected relegation trouble despite bright starts to their respective campaigns, and Freddy Eastwood’s first-half strike looked set to consign Sean O’Driscoll’s men to an eighth defeat in their last 12 league games.

The result will go some way towards easing building pressure on under-fire Coventry chief Aidy Boothroyd who would have seen his side leapfrog Doncaster in the table had Hayter not beaten an impressive Michael Quirke before the final whistle.

Coventry struck when Gary McSheffrey slid the ball to a loitering Eastwood, who slotted his fifth league goal of the season into the top corner after 23 minutes.

Eastwood could have doubled the visitors’ advantage and Jamed Coppinger, making his 250th appearance for Rovers, blazed a free-kick over on 40 minutes. The under-siege hosts received a hammer blow, losing top scorer Billy Sharp to injury but Hayter spoiled the visitors’ evening with his ninth goal of the season.

Doncaster: G Woods, Martis (Hird 74), Souza (Kilgallon 86), Thomas, Friend, Wilson, Stock, Coppinger, Moussa, Hayter, Sharp (Mason 61). Unused substitutes: Alnwick, Gillett, Shiels, Burge.

Coventry: Quirke, Keogh, Cameron, Wood, Cranie, Bell (Baker 87), Gunnarsson, Clingan, McSheffrey, Jutkiewicz, Eastwood. Unused substitutes: Burge, O’Halloran, Hussey, Clarke, O’Donovan, Ruffles.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).