Swansea City 0 Doncaster Rovers 0: Resolute Rovers end Swansea's dreams
Substitute Lee Trundle had a 'goal' disallowed for handball in the final seconds having netted after excellent work from Nathan Dyer.
The Swans went into the game needing a win and Blackpool to drop points to earn a place in the season's finale.
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Hide AdThe Seasiders only managed a 1-1 draw against Bristol City, but the division's lowest scorers were made to pay for a lack of composure in front of goal.
Three times in the opening quarter the Swansea midfield worked the ball through to former Sheffield Wednesday striker Shefki Kuqi but each time he hurried his shot and blazed over.
The impressive Darren Pratley then raced through only to fail to hit the target.
It was the same story after the break as Doncaster's rearguard stopped all Swansea's attempts.
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Hide AdSuch was the home fans' disappointment at the decision to disallow Trundle's late effort that the referee needed a police escort to his car after the game.
However, Rovers manager Shaun O'Driscoll said: "The referee's decision was correct as we all saw Lee Trundle handle the ball before putting it in the net.
"But a few minutes earlier they could have been awarded a penalty when Sam Hird collided with Craig Beattie inside the area as I have seen them awarded before."
Swansea City: De Vries, Williams, Monk, Rangel, Edgar, Britton (Trundle 79), Pratley, Dyer, Gower (Pintado 58), Kuqi (Beattie 69), Cotterill. Unused substitutes: Cornell, Orlandi, Van der Gun, Serran.
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Hide AdDoncaster Rovers: Smith, Roberts, Hird, Martis (Lockwood 76), O'Connor, Coppinger, Wilson, Shiels (Dumbuya 89), Mutch, Hayter, Emmanuel-Thomas (Heffernan 76). Unused substitutes: Gary Woods, McDaid, Fairhurst, Clarke. Booked: Mutch, Shiels.
Referee: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).