Paul Heffernan scored the only goal of the game as Doncaster Rovers beat Bristol City 1-0.
Heffernan follows up derby winner with only goal for Donny
Paul Heffernan bit the hand that once fed him with the only goal of the game as Doncaster Rovers beat Bristol City 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The former City striker, who left Ashton Gate for Rovers in 2005, followed up a weekend winner against Sheffield Wednesday with the decisive goal after just four minutes.
Heffernan's effort allowed Doncaster to stretch their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight games and, at the same time, brought about an end to the Robins' five-match winning sequence.
This game was billed as the clash of the form teams in the division, but it was only Rovers who started like a side brimming with confidence and they went ahead thanks to the predatory instincts of Heffernan.
The striker latched on to Martin Woods' pinpoint throughball and cooly slotted a low finish to the right of Adriano Basso from 12 yards.
City gradually began to enjoy a bit of possession, with Michael McIndoe, returning to Doncaster for the first time since leaving the club three summers ago, looking to stamp his authority in the midfield, and Liam Fontaine headed wide of the near post from Lee Johnson's right-wing corner.
James Coppinger then went close to grabbing a picture-book second for Doncaster.
Receiving the ball in midfield he spread it wide to James O'Connor, who made ground down the right before sending in a cross which Heffernan touched back for the waiting Coppinger to fire just over the right angle from just outside the area.
At the other end Stern John fired a snap-shot straight at Neil Sullivan in the 23rd minute, but otherwise the home keeper was largely untroubled.
Basso was certainly the busier keeper and he might have been beaten again had Matt Mills made proper contact when the ball broke to him in the area from Woods' free-kick, but the defender was closed down just in time.
Bit between teeth
Sullivan was called into action late in the first half, though, reacting quickly to keep out Gavin Williams' close-range effort from Bradley Orr's ball in.
Basso made an ever more impressive stop minutes later, flinging himself to his right to palm away Woods' left-footed effort from the edge of the area which had look destined for the far corner.
John Akinde came on for the ineffective John at the interval as City boss Gary Johnson looked to shake things up.
It was the hosts, though, who had the bit between their teeth and Mills, who always looked dangerous in the air, won a header in the opposition area but could not direct it on target.
Woods and Heffernan combined again to good effect in the 64th minute, the midfielder's neat reverse pass finding the striker in space on the right of the area.
Heffernan cut inside past two attempted tackles before being closed down in the nick of time.
Doncaster almost gave the visitors a way back into the game when Sullivan raced off his line to meet Nicky Maynard as he ran on to a pass into the left of the area.
Maynard got to the ball first but was forced wide and the veteran keeper managed to get back to his goal in time to stop the forward's low shot.
At the other end O'Connor's low drive was well fielded by Basso at his near post.
And Doncaster's night was complete when McIndoe drove wildly wide of the near post after the ball fell to him kindly on the left of the area.
