CITY looked off it for most of their return to action but saved a late point against Doncaster.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Valley Parade last night and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Graham Alexander kept Alex Gilliead at left wing-back and the stand-in skipper once again led by example with his energy and the amount of work he got through.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Sam Walker pulled off a crucial save to tip off James Maxwell’s blast to prevent Donny going two up and putting anything beyond City’s reach.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

We grow immune to head-scratching displays from referees but card-happy Leigh Doughty won’t be proud of his night. The booking for Sam Stubbs when he got clouted in the head was the most baffling of some strange calls from the Blackpool official.

TACTICS

Graham Alexander named three changes from the side that had last played in the EFL Trophy semi-final 13 days earlier.

Sam Walker returned in goal and Andy Cook up front, while Tyreik Wright came in for only his second start since coming back to Valley Parade on loan from Plymouth in January.

Clarke Oduor was surprisingly moved into the middle two alongside Kevin McDonald as Alex Gilliead, captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Richie Smallwood, stayed at left wing-back.

REFEREE: Leigh Doughty (Blackpool)

BOOKINGS: Oduor, Stubbs, McDonald, Tomkinson, Wilson, Alexander (City); Maxwell, Bailey, McCann, Biggins, Lo-Tutala (Doncaster)

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE: 17,138 (with 752 from Doncaster)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 3 Doncaster 3

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 5 Doncaster 8

CORNERS: City 1 Doncaster 10

FOULS: City 19 Doncaster 10

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: Walker 6, Tomkinson 6, Stubbs 6 (Chapman 75min), Kelly 6, Halliday 6, McDonald 6 (Richards 63min, 6), Oduor 5, Gilliead 7, Kavanagh 5 (Wilson 63min, 6), Cook 6, Wright 5 (Smith 63min, 7). Subs (not used): Pointon, Ridehalgh, Doyle.

DONCASTER: Lo-Tutala 6, Sterry 6, Anderson 6, Wood 7, Maxwell 6, Bailey 7, Craig 8 (Rowe 88min), Biggins 7 (Westbrooke 72min), Adelakun 7, Ironside 7, Molyneux 7. Subs (not used): Waters, Biamou, Olowu, Hurst, Jones.