GRAHAM Alexander insists the door remains open for someone to stake a claim in City’s frontline.

Andy Cook’s eighth league goal of the season – and 10th in all – means he is still the leading scorer in the division.

But finding a regular strike partner for the prolific centre forward is an ongoing issue.

Alexander handed Tyler Smith his first start since April 1 in Saturday’s home loss to Doncaster.

Smith had scored in both league battles with his former club last season but failed to make an impact on his recall.

He came in for Kavanagh – who then replaced him in the five-man mass substitution in the second half.

Vadaine Oliver was also brought on but on-loan Fulham striker Olly Sanderson, the only other City forward to have scored this season, missed out on the squad after being an unused sub at Cheltenham.

Alexander felt Smith had warranted his starting opportunity but admits the shirt is up for grabs.

“He’s trained well, he’s come off the bench and impacted on the team,” said the City boss.

“I don’t want it to be a closed shop in any part of the pitch.

“The other strikers have been extremely patient behind Cooky and Kav.

“I just felt we had to give the opportunity to somebody else and it was Tyler we chose this time.

“Olly and Vadaine both come into that. It’s a challenge now for somebody to come into the team and try and stake their claim.”

Cook’s goal set up a grandstand finish at Valley Parade but City could not come up with a second to deny an impressive Doncaster side.

Alexander added: “The hairs on the back of my neck were prickling when we had a couple of chances after that.

“It was brilliant and I was desperate for us to get that equaliser to let the roof come off.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it. They defended their box really well and their centre halves were extremely physical with Andy Cook in particular.

“But if we hadn’t given away two poor goals, I think we would have been more composed in our attacking play and potentially won the game.

“We know they’ve got good attacking players but their goals weren’t the highest quality that we couldn’t do anything about.

“We’ll hold our hands up with a goal like the one last week from 30 yards. Sometimes you have to understand that’s just a great strike but that wasn’t the case with those two goals.

“There are definitely things in there that we’ve covered all season and covered before the game but we lost our focus to continue to do them.”

Alexander also thought City did not create enough when they had Doncaster pinned in their own half. It was similar in the draw at Cheltenham.

“We got in some great positions in the first half but we’re not getting efforts off at goal.

“That’s been the case in the last two games where we’ve scored from set-plays but not from open play. We need a little bit more quality in our play.

“I don’t think we took advantage of the positions we were in.

“I said to the players that if you win the game, you know what I’m like. I’ll put it in the bin and we focus on the next one.

“It’s the same with a defeat. We just have to focus on the next game.

“The players will be in a better place next week.”