Peterborough United failed to build on the point gained at Bristol City on Saturday as they were beaten 3-1 by Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium with Darren Ferguson's men for long spells unable to contain a slick home side, who, particularly in the first half, caused all sorts of problems for the Posh back-line.

Tom Williams failed a fitness test on an ankle injury, so Jamie Day started at left-back for Posh at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Darren Ferguson's men made most of the early running on a wet night in Doncaster, forcing an early corner kick after good work from Tommy Rowe.

Craig Mackail-Smith forced experienced goalkeeper Neil Sullivan into the first save of the evening on four minutes after a sharp turn with the former Wimbledon shot-stopper grabbing the ball at the second attempt.

Chris Whelpdale fired over from around 25-yards on 14 minutes after Tommy Rowe's centre had only been half cleared as Posh continued to threaten in the final third.

However, as with many games this season, despite the early pressure, it was the hosts who opened the scoring as Billy SHARP was in the right place at the right time to stab home from close-range after Joe Lewis had parried the initial skidding effort from Dean Shiels. In the wet conditions, Lewis can't really be blamed for the goal as the shot came through a crowd of players. Sharp just reacted quicker than the Posh defence to get to the loose ball.

Doncaster were certainly in no mood to let Posh get back into the game and doubled their lead on 21 minutes as a superb counter attack saw Sharp and Hayter combine to set up a shooting opportunity for midfielder Dean SHIELS and he didn't disappoint, curling an excellent shot into the far corner past the despairing dive of Lewis.

The rain began to fall once again at the Keepmoat but it wasn't the weather that was causing Posh problems, it was any time Doncaster advanced into the final third with James Coppinger causing Day all sorts of problems in wide areas.

Gabriel Zakuani produced a superb last ditch tackle to deny Sharp a third Doncaster goal just before the half hour mark and Posh were desperate for any kind of possession to stop the wave of attacks that were heading their way.

Posh did reduce the arrears moments later and it came from absolutely nothing, Rowe performed well out in the wide position, lifting the ball over James O'Connor and delivering a superb centre into the box which MCLEAN somehow managed to head past Sullivan and into the back of the net. It was a stunning header from captain Mclean but the lack of celebration showed just how poorly the players believe they were playing.

Posh had appeals for a spot-kick turned down on 42 minutes after James Chambers appealed to handle a goal-bound Mclean shot, but referee Mr Webster waved away the rather loud protests. 

Half time: Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Posh

Darren Ferguson made a double substitution at the break with the two centre midfielders replaced by Dean Keates and Lee Frecklington. Simon Gillet tested Lewis from range on 48 minutes as Posh also changed their shape with Boyd now far more involved just behind the strikers.

Substitute Frecklington saw a shot saw a shot deflect wide of the target before a Boyd cross was superbly cleared by Hird.  Mclean failed to connect sweetly with a Whelpdale cross as Posh began to pin the hosts back, thus lifting the sizeable away following behind Lewis' goal.

A terrible pass from Rowe gave Doncaster a great chance to extend their advantage but as Hayter was superbly denied by Lewis before Shields saw the rebound well blocked by Morgan.

Charlie Lee replaced the ineffective Boyd on 69 minutes as Ferguson utlised his final substitution of the evening. Day was stationed by the post to good effect moments later to clear from a deflected Hayter effort before Shiels curled an excellent effort inches past the upright.

Doncaster substitute Lewis Guy tested Lewis from long-range before Rowe flashed a shot wide of the near post at the other end. Posh were struggling to cut open the determined Doncaster defence and were being restricted to efforts from outside of the penalty area.

The game was made safe for the home side on 84 minutes as Jason SHACKELL rose unchallenged in the six-yard box to power home a  header from an inswinging corner from Dean Shiels. The hosts continued to press in a bemusing amount of four minutes added time, but were unable to add to their convincing score-line.

Final Score: Doncaster Rovers 3-1 Posh

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Chambers, Hird, Shackell, Gillett, Woods, Shiels, Sharp (sub Spicer 86min), Coppinger (sub Oster 76min), Hayter (sub Guy 76min). Unused subs: Wilson, Woods, Dumbuya, Heffernan.

Posh: Lewis, Whelpdale, Day, Morgan, Zakuani, Rowe, Diagouraga (sub Keates 46min), Rose (sub Frecklington 46min), Boyd (sub Lee 68min), Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Unused subs: McKeown, Pearce, Martin, Batt.

Attendance: 9,288 (916 Posh fans)