Albion's Withdean woes show no signs of abating. They slumped to their ninth home defeat of the season with another dismal display in front of their own fans.

Of the last ten teams to visit, only Nottingham Forest have gone away empty handed.

The margin of defeat would have been more emphatic but for several fine saves at the start and finish of the match by Scott Flinders, one of the few to emerge with any credit.

The victory at Northampton, which lifted Albion up to 52 points and certain safety, gave Dean Wilkins the opportunity to field some of the fringe members of the squad.

Tommy Elphick made his full debut in the centre of defence in place of Guy Butters.

Alex Frutos was handed his first League start since September on the left of the midfield diamond at the expense of Dean Cox.

There was also an opportunity for Doug Loft to press his claims for a new contract in place of Jake Robinson at the advanced point of the diamond.

Loft is among the 15 players whose deals expire at the end of the season.

Joel Lynch captained the side for the first time in the absence of the injured Dean Hammond and the rested Butters.

Hammond, ruled out by a recurrence of hamstring trouble, is expected to have surgery on Thursday on the double hernia which he has been playing with since Christmas.

Doncaster's line-up was unrecognisable from the one which lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after extra time against Bristol Rovers at the Millennium Stadium last Sunday.

Their six changes included call-ups for striker Danny Cadamarteri, on loan from Leicester, and centre half Harry Worley who has been borrowed from Chelsea.

Rovers, fresh from the first major silverware in their history, showed no signs of a hangover in the early stages.

A recent poor run in the League has dropped them out of play-off contention but they showed plenty of appetite.

Elphick and Lynch had their hands full against Cadamarteri and the prolific Paul Heffernan.

Their fluid partnership caused problems to Albion's young central defenders twice in the opening 15 minutes.

As early as the fourth minute Heffernan dropped deep to release Cadamarteri through the inside left channel.

He got away from Lynch and tried to slide the ball past Flinders but the keeper got a hand to it and Kerry Mayo completed the clearance at the expense of a corner.

Flinders came to the Seagulls' rescue again nine minutes later.

Heffernan's flick-on was well anticipated by Cadamarteri and the former Everton marksman's low angled drive was held at full stretch by the keeper on loan from Crystal Palace.

Albion's front pair of Bas Savage and Alex Revell struggled to get into the game in the first half as Doncaster dominated.

Loft, desperate to make an impact, had only a booking to show for his efforts for kicking the ball away after Adam El-Abd had been penalised.

Doncaster's dangerous front duo combined in menacing manner again in the 27th minute. Albion thought the ball had gone out of play when Cadamarteri managed to pull a cross back to Heffernan.

He made room for himself deep inside the area with a clever turn and his shot was goalbound when El-Abd blocked it behind.

It was a temporary reprieve for the Seagulls, because Doncaster took a well-deserved lead from the resulting corner.

James O'Connor played it back to Brian Stock and his cross was met by Captain Graeme Lee with a firm downward header.

Albion really should have known better. Wilkins was at the Millennium Stadium to see Lee head Doncaster's winner from a corner against Bristol Rovers and he had, no doubt, made his players aware of the threat.

Albion offered very little to bother Doncaster's experienced custodian Neil Sullivan in the first half. He comfortably held a 25-yard free-kick from Frutos and an angled shot on the turn from Albion's recalled wide man.

Tommy Fraser was brought on for El-Abd for the second half to add some energy and enthusiasm to the midfield.

But it took the visitors' livewire attackers only two minutes to double Albion's deficit.

The impressive Heffernan put Cadamarteri in with a delightful pass between Elphick and Zesh Rehman to clip past the advancing Flinders.

Robinson came on for the injured Revell shortly afterwards. The substitute nearly helped the Seagulls back into the match with a cross which was headed wide by Savage when he had his back to goal, with the Doncaster defence looking for an offside flag.

Rovers continued to look a threat and a cross from Lewis Guy turned into a shot which bounced off the top of the crossbar. Albion's attempts to haul themselves back into the contest were unconvincing.

Rovers' rearguard allowed Rehman to stride forward but his left-foot shot from 20 yards was too high.

The introduction of Nathan Elder with 20 minutes left in place of Alexis Bertin, who had been booked just before the break, amounted to one last act of desperation.

Doncaster should have compounded the Seagulls' misery in the closing stages when Elphick's clearance from midway inside his own half was charged down by James Coppinger.

It left the substitute with a clear run on goal but he tried to round Flinders and was foiled.

Flinders excelled again on the stroke of full time, saving from Sean Thorton when Mayo was dispossessed and Doncaster broke quickly.