Rovers never looked like scoring until the closing stages as bottom club Leyton Orient kept them at bay to clinch only their second away point of the season.
It was a must win game for the home side against a team that had lost seven of their last eight on their travels.
But Doncaster seldom posed an attacking threat and it was Orient who edged a first half that deteriorated into a midfield muddle.
Rovers tried to play the game at a high tempo whereas Orient were keen to slow it down at every opportunity.
And the visitors largely succeeded with referee Mike Pike failing to clamp down on what seemed to be time wasting tactics.
The result was a boring spectacle for the fans with Rovers unable to alter their tactics to apply more pressure.
Orient keeper Glynn Garner never had a first-half shot to save as the home attacks broke down before they reached the penalty area.
Orient deserved full marks for effort and they produced the tackles and challenges necessary when the going got tough.
Doncaster skipper Graeme Lee saw a header bounce off keeper Garner following a fourth minute corner but nobody was sharp enough to cash in and he gathered the ball at the second attempt.
Jason Price hit a cross from James O'Connor over the bar four minutes later but Doncaster's attacks showed little penetration for the rest of the half.
Orient had the upper hand after that but were not ruthless enough in front of goal.
Wayne Corden cut inside from the left but his shot was comfortably saved by Ben Smith who collected a similar weak effort from Gary Alexander soon after.
Sean Thornton almost broke the deadlock early in the second half but his diving header was blocked and when Price followed up he headed straight at Garner.
The game never really came to life until the last 20 minutes when both sides squandered chances to snatch the points.
Substitute Paul Connor raced clean through but hesitated over his shot and allowed James O'Connor to nick the ball off his toes.
Price had a chance to win it two minutes from time but fired wide with only Garner to beat.