Bristol City 2-5 Doncaster Rovers
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

Doncaster Rovers profited on poor defending to inflict a shock 5-2 home defeat on City and record their first Ashton Gate win since 1983.

In a remarkable match, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Billy Sharp both bagged first half braces. Bradley Orr provided two equalisers for City, but then netted an own goal in the second 45 to leave a very one-sided final scoreline.

Manager Gary Johnson predicted an open game between two sides operating in 4-4-2 attacking formations. And so it proved from the first attack when Doncaster took a 94-second lead.

In what proved to be a story for the game, Sharp waltzed his way through a static City defence and cut the ball back for Emmanuel-Thomas to side-foot the opener.

City responded on eight minutes as Jamal Campbell-Ryce terrorised Doncaster right-back James Chambers and clipped a right-footed cross towards the back post. Danny Haynes just failed to get a touch with his attempted header but Orr stole in at the back post at the right time to prod City level.

The celebrations had barely died down when Sharp quietened Ashton Gate once more, pouncing on John Oster's cross and stabbing the ball home from a couple of yards.

Nicky Maynard warmed the gloves of Neil Sullivan with a shot from distance which he needed a second attempt to collect. Then Emmanuel-Thomas teased a shot into the arms of Dean Gerken at the other end.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was a star perfomer for the visitors

Orr restored parity once more on 15 minutes and once again the assist came from Campbell-Ryce in an almost identical goal. The winger again sent a left-wing cross towards the back stick and Orr was the man on the spot to poke the ball home between two defenders.

The chances kept coming as Campbell-Ryce's pass was chested down by Chris Iwelumo into the path of Maynard. Taking his shot on the volley, Maynard fired a dipping effort against the top of the crossbar.

As the ebb and flow of the game continued in an open fashion, Oster skipped into the City penalty area with ease but found Gerken up to the task with a smart save.

Coppinger lashed an effort over the top following a slip by Liam Fontaine, but with eleven minutes of the first half remaining the visitors went ahead for a third time.

Bradley Orr provided two first-half equalisers for City

A simple ball forward was flicked on by Emmanuel-Thomas to send Sharp racing clear of Lewin Nyatanga. While the Wales defender appealed strongly for offside, Sharp advanced and comfortably slotted the ball beyond Gerken for 3-2.

The scoring wasn't over though as Emmanuel-Thomas made it 4-2 on the stroke of half-time. Coppinger's corner wasn't dealt with and the on-loan Arsenal man fired the ball between Gerken's leg from 12 yards.

Emmanuel-Thomas would have been celebrating his hat-trick in first half stoppage time but Gerken used his legs to good effect this time for a smart save with Orr covering on the line to prevent Sharp from converting the rebound.

Haynes was replaced with Ivan Sproule at the break and he was involved immediately teeing up Campbell-Ryce for a long range that flashed over the top.

Bradley Orr wheels away to celebrate bringing City level again

Orr volleyed goalwards from the edge of the box but Sullivan saved with ease, and the decisive seventh goal of the game then duly arrived on 61 minutes.

Coppinger broke away down the right flank and sent the ball across goal aiming for Sharp at the back post. The Doncaster forward was unable to connect but Orr did, and inadvertently sent the ball high into his own net.

Maynard rattled a free kick inches wide of the post and David Clarkson - on for Maynard with 20 minutes left - shot into the arms of Sullivan. At the same time Paul Hartley replaced Campbell-Ryce.

Doncaster replacement Dean Shiels had a chance to make it six in stoppage time but Gerken came to their rescue.