Derby County tasted defeat on the road for the second time this week with a 2-1 loss at Doncaster Rovers this afternoon.

Billy Sharp's penalty had Rovers ahead early on and that lead was doubled in spectacular fashion by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas with 20 minutes to go.

Rob Hulse's neat turn and finish gave Derby hope and set up a grandstand finish, but the Rams couldn't find an equaliser.

With Stephen Bywater injured and Saul Deeney suspended there was a debut for on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper David Martin.

There were also one other change from the Rams side that kicked off in the 4-1 defeat at Reading in midweek, with Steve Davies coming in for his first start since the FA Cup victory over Doncaster in mid-January.

The opening exchanges were fairly quiet, with the first opportunity not forthcoming until the 13th minute when Rovers took the lead through the prolific Billy Sharp.

The 15-goal frontman crashed home from the penalty spot after Buxton had hauled down the on-loan Sheffield United striker in the box.

Martin was called upon to make his first save two minutes later to keep out Hayter's long-range strike as Rovers looked to double that early lead.

Derby created a good opening at the midway point of the first period to draw themselves level after McEveley and Pearson combined well to feed Davies inside the area but his shot on the turn was well blocked.

With Derby stepping up the pressure Green came within a few inches of bringing the Rams level against his former club but after bursting into the area his low drive crashed back off the post and Rovers survived.

Chances were restricted until the final minute of the half when Sharp let fly with a volley from just inside the box which was straight down the throat of Martin.

At the break Nigel Clough chose to introduce Gilles Sunu into the action off the bench in place of Davies, a move which saw the Frenchman operate on the right of midfield and Tonge playing just off Hulse.

Derby started on the offensive and only a saving challenge from O'Connor snuffed out Pearson's cross to an unmarked Hulse inside the penalty area.

Doncaster wasted a good chance on the hour to double their advantage when Hayter volleyed over from just 12 yards out when he should really have done better.

The Rams' other David Martin came off the bench shortly after the hour in place of Savage to extend the attacking options on the field as Derby chased the equaliser.

The home side they had moved further ahead a few minutes later but a low drive from Oster was just off target with Martin beaten.

Within a minute though, they were further ahead...and in some style. Emmnuel-Thomas was given time and space on the edge of the box and he took advantage with a stunning strike which flew past the helpless Martin and into the top corner.

Five minutes later, the game was thrown back into the melting pot when Hulse turned neatly in the box and drove home a low effort for his 11th goal of the season to give the Rams hope.

In another attacking move Porter replaced Buxton in the final ten minutes.

Derby enjoyed a spell of pressure inside the Doncaster half, but as the clock ticked down they weren't able to breach the home defence again despite 5 additional minutes added on at the end.