Northampton boss Martin Wilkinson sang the praises of defender Ian Sampson after seeing his side end Doncaster's unbeaten start to the season.
Sampson played the second half with a broken nose after a challenge with Rovers larger than life striker Leo Fortune-West in the first half, the pair engaging in a lively battle all afternoon.
Wilkinson said: "It is quite a bad break. It goes to show the sort of guts and determination which Ian has. He came in and also defended well for us at Yeovil on Monday." The game was decided by a header from Lawrie Dudfield 14 minutes from time after a move involving Sampson, Luke Chambers and Chris Hargreaves, who was also outstanding for the Cobblers.
Up to that point Doncaster had looked like keeping another clean sheet, but it is Northampton who have now conceded just twice in six League and Cup matches.
The breakthrough prompted a furious late onslaught by Rovers who had gone closest in the first half when Paul Green had turned over a Michael McIndoe cross from close range.
In that late onslaught Fortune-West saw a fierce header saved by Glynn Thompson while Hargreaves made a last-ditch tackle to deny Gregg Blundell who then fired wide from ten yards There was still time for Luke Chambers to clear off the line, the defender then watching the ball bounce on to the crossbar while home skipper Paul Reid turned another McIndoe cross over his own bar from a matter of yards.
Rovers boss Dave Penney said afterwards: "We created chances before they scored but away from home you set out your stall to keep a clean sheet.
"It was one of those days when you felt we were never going to score.
"We have been playing like that in recent weeks, but you want to be picking up points when doing well."