They will have to do without Paul Heffernan, however, after the midfielder saw red for an 87th-minute headbutt on Shrimpers left-back Charlie Mulgrew.

Rovers shrugged off the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the regular season to put in a battling display.

The visitors could have even taken a priceless lead back to south Yorkshire, had Jason Price not fluffed his lines in front of goal in the second half.

Southend had their chances too, though, not least a point-blank Simon Francis effort kept out by veteran Rovers keeper Neil Sullivan just before the interval.

But the Shrimpers, who were the form side going into the play-offs after a run of one defeat in 15 games secured sixth place, will need to perform better in next Friday's second leg if they are to have a shot at returning to the Championship.

Rovers were dealt a blow prior to kick-off when player of the year Richie Wellens was ruled out with a hernia problem.

They had an early scare when Sullivan flapped at Mulgrew's dangerous free-kick under pressure from Peter Clarke, before James Walker blazed over.

But Doncaster showed they had not come merely to take the draw back to south Yorkshire and James Coppinger forced a save from Darryl Flahavan with a low cross-shot and also fired wide from 25 yards.

Sullivan was called into action in the 20th minute when lively Shrimpers winger Mark Gower cut inside and drove towards the Scot's near post.

Rovers came close to breaking the deadlock just before the half hour when Gareth Roberts' free-kick eluded everyone and floated inches past Flahavan's left-hand post.

Matthew Mills collided with the right hand post as he tried to make contact and briefly required treatment.

Southend attacked with more urgency as the first half drew to a close with Sullivan doing well to hold onto Adam Barrett's header and Lee Barnard seeing a drive deflected wide.

And in stoppage time Francis looked odds on to fire the hosts ahead when he met Gower's cross, but the full-back's side-footed half-volley was kept out by Sullivan.

A slick passing move between Barnard and Tommy Black gave Walker a shooting opportunity after the break, but the on-loan Charlton youngster's curling effort flew wide.

At the other end Flahavan, playing his 350th game for Southend, helped Brian Stock's whipped free-kick over the crossbar.

Barnard almost raced clear onto a long clearance on the hour mark, only to be thwarted by a superb interception from Roberts.

Price's big moment arrived in the 65th minute when he was cleverly played in by Stock and one-one-one with Flahavan, only to shoot too close to the Shrimpers keeper who was able to pull off a smart save.

Price almost made amends with an audacious volley from the edge of the area but Flahavan was alert to the danger.

Walker, Barnard and Nicky Bailey squandered shooting chances from the edge of the area before Heffernan's moment of madness, squaring up to Mulgrew and planting his head in the defender's face to earn a straight red card.

Southend laid siege to the Rovers goal in stoppage time and Barnard saw a header saved as the visitors held on.