Burnley's Carling Cup heroes came crashing down to earth against rock-bottom Rovers.
The Clarets, who had striker Steve Thompson sent off for a second yellow card in the 31st minute, were a shadow of the side who knocked Fulham and Chelsea off the Wembley trail.
And only the feeble finishing that has dogged Rovers' return to the Championship prevented the visitors from snatching their first away win since the opening day of the season.
Even so, Rovers followed up last week's victory over Ipswich by ending a run of seven successive away defeats and if boss Sean O'Driscoll can find the missing link up front, the Yorkshire side could yet survive.
Thompson received his marching orders for a reckless lunge at defender Matt Mills after the pair had both been booked following an earlier flare-up.
But Clarets chief Owen Coyle rapped: "Mills should not have been on the park. His tackle on Chris Eagles early on was the worst of the game."
And O'Driscoll agreed that Thompson was unlucky. "I don't think he touched Mills.
"Although he did throw a punch in the first incident when they were both booked. But the sending off was harsh.
"I would have settled for a point before the game. Burnley are the form team of the division.
"We tried to control possession and created opportunities. If we had somebody with double figures in goals, we'd probably be top of the league, not bottom.
"Of course we're trying to bring someone in, but the important thing is to find the right player. But we've taken four points out of six now so let's be positive."
Coyle admitted: "We could have passed the ball better and need to get back to the levels we are capable of.
"We're in the top six on merit, but after playing with 10 men we've a lot of tired legs ahead of Monday's game at Barnsley."
Rovers' close passing game had frustrated the Clarets even before Thompson's red card and Burnley needed a good save by Brian Jensen to deny Brian Stock in the 15th minute.
Stock fired another clear chance over on the half-hour and Lewis Guy mis-kicked with only Jensen to beat seven minutes later. Then Jensen's headed clearance went straight to Jason Price, who volleyed wide of an open goal. And after Chris McCann had headed a Robbie Blake corner straight at Rovers' keeper Neil Sullivan, the one-way traffic continued in the second-half.
Stock, James Hayter and Martin Woods all had opportunities and in the 68th minute Price was twice denied following corners.
Sub Paul Heffernan missed a good chance in the 72nd minute, but there was a real scare at the other end when Eagles, with only Sullivan to beat, shot tamely wide.
It was back to normal service after that as the influential Richie Wellens forced another save from Jensen.
With Steve Caldwell in dominant form at the back, Burnley continued to frustrate Doncaster, but in injury time Jenson did well to foil Hayter.
Burnley: Jensen 7 - Alexander 6, Carlisle 6, *CALDWELL 8, Jordan 6 - Elliott 6 (Mahon, 34mins, 5), Gudjonsson 5 (Duff, 78mins), McCann 6, Eagles 5 - Blake 6 (Akinbiyi, 57mins, 6), Thompson 5.
Doncaster: Sullivan 6 - Mills 7, Hird 6 (Hayter 38, 6), Martis 7 - O'Connor 6, *WELLENS 8, Stock 7, Woods 7, Chambers 6 - Price 6 (Coppinger, 71mins), Guy 6 (Heffernan, 71mins).
Referee: S Bennett 6.