They will have to do without Paul Heffernan, however, after the midfielder saw red for a headbutt on 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, 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.

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.

Then James Coppinger forced a save from Darryl Flahavan with a low cross-shot and also fired wide from 25 yards.

Rovers came close to breaking the deadlock just before the half hour when Gareth Roberts' free-kick 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.

Sullivan did well to hold onto Adam Barrett's header and then Lee Barnard saw a drive deflected wide and in stoppage time Francis'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.

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.

Walker, Barnard and Nicky Bailey squandered shooting chances 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.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Black (Revell 62), Bailey, McCormack, Gower, Walker, Barnard. Subs not used: Collis, MacDonald, Robson-Kanu, Moussa.

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, Hird, Mills, Gareth Roberts, Guy (Hayter 80), Green, Stock, Coppinger (Taylor 90), Heffernan, Price (McCammon 88). Subs not used: Lee, Woods.

Attendance: 9,109.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire).